Some suggest that Moses had a sudden seizure. Others that he became violently ill. Still others, that something akin to the flaming sword with accompanying angel as in Balaam’s case, appeared to him and threatened to slay him on the spot.

All we know for sure is that in the ensuing moments it was revealed to Moses and his wife that they were living outside the covenant, and as such, had no right to live. Moses was to be cut off from his people by this flagrant disobedience. It seems that his son would have suffered the same fate.

If Moses had any doubt before this incident, with the words of God ringing in his ear about how God was going to wipe out the prince of Egypt if Pharaoh did not comply, surely there was no doubt now about the severity of the One with Whom we must perform our duties. Our holy God expects perfect compliance. “You shall be holy,” He tells us, “for I am holy.”

Only through the death of Jesus and the power of God’s Spirit can this command be kept, but let none of us think that the command is no more.

Recall Hebrews 4:13,

“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”

No one, nothing , escapes His notice. That which seems to be the slow moving of God will speed up before our fearful eyes one day. God will judge, and that judgment will be severe, and it will begin at the house of God. And maybe your house. And maybe mine. God is patient, He waits for the change, for the repentance, but seeing nothing, one day the tree is removed from where it has been simply taking up space and bearing no fruit.

In Moses’ case, the judgment was about to come sooner, rather than later. This is His chosen man, and this man who will represent God’s Covenant to Egypt cannot have in his own family one who is breaking that covenant.

Sickness. Near Death. Message delivered. Zipporah does the bloody operation. In her eyes, perhaps, she was risking the life of her child, especially if this is a young boy, and not a baby. She loathes the task, but – and again we speculate – Moses is very ill at the moment, quite incapable of handling a serious medical procedure.

The deed is done, and the product of it is thrown at Moses’ feet, as he is now able to rise and recover. An unwilling obedience, some would say, is better than no obedience. But we do not see much of Zipporah after this. She may not have even gone beyond the encampment, so incensed is she at her husband’s strange religion and even stranger ministry. Back to the desert. She had loved this man, but had no idea what a marriage to him might mean.

Such is the case for many, but the call of God says Follow Me regardless. Wise men still follow Him, letting all other calls fall behind.

Moses is well now. When he and Aaron face the might of Egypt, it will be with yet another tool in their box: the awareness that this God for Whom they speak means business. What He says, He will do. Whether it is the leader of Egypt or even the leader of Israel, to stay in covenant relationship with Him is everything. Step out of line, and expect to hear from God personally. Moses would have to experience this harsh reality one more time in his life.

For us, it is good to remember the warning of Hebrews 12:

18You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”^c21The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”^d

22But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

25See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?