Exodus Chapter 4
Showing all 31 verses for Exodus Chapter 4.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. "
"Moses replied, "But they won't believe me or listen to what I say. They'll say, 'The LORD never appeared to you.'""
Anticipating rejection before it even happens can quietly become its own obstacle to obedience. Moses' fear that no one would believe him was understandable, but it was still met patiently by God rather than dismissed. If fear of how others might respond is holding you back, bring that fear honestly to God rather than letting it silence you before you have even begun.
"And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. "
"The LORD asked him, "What's that in your hand?" Moses said, "A shepherd's staff.""
God often starts with what is already in your hand, however ordinary it seems, rather than asking you to acquire something new and impressive first. Moses' shepherd's staff, a simple tool of his daily work, becomes the very instrument of God's power. Look honestly at what you already have; it may be exactly what God intends to use.
"And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. "
"God said, "Throw it on the ground." Moses threw it down, and it turned into a snake - and he ran from it."
It is natural to be afraid of something unfamiliar or unsettling, even when God is directly behind it. Moses fled from the very sign meant to reassure him. Do not be ashamed of your own instinctive fear in the face of something new God is doing; let it become the starting point for growing trust rather than a permanent barrier.
"And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: "
"The LORD told Moses, "Reach out and grab it by the tail." He reached out, took hold of it, and it became a staff again in his hand."
Facing your fear directly, at God's own instruction, often reveals that what seemed dangerous was never truly a threat at all. Taking the serpent by the tail required real courage from Moses, courage that was rewarded with safety rather than harm. Trust that God will not lead you towards something that ultimately destroys you, even when His instructions feel frightening in the moment.
"That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. "
""This is so that they will believe that the LORD, the God of their ancestors - the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - has appeared to you.""
Miraculous signs are never given merely to impress; they are given so people will believe and trust the God behind them. This sign's purpose, stated plainly here, is belief in the covenant God of their ancestors, not simply astonishment at a spectacle. Let any wonder you witness in your own life point you towards deeper faith, not just momentary amazement.
"And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. "
"The LORD also said to him, "Put your hand inside your cloak." He put his hand in, and when he took it out, his hand was diseased, white as snow."
God provides more than one kind of evidence when one alone might not be enough to convince a doubting heart. This second sign, of sudden disease and equally sudden healing, offers Moses (and later, Israel) another layer of confirmation. Be patient with yourself or others who need more than a single reassurance before fully believing; God Himself is patient in providing it.
"And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. "
""Put your hand back in your cloak," God said. He did, and when he took it out again, it had returned to normal, like the rest of his skin."
Restoration, not just affliction, is part of this sign; God demonstrates His power to heal just as clearly as His power to disrupt. Whatever brokenness you are carrying, this sign is a small picture of a much larger truth: the same God who allows hardship is fully able to restore what has been damaged. Let this shape your hope even in seasons that currently feel diseased or diminished.
"And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. "
""If they don't believe you or listen to the message of the first sign, they will believe the message of the second sign.""
God graciously anticipates that people may need more than one piece of evidence before trusting something enormous and unfamiliar. Rather than being frustrated by doubt, God simply provides a second sign in case the first is not enough. Extend that same patience to others (and to yourself) when belief takes more than a single convincing moment to take root.
"And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land. "
""And if they don't believe even these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground - the water you take from the river will turn to blood on the ground.""
God prepares for every level of resistance, offering a third sign in case even two are not sufficient to overcome unbelief. This patient layering of proof shows a God who does not give up easily on being trusted by His people. Do not assume one setback in convincing someone (or yourself) of the truth means the effort was wasted; sometimes patient persistence eventually succeeds.
"And Moses said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. "
"Moses said to the LORD, "Please, Lord, I've never been a good speaker - not before, and not since you've been speaking to me. I speak slowly and get tongue-tied.""
Feeling inadequate in an area central to the task ahead, like Moses' struggle with speech, does not disqualify you from being used by God. Naming your genuine weakness honestly is not the same as refusing to obey. Bring your specific insecurities to God plainly, trusting that He already knows your limitations far better than you do.
