Zipporah’s Declaration of the “Bridegroom of Blood”

Moses's Journey into Egypt and the Circumcision of His Son Eliezer / PERUGINO, Pietro / C.1523

 

The Meaning of God’s Covenant and Obedience

Exodus 4:24-26 – The Significance of the Event Where Moses Nearly Died

Exodus 4:24-26 is one of the most challenging and enigmatic passages in the Bible. Many readers find it puzzling that God, after appointing Moses as a leader, suddenly sought to kill him. Since this event occurred while Moses was on his way to Egypt, it is crucial to examine why God allowed it and what message it conveys to us.

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📖 Exodus 4:24-26 (NIV)

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.)

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🔎 Background and Understanding the Event

1. Why Did God Seek to Kill Moses?

The most striking aspect of this passage is that God sought to kill Moses despite having appointed him to deliver the Israelites from Egypt. Why would God take such drastic action? The answer lies in Moses’ failure to uphold a crucial covenant.

Moses had not circumcised his son. In Genesis 17, God made a covenant with Abraham, establishing circumcision as a sign of His covenant with His people:

“Every male among you shall be circumcised… You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you… Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
(Genesis 17:10-14)

God required His people to demonstrate their obedience to His covenant through circumcision. Despite being chosen as Israel’s leader, Moses had failed to uphold this fundamental command within his own household. Thus, God confronted Moses with severe discipline, ensuring that he met the necessary qualifications to lead His people.

2. Zipporah’s Actions and Their Significance

As Moses faced the threat of death, his wife, Zipporah, intervened by circumcising their son with a flint knife. She then touched Moses’ feet with the foreskin and declared, “You are a bridegroom of blood to me.”

This phrase carries deep symbolic meaning. The term “bridegroom of blood” likely refers to how circumcision, through the shedding of blood, spared Moses from divine judgment.

Zipporah, being from a Midianite background, may not have fully understood the significance of circumcision in the Hebrew faith. It is possible that Moses had delayed circumcising their son due to Zipporah’s reluctance or unfamiliarity with the practice. However, at this critical moment, she acted decisively, and her act of obedience brought about God’s mercy.

Ultimately, after Zipporah performed the circumcision, God relented and spared Moses. This highlights the importance of obedience to God’s covenant and the role of circumcision as a sign of divine consecration.

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🎯 The Theological Significance of This Event

This is not merely an isolated incident but a crucial moment that underscores significant theological themes throughout Scripture.

1. God’s Covenant Must Be Upheld

God had chosen Moses to deliver Israel, but even he was not exempt from divine judgment if he failed to obey God’s commands.

This teaches us that in our spiritual walk, before we can be used by God, we must first align our lives with His covenant and commandments.

2. Obedience Precedes Calling

God demanded that Moses first demonstrate obedience within his own household before he could lead the Israelites.

This principle is echoed in the New Testament, where leaders are expected to manage their own families well before leading the church:

“If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?”
(1 Timothy 3:5)

3. Salvation Comes Through Blood

Just as circumcision and the shedding of blood spared Moses from divine judgment, this foreshadows the salvation that would come through the blood of Jesus Christ.

The New Testament affirms the significance of Christ’s blood in securing redemption:

“In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”
(Ephesians 1:7)

“Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.”
(Hebrews 9:22)

The act of circumcision in Exodus serves as a shadow of the ultimate salvation that would be fulfilled in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

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🏆 Lessons from This Event

1. God’s Covenant and Commands Must Be Taken Seriously

Even Moses, the chosen leader, faced God’s judgment for neglecting His command. This reminds us never to take God’s Word lightly.

2. Leaders Must First Obey Before They Can Lead

Moses’ failure to circumcise his son made him unfit to lead Israel. Likewise, we must first ensure that we are obedient in our own lives before expecting to influence others spiritually.

3. Obedience Brings Restoration

Zipporah’s immediate obedience halted God’s judgment. This highlights how sincere obedience can restore our relationship with God.

4. Salvation Is Through the Blood

Just as circumcision’s blood spared Moses, Christ’s blood cleanses and redeems us. This event foreshadows the greater salvation through Jesus Christ.

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Conclusion

This passage is not just an obscure Old Testament narrative; it carries profound theological significance. It reinforces the importance of God’s covenant, the necessity of obedience, and the redemptive power of blood.

Ultimately, it points us toward Christ, whose sacrifice fulfills the covenant and offers eternal salvation. Through this account, we are reminded of the seriousness of God’s commands and the life-giving power of obedience to Him.