Message Notes

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE 1 July 2023

Message: “The people believed” Exodus 4:31

Text: Exodus 4:24-31

INTRODUCTION

1. The role of “believing in God” must not be taken for granted

2. Did Zipporah believe in the God of Israel?

3. Did the children of God really believe in the LORD?

THE JOURNEY TO EGYPT

1. Moses had informed Jethro he was going to Egypt

2. Zipporah went with Moses

3. They had two sons from their marriage

AN UNHAPPY INCIDENT

1. A puzzling statement

“The LORD met him and sought to kill him” Exodus 4:24

2. What does this mean?

a) Moses became seriously ill

b) He was near death

A HEATED DISAGREEMENT

1. Moses must have explained to Zipporah about circumcision

2. This was the sign of God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants

3. But Circumcision was repugnant to the Midianites and to Zipporah

4. Moses was going to lead the children of Israel but his own sons were not circumcised!

5. Zipporah had no choice!

a) Moses could die if this illness came from God

b) She could not let her husband die

c) She circumcised her sons

d) But she was angry!

24 And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the LORD met him and sought to kill him.

25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!”

26 So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision.

Exodus 4:24-26

6. Zipporah did not have the same faith as Moses

a) Moses’ life was spared

b) Zipporah refused to go down to Egypt with Moses

c) She returned to her father with their sons

d) She was brought back to Moses after their exodus
from Egypt Exodus 18:1-3

e) Moses had to send them back to Jethro because he knew that her presence would prove difficult for all concerned

MOSES AND AARON

27 And the LORD said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him on the mountain of God, and kissed him.

28 So Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which He had commanded him.

Exodus 4:27-28

1. The two brothers were happy to see each other again

2. Moses shared with Aaron all that the LORD had spoken to him

3. He explained

a) His Mission to Aaron

b) And the signs God had showed him

4. They shared the same faith and so they had no difficulties with each other

MOSES, AARON AND THE ELDERS

29 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel.

30 And Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people.

31 So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

Exodus 4:29-31

1. The elders of the children of Israel were gathered

2. Aaron spoke to the Elders what he had heard from Moses

3. Moses then performed the signs

a) Rod transformed as a snake

b) The Leprous hand healed

c) The obvious power of the LORD was displayed

4. The response of the Elders

a) They believed

b) They believed that the LORD cared about their affliction

c) They even bowed their heads and worshipped the LORD

CONCLUSION

1. The lack of faith in the LORD

a) This can cause conflict in the family

b) Having the same faith is of vital importance

2. The possession of faith

a) This is vital

b) Believing in God

i) That He cares for His people

ii) That He would deliver His people from bondage

c) This faith however would have to be tested!