Lesson #04

RETURN TO SYLLABUS

EXODUS 4
Lesson #04
PRINCIPLES AND TESTING FOR LEADERSHIP

• Memory Verse: Exodus 4:12

• In our previous lesson in the book of Exodus, we discussed God’s principles for training leaders and principles for hearing God’s voice.
• We must remember that the two most important characteristics of a leader are a teachable spirit and an obedient spirit..
• We will see that in Moses in this chapter.
• Read Exo 4:1-9 Moses’ excuses for not obeying God’s calling:
• Moses had many self-doubts of his ability to lead God’s people.

• “…Who am I, that I should go…”

(3:11)

• “…what shall I say unto them?”

(3:13)

• Those self-doubts continue in this chapter.

• “…they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice…”

(4:1)

• God gives Moses three signs. In each sign is a message for Moses and a message for Egypt.
• The three signs:
• Sign #1:

The message of the rod and the serpent: (4:2-5)

• The meaning of the symbols used in the sign:
• The rod is symbol for spiritual and physical authority.
• The serpent is a symbol for Satan or the evil of his kingdom.
• Moses had so many doubts about his ability, but God reassured him in every objection that He was calling Moses to leadership and giving him authority.
• Every time Moses lacked confidence, he could grab the rod and remember that he had God’s authority.
• The believer needs to know that he has authority in Jesus Christ.
• Read Joh 16:15
• In this sign, Moses was to throw the rod on the ground, and it would become a serpent. Then he was to grab the serpent by the tail, and it would become a rod.
• Misused authority is like the serpent on the ground free to be used by Satan for his kingdom.
• Moses must take Satan by the tail and use the authority for the Kingdom of God.
• As long as Moses held the rod in his hand, he could use it by faith for the Kingdom of God.
• This sign represents God, the Father in conflict with Satan.
• Sign #2:

The message of the hand and the leprosy: (4:6-8)

• The meaning of the symbols used in this sign:
• The hand symbolizes what we do in our lives.
• The bosom is where the heart is located and indicates who we are in our character.
• Leprosy throughout the Bible is a symbol for sin or evil.
• Moses doubted his abilities, but God wanted him to learn that unless he led the people with a pure heart, the results would be evil.
• The New Testament leader needs to understand the same thing. If we try to be a leader using our own strengths and abilities, the results will be unprofitable and evil…in other words, dead works.
• Read Heb 9:14
• The New Testament leader needs to remember to repent of sin frequently to keep his heart and his motives pure. Then by trusting God, he will produce good works for the Kingdom of God.
• This sign represents the Holy Spirit who cleanses the heart and guides the believer’s hands.
• Sign #3:

The message of the blood on the land: (4:9)

• The meaning of the objects in the sign:
• The water of the Nile River was the sustenance of life.
• Egyptians made the Nile River a god that produced life.
• The blood throughout the Bible is a symbol of sacrifice, specifically Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross through which comes forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
• Read Heb 9:23
• Moses was about to confront all the gods of Egyptian life, but only through Jesus Christ is true life produced. The power in the blood of Christ is above all other gods.
• For the New Testament believer, there is power in the blood of Christ’s sacrifice. The New Testament leader needs to operate in the power of God available through the shed blood of Christ.
• This sign represents Jesus Christ, who is the giver and sustainer of life.
• Read Exo 4:10-17 More objections and doubts.
• Notice that Moses was obedient to God in performing the three signs even though he still had doubts about his own ability.
• “…I am not eloquent… but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”

(10)