"And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? "
"The LORD replied, "Who gives people their mouths? Who makes someone unable to speak, or deaf, or able to see, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?""
The same God who forms every human capacity, including speech itself, is more than capable of equipping you for whatever He calls you to say or do. Moses' weakness in speaking was never a surprise to the God who made mouths in the first place. Let this truth quiet your own anxieties about being 'not enough': the One calling you already made you, limitations included.
"Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. "
""Now go. I will help you speak and teach you what to say.""
God's promise here is not that Moses will suddenly become naturally eloquent, but that God Himself will be present with his mouth, teaching him what to say in the moment it is needed. You do not need to feel fully equipped in advance; you simply need to trust that God's help arrives exactly when the need does. Step forward in obedience even before you feel ready, trusting God to supply what is missing.
"And he said, O my LORD, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. "
"But Moses said, "Please, Lord, send someone else instead.""
Even after every reassurance, it is possible to still resist a calling out of persistent self-doubt or reluctance. Moses' final plea here, asking God to send someone else entirely, shows how deeply human hesitation can run even in the face of overwhelming evidence. Recognise when your own hesitation has moved from honest concern into simple reluctance, and be willing to finally step forward anyway.
"And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. "
"Then the LORD became angry with Moses and said, "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he's a good speaker. In fact, he's already on his way to meet you, and he'll be glad to see you.""
Persistent resistance to a clear calling can provoke real consequences, even from a patient God, though His anger here still results in provision rather than abandonment. God's frustration with Moses did not lead Him to withdraw the calling; it led Him to graciously provide Aaron as a partner. Even when your own doubts frustrate the people around you, remain hopeful that God can still provide a way forward.
"And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. "
""You will speak to him and give him the words to say. I will help both of you speak, and I will teach you both what to do.""
God can accomplish His purposes through partnership rather than requiring any single person to carry a calling entirely alone. Moses and Aaron together become more effective than either could have been separately. Do not assume that needing help means you have failed; recognise that shared calling is often exactly how God intends His work to be carried out.
"And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God. "
""He will speak to the people for you. He will be like your mouth, and you will be like God to him.""
Being someone's spokesperson, standing in the gap so another person's voice can be heard clearly, is a genuinely valuable and honoured role, not a lesser one. Aaron's calling here to speak for Moses is just as essential to the mission as Moses' own calling to lead. If your gift is helping someone else communicate or succeed, take pride in that role rather than viewing it as secondary.
"And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs. "
""Take this staff in your hand - you will use it to perform the signs.""
The tools and signs God has already given you for one purpose often become useful again and again as you continue in obedience. This same staff, first transformed at the burning bush, now becomes the instrument for further wonders throughout Moses' journey. Hold onto the evidence of God's past faithfulness; it will likely be useful again for whatever comes next.
"And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace. "
"Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro and said, "Please let me go back to my relatives in Egypt, to see if they're still alive." Jethro said to Moses, "Go in peace.""
Honouring family relationships and asking proper permission before a major life change reflects respect and integrity, even when pursuing an urgent, God-given calling. Moses does not simply disappear; he respectfully asks Jethro's blessing before departing. Let your own pursuit of calling still include honouring and communicating honestly with those who care about you.
"And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life. "
"The LORD said to Moses while he was still in Midian, "Go back to Egypt - all the men who wanted to kill you are dead.""
Old dangers do not last forever; circumstances that once made a path impossible can eventually clear, opening the way for a return you once thought unimaginable. God's timing in removing this threat shows His careful, attentive management of Moses' safety throughout his exile. Trust that seasons of necessary waiting do have an end, even when you cannot yet see it approaching.
"And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand. "
"So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and set out for Egypt. He carried the staff of God in his hand."
Stepping into a difficult calling often means bringing your whole family along into the uncertainty with you, not leaving them behind in safety. Moses' willingness to bring his wife and sons back towards danger in Egypt shows deep trust that God's calling included provision for them too. If your own calling involves risk to those you love, trust that God's care extends over your whole household, not just you.
"And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go. "
"The LORD said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, make sure you perform all the wonders I've given you the power to do in front of Pharaoh. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.""
