#30 4:18-21 Introduction to Years of Divine Power

I. The Story of Redemption: Chapters 1-13:16

A. The Need for Redemption Chapter 1

B. The Human Deliverer Chapters 2-4

1. The First Forty Years: The Years of Divine

Protection (Exodus 2:1-15)

2. The Second Forty Years: The Years of Divine

Preparation (Exodus 2:16-4:17)

3. The Third Forty Years: The Years of Divine Power

(Exodus 4:18-Deuteronomy)

C. The Exaltation of the Divine Redeemer. Chapters 5-11

D. Redemption by Blood Chapter 12

E. Redemption by Blood Remembered Chapter 13:1-16

We are now ready to move into the third forty-year period of Moses’ life: The Years of Divine Power. Exodus 4:18-31 provides us with important background that will prepare us for all that God is going to reveal in chapters 5 through 12. In these verses we learn a number of things.

18 And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in- law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.

19 And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.

20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

In verses 18 through 20 we see the final preparations prior to leaving for Egypt. We see Moses taking his leave of his father-in-law, Jethro, in a respectful and proper manner. We also hear God telling Moses that He has arranged things so that it is “safe” for him to go to Egypt. All that sought Moses’ life are dead.[1] Finally, we see Moses ‘loading up his family’ to go to Egypt.

From these things we may learn that:

· God’s call on a person’s life does not demand that he/she set aside appropriate civilities in the “rush” to obey.

· God will arrange for the safety of His servants according to His will.

· God’s call upon a man is also a call upon the man’s family.

21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.

22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

In verses 21-23 God reveals a more detailed look at the nature of His call upon Moses. God (verse 21) distinctly informs Moses that He will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and that Pharaoh will not let the people go. A footnote in the Scofield Study Bible here identifies how this did not violate Pharaoh’s personal choice.

Cf. Ex. 8:15, 32; 9:34. In the face of the righteous demand of Jehovah and of the tremendous attestations by miracle that He was indeed God, and that Moses and Aaron were His representatives, Pharaoh “hardened his heart.” Instrumentally God hardened Pharaoh’s heart by forcing him to an issue against which he hardened his own heart in refusal. Light rejected, rightful obedience refused, inevitably hardens conscience and heart. See Rom. 9:17-24.[2]

[1] It has been forty years since Moses left Egypt. [2] Scofield Study Bible, footnote on Exodus 4:21. (Underlining mine)