I was reading in Exodus 4 today, and there is a passage in there that makes for good discussion.

Exodus 4 22 Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son,  23 and I told you, “Let my son go, so he may worship me.” But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’”                                                                                                                                                                24 At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him.  25 But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said.  26 So the Lord let him alone. (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood,” referring to circumcision.)

This short passage seems to be just dropped in the middle of the story of Moses, representing the Almighty God, coming before Pharaoh to demand freedom for the Israelites. Clearly, God has a reason for every word of Scripture, so what’s up here?

I see God giving an example to Moses and Moses missing the meaning. God says, “I want my sons to worship me.” Pharaoh refuses to give them that opportunity. Then I look at Moses. Apparently, his son was not circumcised. Without getting too far into that discussion, circumcision was a requirement for the Israelites. If they wanted to be God’s people, they had to step up and get this done. It was dad’s responsibility to see to it. Like Pharaoh, Moses had denied his son the opportunity to worship God. God doesn’t appreciate that.

Thankfully, Zipporah bailed him out. Unfortunately, I think we allow our wives to bail us out too often. I thank God that I have a great wife who will do that, but I can’t deny my responsibility to provide opportunity for my kids to worship the Almighty God. I will answer for that one day. I don’t want God to go “verse 24″ on me!