Signs and Sayings to Set Apart

Exodus 4:1–23 (NASB95)

Moses Given Powers

1 Then Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’ ”

2 The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.”

3 Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.

4 But the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand and grasp it by its tail”—so he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand—

5 “that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

6 The LORD furthermore said to him, “Now put your hand into your bosom.” So he put his hand into his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow.

7 Then He said, “Put your hand into your bosom again.” So he put his hand into his bosom again, and when he took it out of his bosom, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh.

8 “If they will not believe you or heed the witness of the first sign, they may believe the witness of the last sign.

9 “But if they will not believe even these two signs or heed what you say, then you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water which you take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”

10 Then Moses said to the LORD, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”

11 The LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?

12 “Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.”

13 But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.”

Aaron to Be Moses’ Mouthpiece

14 Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.

15 “You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do.

16 “Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him.

17 “You shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs.”

18 Then Moses departed and returned to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please, let me go, that I may return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see if they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”

19 Now the LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.”

20 So Moses took his wife and his sons and mounted them on a donkey, and returned to the land of Egypt. Moses also took the staff of God in his hand.

21 The LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.

22 “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Israel is My son, My firstborn.

23 “So I said to you, ‘Let My son go that he may serve Me’; but you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.” ’ ”

Introduction

What do you do when you want to know something about someone, but you don’t want to ask them directly? If you’re just getting to know someone, you don’t know which team they root for so rather than asking, “Hey do you like the Chiefs?”, or “Do you like the Eagles..” you ask, “Did you watch the game last week?” You ask an adjacent question that will hopefully give you some information about that person’s allegiances to one team or the other without getting the awkward, “No, or “not really” when you ask, “Do you like the such and such a team?” . You’re not really looking for they’re interest in the game generally, you want to know which team they support. Some may refer to this as a kind of litmus test. I did not know this until i looked it up but a litmus test is actually a test to determine whether a solution is acidic or basic. You put a colored strip into the solution and if it turns color you have an acidic or basic solution. You’re not really concerned with the color of the paper, your concerned with the character of the solution.

In our text this morning God uses signs and sayings to reveal the character, the hearts, of the people in the narrative. Some will be set apart by this divine litmus test as believers in response to the signs and words of God given to them; Others will be set apart as hard hearted for their response to the wonders and sayings given to them from God through Moses. As we’ll see this litmus test is not isolated to Exodus. Throughout Scripture God continues to reveal Himself through words and wonders, sayings and signs that his elect would see and believe. We’ll recognize however that greater signs and greater revelation don’t correlate with greater belief if the heart is not humble and soft to the revelation of God. There are those who are given great signs and yet will not believe because their hearts are hard. In the end the signs and sayings serve to reveal the work of God in the hearts of men, that work of humbling unto belief in His revelation.

God uses signs and sayings to reveal His covenant keepers: those set apart by belief in His Word.

How will Israel be set apart?

How will Moses be set apart?

How will Pharaoh be set apart?

Answers

How will Israel be set apart? (vs. 1-9)

As you may notice verse 1 is the continuation of the conversation God is having with Moses that we started last week. God has revealed Himself to Moses, he’s given him a clear calling, as well His presence, His proclamation, and His power.

God even gives him a promise back in vs.18 of chapter 3 “They will pay heed to what you say...”

In spite of all the assurances, Moses is still on edge and has some more questions.

“What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, “The Lord has not appeared to you.’” (vs.1)

As much as Moses’ question is one of concern and perhaps doubt, he gets right to the issue at hand: belief.

Let’s recognize from the onset that this theme runs through this whole text. Who will believe? Who will be set apart by belief? Who will be set apart by unbelief?

Three times this statement comes up, “If they will not believe” in the first 9 verses. You’ll see the other two in verses 8 and 9. Each corresponds to a particular sign given to Moses by God. Signs given for the express purpose “that they may believe” in verse 5.

Furthermore, the conclusion of our passage vs. 31 “So the people believed”

Belief is the character that we’re looking for throughout the text, and the signs and sayings of God will reveal to us whether or not that character of belief is present.

Moses knows what he’s looking for in the people, and he’s not convinced he’s going to find it. Perhaps there is doubt or unbelief in his words that contradict what God has already said in chapter three not to mention all the equipping of the Creator God, but Moses knows that the point isn’t that Israel would believe Moses’ word because it’s Moses’ word. “It’s Moses, we can trust him.” Moses recognizes the need for the people to believe the words he speaks are God’s words.

