In **Exodus 4:24–26**, the passage describes a mysterious and brief incident in which the Lord sought to kill Moses while he was on his way back to Egypt. To understand why this happened, it is essential to examine the context and the details of the verses.
The passage states:
> “*At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it and said, ‘Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!’ So he let him alone. It was then that she said, ‘A bridegroom of blood,’ because of the circumcision*” (Exodus 4:24-26, ESV).
### Explanation:
1. **The Covenant of Circumcision**:
– According to **Genesis 17:9–14**, God commanded circumcision as a sign of the covenant between Him and Abraham’s descendants. Every male child was to be circumcised on the eighth day after birth. Failure to comply with this command would result in being “cut off” from God’s people (Genesis 17:14). This was a critical and binding covenant for the Israelites.
– It appears that Moses had neglected to circumcise his son, violating God’s covenant. As God was calling Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egypt and lead them into covenant obedience, Moses’ failure to uphold this sign of the covenant in his own family was unacceptable.
2. **God’s Holiness and Standards**:
– As someone chosen by God to serve as a leader and deliverer of His people, Moses was held to a high standard of accountability. His failure to ensure that his own household obeyed God’s law reflected a lack of reverence and commitment to God’s covenant. This neglect could have disqualified Moses from being used by God for the monumental task of leading the Israelites out of Egypt.
– This incident highlights God’s demand for holiness and obedience, especially for those He calls to leadership (see **Leviticus 10:3**, **James 3:1**).
3. **Zipporah’s Intervention**:
– Moses’ wife, Zipporah, played a key role in resolving the situation. She quickly circumcised their son and touched Moses’ feet (possibly symbolizing restitution or atonement). This act appeased God’s anger, averting the judgment that was about to fall on Moses. Zipporah’s response demonstrated her understanding of the seriousness of the situation and the importance of obedience to God’s covenant.
4. **Symbolism of “Bridegroom of Blood”**:
– The phrase “bridegroom of blood” is somewhat enigmatic. It likely refers to the blood of circumcision, which restored compliance with the covenant, reestablishing Moses’ standing before God. It also underscores the importance of blood in covenant relationships—a theme that recurs throughout the Bible (e.g., the Passover lamb in **Exodus 12**, and ultimately the blood of Christ in **Hebrews 9:22**).
### Summary Implications:
God’s attempt to kill Moses emphasizes His seriousness about covenant obedience, especially from those He chooses to lead His people. Moses, as God’s representative, was expected to live in complete alignment with God’s commands. His neglect of circumcision was a significant oversight, and this event served as a powerful reminder of the importance of obedience and reverence for God’s covenant requirements.