But if they do not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. Then the water you take from the Nile will become blood on the ground." But if they do not believeThis phrase introduces a conditional scenario, emphasizing the potential disbelief of the Israelites. The Hebrew root for "believe" is "aman," which conveys trust, faithfulness, and reliability. In the context of Exodus, this highlights the challenge Moses faces in convincing a skeptical people. Historically, the Israelites had been in Egypt for centuries, and their faith in God's deliverance might have waned, making belief in miraculous signs crucial. even these two signs
The "two signs" refer to the miracles God had already shown Moses: the staff turning into a serpent and Moses' hand becoming leprous and then healed. In the ancient Near Eastern context, signs and wonders were often seen as divine validation. These signs were meant to authenticate Moses' divine commission and demonstrate God's power over creation, reinforcing the message that God was with Moses. or listen to your voice
Listening, in Hebrew "shama," implies not just hearing but obeying. The Israelites' willingness to heed Moses' voice was essential for their liberation. This phrase underscores the importance of prophetic authority and the expectation that God's people would recognize and respond to His chosen messenger. you are to take some water from the Nile
The Nile River was the lifeblood of Egypt, central to its economy, agriculture, and religion. By instructing Moses to take water from the Nile, God was preparing to demonstrate His supremacy over Egypt's most vital resource. This act would challenge the Egyptian gods associated with the Nile, showcasing the God of Israel's power over nature and false deities. and pour it on the dry ground
Pouring the water on the dry ground symbolizes a transformation from life-giving water to a sign of judgment. The dry ground, or "yabashah" in Hebrew, contrasts with the fertile land sustained by the Nile, indicating a shift from blessing to curse. This act foreshadows the plagues and the eventual judgment upon Egypt. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground
The transformation of water into blood is a powerful sign of divine intervention and judgment. Blood, in Hebrew "dam," is often associated with life and death. This miracle prefigures the first plague, where the Nile turned to blood, symbolizing the disruption of life and the onset of divine retribution against Egypt. It serves as a stark reminder of God's sovereignty and the seriousness of His call to obedience. Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe central figure in this passage, chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He is given signs to perform to convince the Israelites and Pharaoh of God's power. 2. The Nile RiverA significant geographical feature in Egypt, representing both life and sustenance for the Egyptians. It is used by God as a tool to demonstrate His power. 3. The IsraelitesThe people of God who are enslaved in Egypt. They are the intended audience for the signs that Moses is to perform. 4. PharaohThe ruler of Egypt, who is initially resistant to letting the Israelites go. The signs are also meant to challenge his authority and demonstrate God's supremacy. 5. GodThe ultimate authority and power behind the signs, demonstrating His sovereignty and commitment to His covenant with Israel. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty Over NatureGod demonstrates His control over creation by transforming water into blood. This reminds us that He is sovereign over all aspects of the natural world. The Importance of FaithThe signs given to Moses were meant to inspire belief. In our lives, we are called to trust in God's power and promises, even when circumstances seem impossible. God's Patience and PersistenceDespite initial unbelief, God provides multiple signs to convince His people. This teaches us about God's patience and His desire for us to come to faith. The Consequences of UnbeliefThe transformation of water into blood serves as a warning of the consequences of rejecting God's message. It encourages us to heed God's word and respond in faith. The Role of Obedience in God's PlanMoses' obedience in performing the signs is crucial to God's plan. Our obedience to God's commands is similarly vital in fulfilling His purposes in our lives. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the transformation of water into blood in Exodus 4:9 foreshadow the plagues that will come upon Egypt? What does this teach us about God's warnings and judgments? 2. In what ways does the Nile River's significance to Egypt enhance the impact of this sign? How can understanding cultural and historical contexts deepen our understanding of Scripture? 3. How can we apply the lesson of God's sovereignty over nature in our daily lives, especially when facing challenges that seem beyond our control? 4. What are some modern "signs" or evidences of God's power and presence that we might overlook? How can we become more attentive to these in our spiritual walk? 5. How does Moses' initial reluctance and eventual obedience in performing the signs encourage us in our own journey of faith and obedience to God's calling? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 7:17This verse describes the first plague, where the Nile is turned to blood, fulfilling the sign given in Exodus 4:9. It shows the progression from a sign to a full-scale judgment. John 2:1-11Jesus' miracle of turning water into wine at Cana can be seen as a parallel to the transformation of water into blood, both demonstrating divine authority over creation. Revelation 16:4-6The third bowl judgment involves water turning to blood, echoing the plagues of Egypt and highlighting God's judgment against sin. People Aaron, Isaac, Israelites, Jacob, Jethro, Moses, Pharaoh, ZipporahPlaces Egypt, Horeb, Midian, Nile RiverTopics Believe, Blood, Credence, Dry, Ear, Faith, Ground, Hast, Hearken, Heed, Listen, Nile, Pass, Pour, Poured, River, Signs, Takest, Voice, Waters, YeaDictionary of Bible Themes Exodus 4:1-9 1449 signs, purposes Exodus 4:1-13 7758 preachers, call Exodus 4:5-9 5104 Moses, foreshadower of Christ Exodus 4:8-9 8836 unbelief, response Library January 13. "Thou Shalt be to Him Instead of God" (Ex. Iv. 16).
"Thou shalt be to him instead of God" (Ex. iv. 16). Such was God's promise to Moses, and such the high character that Moses was to assume toward Aaron, his brother. May it not suggest a high and glorious place that each of us may occupy toward all whom we meet, instead of God? What a dignity and glory it would give our lives, could we uniformly realize this high calling! How it would lead us to act toward our fellow-men! God can always be depended upon. God is without variableness or shadow of turning. …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth May the Eleventh but -- --!