Being warned in advance about hardened opposition equips you to endure it without losing faith when it actually happens. God's honest preparation here, that Pharaoh's heart would be hardened, meant Moses would not be shaken when his early efforts seemed to fail. Let honest expectations about resistance strengthen your endurance rather than weaken your hope.
"And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: "
""Then say to Pharaoh, 'This is what the LORD says: Israel is my son, my firstborn.'""
Being called God's own child, His firstborn, carries a dignity and protection that no earthly power has the right to violate. Israel's identity as God's son here grounds their coming deliverance in something far deeper than mere political freedom. Let your own identity as one loved and claimed by God shape how you understand your worth, regardless of how any earthly power treats you.
"And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn. "
""And I say to you, let my son go, so that he may serve me. If you refuse to let him go, then I will kill your son - your firstborn.""
Refusing to release someone from unjust bondage carries serious consequences, and God does not treat that refusal lightly. This severe warning to Pharaoh reflects how seriously God regards the enslavement of His people. Take seriously your own responsibility never to hold another person, even indirectly, in a bondage you have the power to release.
"And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. "
"On the way, at a place where they stopped for the night, the LORD met Moses and sought to kill him."
This deeply unsettling episode reminds us that even those called by God are still expected to walk in full obedience, including matters they might be tempted to overlook or delay. Whatever the exact circumstances behind this troubling moment, it shows that partial obedience is still a serious matter to God. Do not assume that being called excuses you from attending faithfully to every part of what obedience actually requires.
"Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. "
"Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, cut off her son's foreskin, and touched it to Moses' feet, saying, "You are a bridegroom of blood to me.""
Sometimes it takes someone else's quick, decisive action to correct a delay or oversight that could otherwise have serious consequences. Zipporah's swift response here saves Moses from disaster through immediate, practical obedience. Value the people in your own life who act decisively to correct what you yourself may have been neglecting or delaying.
"So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. "
"So the LORD let him alone. Then Zipporah said, "A bridegroom of blood," referring to the circumcision."
Difficult, even frightening episodes in a marriage or family life can still end in resolution and continued partnership rather than lasting rupture. Zipporah's blunt words here reflect real strain, yet the couple continues on together afterwards. When hard moments arise in your own close relationships, let honest reaction, even blunt reaction, be a step towards resolution rather than permanent division.
"And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him. "
"The LORD said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." So he went, met him at the mountain of God, and kissed him."
God orchestrates reunions and partnerships with careful timing, even sending Aaron out to meet Moses at exactly the right moment in the wilderness. You do not always need to engineer every connection yourself; sometimes God is already arranging the people you need to meet at precisely the right time. Trust His timing in bringing the right partnerships into your own life.
"And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him. "
"Moses told Aaron everything the LORD had said in sending him, and all the signs he had commanded him to do."
Sharing openly and completely with a trusted partner about what God has said and done builds the kind of unity needed to face a difficult mission together. Moses holds nothing back from Aaron, laying out everything plainly. Practise this same full transparency with those who will be working alongside you towards a shared, difficult purpose.
"And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel: "
"Moses and Aaron went and gathered all the elders of the Israelites together."
Bringing a message to those in authority or influence first, before attempting wider change, often reflects wisdom rather than mere caution. Moses and Aaron gather the elders before confronting Pharaoh, building support and understanding among their own people first. Consider whether laying groundwork with trusted leaders might strengthen your own efforts towards something difficult.
"And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. "
"Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses, and performed the signs in front of the people."
Visible, tangible demonstration can accomplish what words alone sometimes cannot; Aaron's performance of the signs before the people provides concrete evidence alongside the message itself. Consider whether your own words might be strengthened by backing them up with visible, consistent action. Evidence and testimony often work best together, not as substitutes for one another.
"And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped. "
"And the people believed. When they heard that the LORD had paid attention to the Israelites and had seen their suffering, they bowed their heads and worshipped."
Genuine belief, followed by worship, is a fitting response to recognising that God has truly seen and is truly acting on your behalf. The people's bowed heads here reflect gratitude, not mere intellectual agreement, that God had visited them in their affliction. Let your own recognition of God's attentive care lead you towards heartfelt worship, not just quiet acknowledgment.