• Moses focuses on the weaknesses of the flesh, for at one time he was an eloquent speaker. (Act 7:22)
• Evidently the traumatic event when he killed the Egyptian caused some psychological deficiency in his speech, and he became a stutterer.
• God patiently encourages him. “…I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.” (12)
• However, Moses lacked the faith to trust God.
• Moses suggests that God send someone else. (13)
• This suggestion angers God. Why?
• God is not angry over doubts, but He is angry over disobedience.
• However, even in His anger, God does not abandon His plan to use Moses.
• God’s permissive will is that Aaron will speak for Moses. (16)
• Aaron caused many problems to Moses’ ministry.
• In reality, Aaron never did the speaking for Moses before Pharaoh. When we see Moses in Pharaoh’s palace, it is always Moses who speaks. Therefore, we can assume that God healed him of his speech defect.
• Summary of Moses’ responses:
• Moses said he did not have all the answers.
• This feeling comes from his experience of ridicule, failure, and rejection.
• The spiritual reality is that Moses would have all of God’s presence.
• Moses complained that he would not have the people’s respect.
• This feeling assumes control over something only God can control.
• The spiritual reality is that Moses would have all of God’s power and authority.
• Moses said he did not have the ability to lead God’s people.
• This feeling assumes that a person must be perfect to be used by God.
• The spiritual reality is that Moses had enough ability to begin. Faith is a step by step walk in which we never have what we need of God until the point in time when we need it.
• Notice that God’s call is not optional!
• God’s call demands obedience and faith.
• What is Moses’ rod supposed to symbolize?
• Moses’ rod symbolizes God Himself, His authority, and His power.
• We see this meaning in the first sign that God gave Moses and in the last statement God makes to Moses in verse 17.
• Read Exo 4:18-31 Testing comes after God’s calling: Principles for entering into leadership:
• Principle #1:

All relationships must be right before God before entering into leadership. If they are not right before God, Satan can gain a foothold to destroy ministry.

• This principle includes relationships with other people like Jethro, his father-in-law (18), and the relationship with his wife, Zipporah. (25b)
• This principle includes a right relationship with God. (24)
• God was going to bring judgment on the Egyptians (23) for their harsh treatment of the Israelites for hundreds of years through the death of the firstborn. In order to do this, God must make a difference between those who are under the covenant and those who are not.
• Therefore, the test involves circumcision.
• The test is circumcision:
• Circumcision was given to Abraham as a sign of the covenant of righteousness by faith. (Rom 4:11)
• Circumcision was a physical mark that speaks of a spiritual truth.
• Read Col 2:11-12 and Rom 2:29
• Therefore, we must understand by scripture that circumcision was the mark of a personal relationship with God, the Father.
• “…the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.”

(24)

• Why would the Lord call Moses to lead the Israelites and then attempt to kill him before he could do what God commanded?
• In verses 19-23, God told Moses what would happen in Egypt. All the firstborn would die. Moses knew that he was supposed to circumcise his son as a sign that he was under the covenant of God’s people. This son would die along with all the firstborn of Egypt if he was not circumcised.
• God has the power over life and death.
• What marital problem did Moses have with his wife Zipporah?
• Evidently Moses’ relationship with Zipporah was not in agreement on the issue of circumcision. She was not an Israelite and circumcision was not her custom. However, she obviously knew the son was supposed to be circumcised but disliked the bloody practice. Moses had given in to her and not insisted on the circumcision when the child was born.
• When Moses’ life was in danger, she realized she must circumcise the son to save the father.
• Why must all relationships be under the blood of the covenant?
• Circumcision is a procedure that draws blood, and so was the killing of the Passover lamb.
• Read Heb 9:22
• Circumcision and the Passover are spiritual types for the crucifixion.
• Unless a person personally identifies himself with the crucifixion of Christ, he is not under the protective blood that forgives sin and insures that we are not under the wrath of God.

• “And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.”

(28)

• Notice that God had already spoken to Aaron because Aaron came out to the wilderness to meet Moses. This truth gives us another principle for entering into leadership.
• Principle #2:

God always gives direction first to a believer directly and then God confirms it through others.

• “And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.”

(30)

• Aaron does the speaking before the Israelites and Moses performs the 3 signs that God gave him.
• The Israelites are convinced that God has finally heard their prayers for a deliverer, and they worship God. (31)

HOMEWORK
EXODUS 5
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of Exo 4
• Which aspects of this lesson are especially meaningful to your life as a believer in Jesus Christ?

• Preparation for Exo 5
• Read Exo 5:1-14
• Why did our omniscient God, who know everything, permit the Egyptians to make life even more difficult for the Israelites after Moses’ request?
• Read Exo 5:15-23
• What was the reaction of the Israelites?
• What was Moses’ reaction to the new situation?

• Memory verse: 1 Peter 1:7