Exodus 4:24-26 On the journey back, as they camped for the night, God met Moses and would have killed him but Zipporah took a flint knife and cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched Moses’ member with it. She said, “Oh! You’re a bridegroom of blood to me!” Then God let him go. She used the phrase “bridegroom of blood” because of the circumcision.
At first glance, this is a weird story! Read it again, and it seems even weirder! God has already interviewed Moses at the burning bush, ordering Moses to return to Egypt to deliver the Israelites. Moses and his family are on their way when God meets Moses and is about to kill him. Why??? That’s when Zipporah, Moses’ wife, quickly circumcises their son, touching Moses’ penis with the foreskin she has just removed. Zipporah proclaims that Moses is a “bridegroom of blood” to her because she has had to shed their son’s blood during the circumcision.
This story obviously describes a type of blood sacrifice Zipporah uses to save Moses’ life. But why is God trying to kill the man He has already ordained as His messenger? Despite the fact that Moses is a Jew and was undoubtedly circumcised as an infant, he has failed to circumcise his own son. Moses knows that God has ordered circumcision for all Jewish males. Who knows? Perhaps Moses has wanted to circumcise his son and Zipporah has refused. Now in desperation, Zipporah carries out the circumcision, saving Moses’ life in the process.
God knows what Moses is about to endure in Egypt, and He also knows that compromise is deadly. By this incident, God is warning Moses that Moses must obey implicitly-no second guessing, no half-hearted measures, no shilly-shallying. Nothing less than Moses’ complete obedience will succeed. It is estimated that the ancient Egyptians worshiped more than 2,000 gods. Although Moses might not realize it, God knows that Egypt is full of demons and is a Satanic stronghold. If Moses fails to obey in the slightest detail, Satan will be able to destroy Moses, Aaron, and the Jews. The fate of an entire nation-more than two million people-depends on Moses obeying in every particular, even something as small as the circumcision of a male infant.
We have been in missions nearly 38 years and have worked with several different groups. We can personally testify that failure to obey in the minutiae can result in disaster. In the Upper East Region of Ghana, there is a shrine whose keepers demand that anyone visiting must strip naked before entering the shrine. Friends of ours working with that people group told us the story of two young men who came in, eager to begin a ministry in that area. But full of curiosity, these men insisted they should visit this shrine before starting their work. As experienced missionaries steeped in the traditions and culture of the people, our friends did everything they could to convince these young men not to visit the shrine, but the young men went anyway. Somehow, after visiting the shrine, the enthusiasm for evangelism faded, and the young men left the country.
1 Samuel 15 tells the story of how King Saul lost his kingship. Samuel orders Saul to eradicate the Amalekites and everything they have; however, Saul saves Agag, the Amalekite king, and the best sheep and cattle. Saul’s disobedience costs him everything.
Then Samuel said, “Do you think all God wants are sacrifices—empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production. Not doing what God tells you is far worse than fooling around in the occult. Getting self-important around God is far worse than making deals with your dead ancestors. Because you said No to God’s command, he says No to your kingship.” 1 Samuel 15:22-23
Evidently, Moses learns this valuable lesson, for he continually obeys God throughout his ministry…until the day he loses his temper. The first time God brings water out of a rock, He orders Moses to strike it with his rod. But the second time God is going to bring water out of a rock, he orders Moses to speak to the rock. Frustrated and pushed to the limit by the strident demands of the Israelites, Moses makes a terrible mistake. Instead of speaking to the rock, he speaks to the people, saying, “Listen, rebels! Do we have to bring water out of this rock for you?” Then Moses strikes the rock twice. Sounds OK, right? Water gushes from the rock. But because Moses fails to completely follow God’s orders, he forfeits his chance to enter Canaan. Eventually, God will send Moses to the top of Mount Nebo and show him Canaan, but Moses will die without entering it after forty years of successfully leading the Israelites, all because he failed to honor God at Meribah. (The name “Meribah” means “bickering.”)
What can we learn from the short story of Zipporah’s blood sacrifice? Don’t joke with God! God is not a God of confusion but a God of peace. When God tells you to do something, obey without questioning. “But,” you complain, “how can I possibly know what God wants?”
George Mueller founded orphanages that cared for more than 10,000 children, supported many ministries, and circled the globe preaching and teaching. Mr. Mueller was a great man of faith. Here is his testimony about ascertaining the will of God:
- I seek in the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people is right here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lords’ will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.
- Having surrendered my own will, I do not leave the result to feeling or simply impressions. If I do so, I make myself liable to great delusions.
- I seek the will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.
- Next, I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God’s will in connection with His Word and Spirit.
- I ask God in prayer to reveal His will to me aright.
Thus, through prayer to God, the study of His Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment and if my mind is thus at peace and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly. In trivial matters and in transactions involving most important issues, I have found this method always effective. (Quoted in November 10th Springs in the Valley Devotional.)
Want God’s results in your life? Do God’s will! As Samuel told Saul, “Obedience is better than sacrifice.”
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to obey You in the small things as well as the big ones. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
Burunche's Blog 
December 6, 2025 at 5:34 pm
Hi Dr Jean (and Bob) I hope your ankle is getting better! Do you have a headlight on your bicycle? Also I was reading your December 6 devotional, and I wondered, Wasn’t Moses set among the reeds and raised as an Egyptian? therefore he would have not been circumcised? But if he was over 8 days old, would he have been raised as a Hebrew, and therefore circumcised at 8 days? Interesting question? Anyway, I enjoy the devotionals, and we have the leftovers of about a foot of snow, and expect more Sunday. God Bless, Martin