1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: Then Zappora took a sharp stone and cut off the 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: foreskin of her son and cast it at his feet, 3 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 1: and said, surely, a bloody husband, art thou to me? 4 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: Exodus four twenty five. Dear Heavenly Father, as you bring 5 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 1: me into my new season of alignment and destiny, I 6 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: thank you that, even though I may battle fear in 7 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: my heart, like Moses, I know that you are with me. 8 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: Thank you for using my abilities to change the lives 9 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: of those around me and to help set them free 10 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 1: from the chains that stop them from living in their purpose. 11 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: As Aaron was with Moses, I thank you God that 12 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: you are sending the right people to surround me to 13 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: support the calling that you have for my life. From 14 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 1: this moment on, I choose to take action and move 15 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: in the direction that you've called me to move into 16 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 1: without hesitation. I will not wait for others to act 17 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 1: like a Zuppora in my life to do what you've 18 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 1: called me to do. On the contrary, I will move 19 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: with intentional obedience and with the urgency to fulfill my 20 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:13,399 Speaker 1: role in your glorious plan for my future. Thank you, 21 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:15,919 Speaker 1: God for choosing me to be a beacon of hope 22 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:19,120 Speaker 1: and a light in the lives of those in need 23 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:24,040 Speaker 1: of encouragement and love. I decree and declare that I 24 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 1: am a vessel ready to be used by you. God. 25 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:30,959 Speaker 1: Thank you for creating me to be a lifeline for 26 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 1: the destinies of others. In Jesus name, Amen, thank you 27 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: for praying with me today. Continue listening for an incredible 28 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 1: Bible story brought to you by Bible in a Year 29 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 1: dot Com, Zipporah and Erin. In our last story, we 30 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: learned about how Moses encountered through a flame emanating from 31 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: a bush. The voice of God spoke to Moses in 32 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:09,800 Speaker 1: a wonderfully beautiful way. God called him to lead his 33 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:13,239 Speaker 1: people out of Egypt, for he had heard their cries. 34 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 1: Moses also asked God for his name, and God said, 35 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:23,079 Speaker 1: I am who I am. In this story, we will 36 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,640 Speaker 1: learn how Moses was protected by Zipporah and how moses 37 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: brother Aaron is called by God to meet and lead 38 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: with his brother as inspired by the Book of Exodus. Hello, 39 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible in 40 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: a Year podcast. In our previous episode, we learned that 41 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 1: the exile of Moses was interrupted after forty years by 42 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: God speaking through a burning bush. God's presence appeared and 43 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: told him that he was needed called to go back 44 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 1: to Egypt and to deliver the people. And despite moses 45 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: Many protests and excuse, God did not give up on him. 46 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: He empowered and reassured the man that he, the God 47 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 1: of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob the Great i Am, would 48 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 1: go with him. Today will hear how Moses returns to 49 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: Egypt and how God called his brother Aaron to join 50 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: Moses and lead the people alongside of him. We will 51 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 1: also hear how moses wife Zipporah will act swiftly to 52 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: demonstrate obedience and commitment to God. This is a story 53 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: about how God goes before his children and always fulfills 54 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: his purpose for their lives. Let's listen now to the 55 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: reading from Exodus. Moses had heard the call of God. Excited, 56 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: scared and anxious, he went to tell his family of 57 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 1: what had taken place. He told them of his encounter 58 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 1: with the burning bush, the signs God had given him, 59 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 1: and his call to go set free the slaves of Egypt. 60 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: He turned to his father in law, Jethrow, and said, please, 61 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 1: let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to 62 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 1: see whether they still live Jethro allowed him to leave 63 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: in peace. God beckoned Moses to leave, for all those 64 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: who once sought his life were dead. So Moses took 65 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:18,039 Speaker 1: his wife, sons, and staff. Moses ventured back to the 66 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 1: land he once fled, and he battled fear within his heart, 67 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: yet he knew God was with him. They journeyed through 68 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 1: scorching heat and freezing nights. Dooms, hills and wilderness surrounded them. 69 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: When Moses was alone and his family resting at a 70 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 1: short distance, God spoke to him once again. When you 71 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 1: return to Egypt, see that you show Pharaoh every miracle 72 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 1: I have given you. Yet do not be dismayed if 73 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: he rejects you, for I have hardened his heart. He 74 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 1: will not let my people go. Moses listened intently, breathing 75 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,279 Speaker 1: deeply so that he could tune in to and understand 76 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 1: what God was telling him. He continued saying, tell Pharaoh 77 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: that Israel is my firstborn son, and if he refuses 78 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,479 Speaker 1: to allow my firstborn son to come home to me, 79 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 1: he will lose his For God had already seen the 80 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: hideous crimes Egypt had performed against the Hebrew children. One evening, 81 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: a cloud of uneasiness crept upon Moses and his family. 82 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 1: The anger of God was thick in the air, and 83 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: you could cut the tension with a knife. The Lord 84 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 1: met Moses there and confronted him as if in a nightmare. 85 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: The Lord sought to put Moses to death. Moses's wife, Zipporah, 86 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 1: wasted no time. She rushed to her sons with a 87 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:42,679 Speaker 1: flint in her hand and cut off their foreskins. There 88 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 1: they were circumcised. For Moses and Zipporah both knew that 89 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 1: they had not fully committed to God unless their family 90 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:54,200 Speaker 1: also was Hebrew. Zipporah, with her son's bloody foreskins in 91 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 1: her hand, threw them at Moses's feet and said, surely 92 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 1: you are a groom of blood to me, and she 93 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:04,280 Speaker 1: left him alone. Now the family that was going to 94 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 1: set the Hebrews free had fully committed themselves to be Hebrew, 95 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: and Moses's sons were given to the Lord. Miles away 96 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 1: in the alleys of Egypt, God spoke to Aaron, Moses's brother. 