God in his patience and grace provides Moses with no shortage of signs to signify that God has spoken, and Moses speaks on the behalf of God.

The first sign given to Moses: his staff is cast to the ground and becomes a snake, a snake formidable enough to make an experienced shepherd like Moses flee from it. God says, “Stretch out your hand and grasp it by its tail.” and it becomes a staff again.

An extraordinary sign certainly. Not exactly easing into things.

Can you imagine being an Israelite when Moses comes back and says, “God has spoken to me.” Somebody speaks up, “God didn’t speak to you, you’re just trying to be our prince like before.” Moses proceeds to drop his staff and it turns into a snake. God’s not really messing around, yet the signs aren’t intended to intimidate as much as I’d imagine you’d probably keep your mouth shut after that.

God states expressly the purpose of the signs

Exodus 4:5 (NASB95)

5 “that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

——

The signs aren’t useful to make the people respect or believe in Moses. They’re useful to make the people believe the LORD is present with Moses. Signs are never a means of glorifying man or exalting man. They point eyes and hearts to God. The God who has made promises and covenants with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The conclusion being, The God who spoke in covenants of blessing before who has been silent for 400 years has spoken again, to this man. It’s not about Moses. Moses is an instrument through whom the word of God would be revealed to His people.

God seals the deal for Moses. One sign isn’t enough. If they don’t listen to the first sign, put your hand inside your coat and pull it out again. It will be covered in leprosy, white as snow. An incurable skin disease. Upon putting it back into his coat and pulling it out again, it's completely cured.

If you’re an Israelite witnessing these two signs surely there’s a sense of awe at the very least if not outright belief that what Moses says is true given the supernatural signs that accompany them.

Yet God graciously grants Moses another if they will not believe the first two. Should Moses take water from the Nile and pour it out onto the ground, it will turn into blood.

All these are given for the clear purpose God intends, “that they may believe that the LORD, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to Moses.” but not just appeared, appeared and spoke words which were to believed.

It’s been some time since wax seals were used, but there was a period in time when kings and rulers would deliver official documents and messages sealed with wax and impressed in the wax was the sign or symbol of the king. The receiver immediately upon seeing that sign knew the contents of that message or letter was to be treated as the king’s direct word, bearing his full authority because it bore the sign of the king on its seal. Imagine the receiver of that message immediately began to praise the mail man who delivered it for the sign that accompanied that letter. It would be absurd to consider the messenger as deserving the same glory as the king who wrote the letter. At the same time the authority of the letter is not diminished based on the humble state of the mail man.

God in his grace grants us the same assurance by accompanying His words given to messengers with signs. This is not unique to Exodus. The entire book of John is marked by this theme except in John the message is Christ. The Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. From Jesus’ first miracle, turning water into wine at the wedding of Cana, John tells us

John 2:11 (NASB95)

11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

John goes on to attest of other signs Jesus did, but after Jesus appears to his disciples in His resurrected body, John gives us a clear purpose statement.

John 20:30–31 (NASB95)

Why This Gospel Was Written

30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

—-

There’s a clear correlation to be understood here. Signs are not an end in and of themselves. Signs are given for the express purpose of turning the eyes of people to God the deliverer, Christ the Savior, that they would believe.

The entire book of Acts reinforces this reality. Every miraculous sign in the book of Acts serves to point people to the testimony of Christ that those who heard would believe.

The same purpose accompanies the signs given to Moses, that the people would believe in the Word of God, the good news of God’s deliverance.

What do we take away from this? We don’t exactly have staffs, snakes, and signs today to accompany the word preached. Are we supposed to?

We need to remember at the end of the day, it’s not about the signs, it’s about faith in Christ. Christ in His words to Thomas as he showed him His resurrected body scarred by the nails and the spear.

John 20:29 (NASB95)

29 Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

Christ considers those blessed who have no signs and yet have believed in Him. I’m afraid there are those who count themselves blessed because they display so called signs, miracles, or fantastic displays yet do not proclaim Christ alone through faith alone.

At the end of the day the people of God are set apart by faith and belief in God as deliverer not any sign or miracle.

