So Aaron some how got a message from God to go meet Moses outside of Egypt, where Moses explained the whole crazy plan of rescuing the Hebrews. The next stop was to sell the whole scheme to the community elders.
Now, it's not clear how much the Hebrews remembered their history as a people - since it's been 400 years in Egypt. Perhaps they remembered something of God and the promises he made to their ancestor. But it probably didn't matter. The fact that some God heard their prayers and cared about their suffering was good news enough. The possibility of freedom would be a bonus. Either way, they had nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
But apparently, Moses still had one more lesson to learn about God.
Now, this is a very difficult passage - much debated. As Moses made his way towards Egypt, he became deathly ill. His wife figured out that his illness had something to do with God being angry that he was not circumcised, and he had not circumcised his son.
Back when God and Abram became friends, Abram received God' blessing and promised to mark his male descendents with circumcision - eight days after birth. While circumcision is a common religious ritual, for the Hebrews, it was a reminder that they were God's friends, belonging to God. Understandably, the need for secrecy at the time of Moses' birth made such arrangements difficult. And it was likely that Moses didn't pursue this with his son, since he was living among foreigners.
In a moment of life or death decision, Moses' wife took out a ritual knife, said the proper ritual words, and circumcised their young son, then touched the newly cut foreskin of her son to Moses' penis - seemingly to "transferred" the marker from son to Father. Moses' impending journey across the wilderness and his weakened state made him an unsuitable candidate for sudden circumcision.
God seemed satisfied with her quick thinking, and left Moses alone.
There is not explanation why God would get so angry, or why Zipporah's actions are necessary. Just about the only thing we can say for sure is that:
1. God remains unpredictable. We should not "tame" our notions of God Just because he is compassionate towards the Hebrews.
2. God takes promises seriously. Just because he needed Moses didn't mean he would overlook sloppy promise keeping.
Write
Think about your faith story: how have you experienced God's unpredictatbility?
Presently, where in your life - what relationships or circumstances, are you struggling with taking God seriously?
Who do you know is struggling with taking God seriously?
Pray
What
is God saying to you today? What's Good News to you?
Talk to God about how your experience of his unpredictability. Thank God for the way he is gracious and forgiving to you, even when you fail to take him seriously.
Pray about your challenges of taking God seriously. Ask God for the help you need, the reassureance of his presence, and the courage to be true to God.
Pray for your friend who is struggling to take God seriously. Ask God how you can come along them to support them.
Pray for an experience of God's love, grace and mercy in the way he expands your ideas of him, and the ways he empowers you and your friends to take him seriously.