"And Moses answered and said, But----" --EXODUS iv. 1-9. We know that "but." God has heard it from our lips a thousand times. It is the response of unbelief to the divine call. It is the reply of fear to the divine command. It is the suggestion that the resources are inadequate. It is a hint that God may not have looked all round. He has overlooked something which our own eyes have seen. The human "buts" in the Scriptural stories make an appalling record. "Lord, I will follow Thee, but----" There …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year May the Twelfth Mouth and Matter
"Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth." --EXODUS iv. 10-17. And what a promise that is for anyone who is commissioned to proclaim the King's decrees. Here can teachers and preachers find their strength. God will be with their mouths. He will control their speech, and order their words like troops. He does not promise to make us eloquent, but to endow our words with the "demonstration of power." "And I will teach thee what thou shall say." The Lord will not only be with our mouths, …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year A Bundle of Myrrh is My Well-Beloved unto Me; He Shall Abide Between My Breasts.
When the Bride, or rather the lover (for she is not yet a bride), has found her Bridegroom, she is so transported with joy, that she is eager to be instantly united to Him. But the union of perpetual enjoyment is not yet arrived. He is mine, she says, I cannot doubt that He gives Himself to me this moment, since I feel it, but He is to me, as it were, a bundle of myrrh. He is not yet a Bridegroom whom I may embrace in the nuptial bed, but a bundle of crosses, pains and mortifications; a bloody husband …
Madame Guyon—Song of Songs of Solomon Preaching (I. ).
Earthen vessels, frail and slight, Yet the golden Lamp we bear; Master, break us, that the light So may fire the murky air; Skill and wisdom none we claim, Only seek to lift Thy Name. I have on purpose reserved the subject of Preaching for our closing pages. Preaching is, from many points of view, the goal and summing up of all other parts and works of the Ministry. What we have said already about the Clergyman's life and labour, in secret, in society, in the parish; what we have said about his …
Handley C. G. Moule—To My Younger Brethren To the Saddest of the Sad
I often wonder what those preachers do who feel called to make up their message as they go on; for if they fail, their failure must be attributed in great measure to their want of ability to make up a moving tale. They have to spread their sails to the breeze of the age, and to pick up a gospel that comes floating down to them on the stream of time, altering every week in the year; and they must have an endless task to catch this new idea, or, as they put it, to keep abreast of the age. Unless, indeed, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 34: 1888 The Sweet Uses of Adversity
Now, I propose to address myself to the two classes of persons who are making use of this question. First, I shall speak to the tried saint; and then I shall speak to the seeking sinner, who has been seeking peace and pardon through Christ, but who has not as yet found it, but, on the contrary, has been buffeted by the law, and driven away from the mercy-seat in despair. I. First, then, to THE CHILD OF GOD. I have--I know I have--in this great assembly, some who have come to Job's position. They …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859 "For if Ye Live after the Flesh, Ye Shall Die; but if Ye through the Spirit do Mortify the Deeds of the Body, Ye Shall Live.
Rom. viii. s 13, 14.--"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." The life and being of many things consists in union,--separate them, and they remain not the same, or they lose their virtue. It is much more thus in Christianity, the power and life of it consists in the union of these things that God hath conjoined, so that if any man pretend to …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning The Hardening in the Sacred Scripture.
"He hath hardened their heart."-- John xii. 40. The Scripture teaches positively that the hardening and "darkening of their foolish heart" is a divine, intentional act. This is plainly evident from God's charge to Moses concerning the king of Egypt: "Thou shalt speak all that I command thee; and I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not harken unto you, and I will lay My hand upon Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit The Quotation in Matt. Ii. 6.
Several interpreters, Paulus especially, have asserted that the interpretation of Micah which is here given, was that of the Sanhedrim only, and not of the Evangelist, who merely recorded what happened and was said. But this assertion is at once refuted when we consider the object which Matthew has in view in his entire representation of the early life of Jesus. His object in recording the early life of Jesus is not like that of Luke, viz., to communicate historical information to his readers. …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Flight into Egypt and Slaughter of the Bethlehem Children.
(Bethlehem and Road Thence to Egypt, b.c. 4.) ^A Matt. II. 13-18. ^a 13 Now when they were departed [The text favors the idea that the arrival and departure of the magi and the departure of Joseph for Egypt, all occurred in one night. If so, the people of Bethlehem knew nothing of these matters], behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise [this command calls for immediate departure] and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt [This land was ever the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes
ONLY those who have made study of it can have any idea how large, and sometimes bewildering, is the literature on the subject of Jewish Proselytes and their Baptism. Our present remarks will be confined to the Baptism of Proselytes. 1. Generally, as regards proselytes (Gerim) we have to distinguish between the Ger ha-Shaar (proselyte of the gate) and Ger Toshabh (sojourner,' settled among Israel), and again the Ger hatstsedeq (proselyte of righteousness) and Ger habberith (proselyte of the covenant). …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah A Canticle of Love
It is not only when He is about to send me some trial that Our Lord gives me warning and awakens my desire for it. For years I had cherished a longing which seemed impossible of realisation--to have a brother a Priest. I often used to think that if my little brothers had not gone to Heaven, I should have had the happiness of seeing them at the Altar. I greatly regretted being deprived of this joy. Yet God went beyond my dream; I only asked for one brother who would remember me each day at the Holy …
Therese Martin (of Lisieux)—The Story of a Soul Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Exodus 4:9 NIVExodus 4:9 NLTExodus 4:9 ESVExodus 4:9 NASBExodus 4:9 KJV
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