Should we look for a sign, might we look to the resurrected Christ, having defeated death and the grave assuring us, his Word is true, and our sins are forgiven for those who believe. What greater sign could we ask for?

...

At this point Moses is given the signs that they would believe, it is belief that will set them apart, but we don’t yet know how the people will respond. Moses doesn’t either and goes on to give reason why the people may not believe. Why the people will not believe Moses has been set apart by God. Moses begins to look to his own potential, his own ability speak to distinguish himself, to set himself apart as a true prophet of God.

How will Moses be set apart? (vs. 10-17)

Exodus 4:10 (NASB95)

10 Then Moses said to the LORD, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”

—-

Let’s pause and recall all that Moses has been given at this point.

1. God’s holy revelation of Himself.

2. A clear calling with the authority of God

3. The assurance of God’s presence, proclamation, and power

4. Three miraculous signs that they may believe.

The Creator of the universe, holy God, has brought all this to bear for Moses’ benefit and Moses still thinks that something is missing.

The signs are great, but they’re not enough.

Your presence is assuring, but it’s not enough.

Your longstanding covenant made hundreds of years ago is amazing, but it’s not enough.

The authority of your call and ability as the Creator is great, but it’s not enough.

God needs a man of eloquent speech if he’s going to make the people believe. Someone set apart as a preacher, a public speaker. That’s what you really need, and I’m just not the guy.

God responds in no uncertain terms to say, “You’re still looking to the wrong person!”

Exodus 4:11 (NASB95)

11 The LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?

—-

God says, can’t you see? I am the Creator of all things! I literally made your mouth. Am I not able to bring about the desired effect from my own creation?

Exodus 4:12 (NASB95)

12 “Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.”

—-

Suppose for a moment you walk into a dealership to buy a new car. Let’s say it’s a Toyota dealership. (I drive a Toyota) A salesman meets you at the door, you tell him what you’re looking for and he shows you to the newest model. You go for a test drive, it has everything you could possibly need. The interior is immaculate. The engine has the power you need. It fits all the kids. It’s a great car. You get back to the dealership, and the salesman introduces himself as Mr. Toyota himself and says the car is on the house. No cost to you whatsoever. He says I’ve designed and test-drove this car myself, I’m sure it will meet all of your needs. At that moment rather than taking the keys, you say, “You know what Mr. Toyota I think you missed something… and you proceed to critique the car to his face. I’m just not sure it’s going to hold up??”

it’s an absurd notion isn’t it? Who would do that? How much more for Moses to look at all that he has been provided in God and conclude, “I’m not sure this plan is going to hold up.” and when God reassures Moses that his Creator will provide the words he is to say, Moses remains unwilling and unconvinced.

Exodus 4:13 (NASB95)

13 But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.”

—-

At this point God is righteously angry with Moses for his unwillingness to trust in the provision given to him, and yet God continues to provide for Moses. God will send Aaron, one who is Moses’ brother to be his mouthpiece. He is apparently a more able speaker than Moses, and he will speak what God has spoken to Moses. This is apparently sufficient for Moses as he will take up his staff and soon return to Egypt knowing he has someone to speak for him.

What is it that Moses believes will make him effective? What is it that Moses believes will set him apart as a servant of God?

In the end he looks to something which he believes to be extraordinary but in reality is quite ordinary. Eloquence of speech may be revered by cultures for millennia as an extraordinary talent. Some may consider it a requirement for a head of state. If you’re going to do great things, you must be an effective communicator. There’s certainly wisdom in that, we ask that pastors have the ability to teach according to Scripture, but eloquence of speech does not require God. It may be rare, but it is ordinary in that sense that God is not necessary to be an effective speaker. I’m afraid at times we are tempted to put our faith in extraordinary qualifications that simply don’t require God. We put our faith in things that the world can do to set us apart as the people of God or be effective ministers of the gospel. Great resumes, grand presentations, and extraordinary displays are no substitute for the presence of God, using the Word of God to transform the people of God. Do we lay aside qualifications altogether? No, but where is our faith? Where is our primary investment? What do we believe will set us apart as effective gospel ministers, and when I say gospel ministers I don’t mean pastors, teachers or elders, I mean the church as a whole. The entirety of the church engages in gospel ministry in some form. Will we set ourselves apart by something ordinary and wordly or by something extraordinary in the word and power of God?

Moses as it will turn out, won’t be set apart by Aaron’s eloquent speech. Nor are we set apart by the ordinary gifts which even the world can attain.

Thus far we’ve established the people are not set apart by signs. Moses won’t be set apart by some degree of eloquent speech, his or Aaron’s. We’re going to be introduced to one more character, Pharaoh, before we start getting some more clarity on all of this.

We can ask the same question as we’ve been asking.

How will Pharaoh be set apart? (vs. 18-23)

Moses begins to gather his family, his belongings, his staff to return to Egypt. God reassures Moses that no one there is seeking his life, but as he’s returning to Egypt God provides further instruction.

Exodus 4:21 (NASB95)

21 The LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your power;

—-

God is going to use very similar means with Pharaoh as he will with Israel. Present to him signs and wonders that his heart will be revealed. He too will be set apart by the nature of his heart, yet not amongst the people of Israel.

We immediately begin getting some clarity and some answers. Up until this point we don’t know how Israel is going to respond. As much as God knows, all the language regarding Israel’s belief has been ‘what if...” ‘that they may believe...” “if they will...” “if they will…” God stated in chapter three that they will listen, but in the context there’s a sense of not yet to Israel’s response. Will Israel really respond in belief to these sayings and signs given to Moses?

With Pharaoh however we have immediate answers. We know the signs and wonders and words of Moses will be given to him. The litmus test will be applied to reveal his heart, but we are given a certainty regarding his response.

“but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.”

—-

As if to say to Moses, “This man will be given the greatest of signs from God; He is likely one of great means: Able to speak, extraordinary power and wealth, yet all of that will be nothing because his heart will be hardened and he will not listen or believe the word of God accompanied by the signs of God. Pharaoh will indeed be set apart, but not set apart with the people of God. He will be counted among the unbelieving, and counted among them by the sovereign hand of God to the degree he foretells the death of his son to Moses and gives him the words to say before Moses even arrives in Egypt.

Exodus 4:22–23 (NASB95)

22 “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Israel is My son, My firstborn.

23 “So I said to you, ‘Let My son go that he may serve Me’; but you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.” ’ ”

—-

God knows Pharaoh will refuse because God will have an active hand in hardening the heart of Pharaoh.

For some this may be a disturbing thought:

Is God causing Pharaoh to sin?

Is God denying Pharaoh the opportunity to believe?

Firstly, we must stand by God’s holiness:

Psalm 5:4 NASB95

4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil dwells with You.

Psalm 92:15 NASB95

15 To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

—-

As our confession states it, “having in and of Himself, all perfections, and being infinite in them all”. God in his holiness cannot author evil.

Secondly, we must acknowledge that God is not obligated to extend grace to anyone, else it would not be grace. Should God decide to water the ground of the unbelieving heart that the soil would be ready to receive the seed, the good news, that is His gracious hand at work. We perhaps take for granted that God extends a grace to so many unbelievers such that their hearts remain soft for a time and receptive to the call of the gospel and repentance. Every part of the unbeliever is corrupted by sin from the beginning certainly, but not every unbeliever is utterly depraved and completely hardened in heart. It is only by God’s grace that the sinner’s heart is receptive to the gospel at all, and should God decide to hasten the hardening by withholding his grace that is well within his just and sovereign will.

We are completely and utterly dependent on God’s grace if we desire to be set apart as His covenant keeping people: believers in the Word that is Christ. Absent his grace our hearts would grow cold and hard just like Pharaoh’s in due time. Even we who have been set apart according to our belief in Christ have no room for boasting.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NASB95)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

—-

God will set apart for Himself a people, a people marked by belief in His, and yet even that belief is a gift.

At this point we know Pharaoh will not believe. This gift will not be extended to Him, but we need to return to Moses and Israel to see this gift come to fruition, and we see some further answers to our initial questions.

Answers. (vs. 24-31)

Then we come to verse 24...

Exodus 4:24–26 (NASB95)

24 Now it came about at the lodging place on the way that the LORD met him and sought to put him to death.

25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son’s foreskin and threw it at Moses’ feet, and she said, “You are indeed a bridegroom of blood to me.”

26 So He let him alone. At that time she said, “You are a bridegroom of blood”—because of the circumcision.

—-

Alright then… this doesn’t exactly appear to belong here in the flow of this narrative does it? It’s chronologically in the right place, but what are we supposed to do with that? Why is God suddenly about to kill Moses after everything he’s just said?!

Again recognizing the theme of the text is important.

I don’t think it’s coincidental that the text has just mentioned Pharaoh and Pharaoh’s son as we turn our head to Moses and Moses’ son. Let’s notice that Pharaoh’s unbelief resulted in a very clear sign from God arriving in the form of the death of his son. Pharaoh’s unbelief is evident in the death of his son.

How did God intend for Abraham, this man of faith to display his faith to the world and set himself apart from the unbeliever. He was to grant his son a sign, the sign of circumcision. Up until this point Moses has been trying to set himself apart by his competence his speech, but God in his anger clearly communicates that’s not the way. God again appears to Moses this time to kill him, and Moses’ wife has to circumcise his son years after Moses should have done so.

Genesis 17:7-10 (NASB95)

Genesis 17:7–10 NASB95

7 “I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. 8 “I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” 9 God said further to Abraham, “Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. 10 “This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.

—-

Moses failed to set himself apart by showing himself to be a keeper of God’s covenant. He looked for more than simple means God gave him to set himself apart: Keep my covenant. For the last two chapters God has been pointing to Himself, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the covenant making and covenant keeping God and yet Moses, God’s messenger is overlooking the simple, ordinary things which God uses to set apart for Himself a people. Keep My covenant, my promise which I gave to your forefathers. Know that I am with you. Proclaim the words which I have given you! Use the power why I have given you.

The truth is Moses has been given an extraordinary calling but he is to be set apart just like everyone else, keeping the covenant and showing himself to be a keeper of that covenant by circumcising his sons. Unfortunately God would need to remind him of that reality in a rather firm way through his wife.

There’s great wisdom in that for us today! Might we find contentment and sufficiency in the ordinary provision God has given us. Might we be found above all to be keeper’s of the New Covenant given to us in the blood of Christ. We set ourselves apart with our own New Covenant ‘signs’ if you will, the Lord’s Supper and Baptism. For we who are set apart as believers in the sufficiency of the work of Christ for our salvation, we mark ourselves with baptism and the church recognizes together, that person is set apart. They’re one of us! They are not of this world, and we welcome them into our membership. For all we who are baptized believers we observe the Lord’s Supper together. We remember the Covenant which Christ made with us and we keep it by faith.

What sets us apart as covenant keepers is not that we drink of the cup, take of the bread or are baptized. The people of Israel were never intended to be merely set apart by circumcision or the law. They too were saved spiritually and eternally through their faith in the good news given to them. God has always intended that his people would be set apart by belief in the good news of the covenant he made with his people.

Moses learns this lesson the hard way and we’ll eventually come to see the faith of Moses put on display for us to see, but for the time being, how did Israel finally respond?

Moses meets with Aaron, provides him with all that God has said and they go together to gather the people.

Exodus 4:29–31 (NASB95)

29 Then Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the sons of Israel;

30 and Aaron spoke all the words which the LORD had spoken to Moses. He then performed the signs in the sight of the people.

31 So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD was concerned about the sons of Israel and that He had seen their affliction, then they bowed low and worshiped.

—-

God’s covenant promise is coming to fruition through the belief of the people in his signs and sayings. The means God has provided to us are sufficient for the task! But it doesn’t stop there. The people don’t just believe, they worship.

Upon hearing of God’s concern for them and His awareness of their affliction, the condition of their heart becomes even more apparent. Their belief is put on display as they bow and worship. They did not look to Moses and praise Him. They did not look to Aaron and praise his fluency or eloquence, they worshipped God. The means we use as ministers corresponds to who gets the glory in the end. Dependency on our own means at the start is a trajectory for our own glory in the end. Dependency on the means which God has given us leads us down a path where only God can get the glory.

Might we keep to that simple, narrow path of keeping His Word, keeping His covenant, and depending on the Spirit to work that Christ may receive the glory. We’re set apart by a simple faith in a gospel that many in the world consider foolish. The wisdom of the world seeks to be set apart by things that give them the glory. If God gets the glory in the end through the use of His simple means of faith in His Word, then we can rest.

Might we find a deep contentment in the sufficiency of His Word and the good news of Christ resurrected. Our faith in these is what sets us apart, makes us effective, and ensures God’s glory in the end.

Let’s Pray.