97 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 1: He said, go into the wilderness to meet with your 98 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:26,160 Speaker 1: brother Moses. Aaron arose and looked towards the mountains beyond 99 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 1: the city. There he met with Moses. The two embraced 100 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 1: having not seen each other in over forty years, Moses 101 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 1: told Aaron of his mission and how they were both 102 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: sent by God to free the Israelite people. Aaron, having 103 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 1: connections with all the elders, gathered them into one place. 104 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,919 Speaker 1: Aaron acted as Moses's mouthpiece, just as God had said. 105 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 1: The people were enamored by his words, captivated by the 106 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:57,159 Speaker 1: idea of being set free. All their prayers, all their 107 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 1: cries to the Lord, had been heard. God had bent 108 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: his ear to them and seen their affliction. They worshiped 109 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 1: God that night and fell on their faces before him, 110 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 1: these prayers with the rumblings of true deliverance. After much questioning, doubting, 111 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 1: and pleading with God to let him off the hook, 112 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: Moses finally accepts God's call to return to Egypt and 113 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: lead the Israelites out of slavery. He's still afraid, but 114 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: the Almighty God is with him, And throughout this story 115 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 1: we're going to see how God goes before Moses, preparing 116 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: the way, and how he journeys with Moses, guiding him 117 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 1: to the place that he has called him. Moses gathers 118 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 1: his family and they say they're goodbyes to the poorest 119 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 1: father Jethro. Jethro blesses them and sends them away in peace, 120 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 1: knowing that God has called his son in law Moses 121 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: for something very special. On the way to Egypt, God 122 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 1: tells Moses of his plan to deal with Pharaoh. Moses 123 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 1: will show him the signs and wonders that God has 124 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 1: given him the power to perform. But God says these 125 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: will prove ineffective, as he will harden the heart of Pharaoh. 126 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 1: Pharaoh's unwillingness to release Israel will ultimately cost him dearly. 127 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 1: Listen to what God says in Exodus four twenty two 128 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 1: to twenty four. Then you will say to Pharaoh, Thus 129 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 1: says the Lord Israel is my son, my firstborn. So 130 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 1: I said to you let my son go, that he 131 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 1: may serve me. But you have refused to let him go. Behold, 132 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 1: I will kill your son. You are firstborn. God shows 133 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: his heart as a father to the nation of Israel 134 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 1: and his wrath against those who resist him. He is 135 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 1: a father who will stop at nothing to rescue and 136 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: redeem his beloved children. One day, God will show us 137 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 1: just how far he would go, just how loving his 138 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 1: great heart. His loving heart is in that he would 139 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:56,680 Speaker 1: send his own son Jesus to die so that we 140 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 1: can have eternal life. But before he hardens Hero's heart, 141 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 1: God must first deal with moses own heart. So God 142 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 1: confronts Moses with his failure to circumcise his son as 143 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: a sign of God's covenant with the Hebrew people, and 144 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 1: in a truly dramatic, stunning scene, Zipporah performs the operation herself. 145 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:20,959 Speaker 1: Zuppora knew that if Moses was to lead the children 146 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 1: of Israel out of captivity, his own heart needed to 147 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:28,559 Speaker 1: be one hundred percent committed to God and obedient to God, 148 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: and circumcising his son was a sign of this obedience. 149 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 1: When God calls us to himself, he does not accept 150 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 1: half hearted surrender. We must fully commit ourselves to follow 151 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 1: the Lord. But then he speaks to moses brother Aaron, 152 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:47,439 Speaker 1: sending him into the wilderness to meet Moses and to 153 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: return with him to their people, and together they bring 154 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: words of great hope to the enslaved Hebrew people. The 155 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:57,440 Speaker 1: Great I Am, the One True God, has heard the 156 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 1: cries of his people and have come to ascue them, 157 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 1: but the Pharaoh won't let them go easily. And the 158 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 1: next time, we're going to go with Moses to the 159 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 1: very palace of the most powerful man on earth, and 160 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 1: see what Pharaoh says. Dear God, thank you for always 161 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: going before us and beside us, and that you live 162 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 1: within us through Jesus Christ. Just as you prepared the 163 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 1: way through Moses, we can trust that you will prepare 164 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 1: the way for us. Lord, search our hearts, and may 165 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:32,559 Speaker 1: we always be fully and completely obedient to you. May 166 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 1: we surrender quickly to know and to do your will, 167 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: and to always do it with a grateful heart. Thank 168 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 1: you for your long suffering patience with us in Christ's name. Amen. 169 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 1: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 170 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 1: I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download the Prey 171 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 1: dot com app and make prayer a priority in your life. 172 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,679 Speaker 1: If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with someone you know, 173 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:01,079 Speaker 1: someone you love, because by sharing this podcast, you can 174 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 1: make a big difference in someone's life. In Jesus Name, 175 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 1: And if you want more resources on how to tap 176 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 1: into God's life, God's power, God's strength for successful Christian living, 177 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:16,560 Speaker 1: be sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. God bless you. 178 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 1: This episode is sponsored by Medicare, an innovative healthcare solution 179 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality