Exodus 4 ~ the LORD had visited the people

Exodus 4

1 Then Moses answered, "But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, 'The LORD did not appear to you.'"

 2 The LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A staff." 3 And he said, "Throw it on the ground." So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. 4 But the LORD said to Moses, "Put out your hand and catch it by the tail"--so he put 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 Again, the LORD said to him, "Put your hand inside your cloak." And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. 7 Then God said, "Put your hand back inside your cloak." So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. 8 "If they will not believe you," God said, "or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. 

9 If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground." 10 But Moses said to the LORD, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue."

 11 Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak." 

13 But he said, "Oh, my Lord, please send someone else." 14 Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses and he said, "Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. 16 He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. 17 And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs."

18 Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, "Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive." And Jethro said to Moses, "Go in peace." 19 And 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 had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. 

And Moses took the staff of God in his hand.

 21 And the LORD said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that 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 firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, "Let my son go that he may serve me." If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.'" 

24 At a lodging place on the way 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 touched Moses' feet with it and said, "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!" 26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said, "A bridegroom of blood," because of the circumcision. 

27 The LORD said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. 28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD with which he had sent him to speak, and all the signs that he had commanded him to do. 

29 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. 

30 Aaron spoke all the words that the LORD had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. 

31 And the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.

The most basic part of Moses talking to God starts with the Road to Emmaus.

Are we touched by God here in Exodus 4?

We do believe this is God. We do believe, "Yes, I've had conversations with God."

Then we add in, He doesn't speak to my hearing ear, but I do believe this really sounds like God.

And then the next reaction is - I'd like to talk to God more and hear Him more.

After we read the Chapter a second time or look for the Living verses speaking to us, we wonder about God being upset with a mortal. God says we are all flawed and sin. Was Jesus  very forthright ?To the point of being Authoritatively in Command - to be seen as angry?



You bet. Jesus spoke up.




John 3

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."

3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4

Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"

10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?

11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.

12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?



Grumpy. Direct. Authoritative. Challenging. Opinionated. And, of course, GOD.


And how did Nicodemus take this Authority? We know, like Moses, like Nicodemus, God is going to be Right. Be Honest. Be Authoritative. Be in Command. And God is going to be correct. And God is filled with such tender mercy - Nicodemus was going to be excluded in important moments in the Sanhedrin. Continue on to care for the dead body of Jesus to the Prefect - To Rome Itself.

Israel Exploration Journal, an archaeological review in Israel, published this week a a 2,000-year-old copper alloy ring bearing the name of Pontius Pilate.

This has been studied for it's authenticity since finding it in the 1961. The ring was discovered in the late 1960s, one of thousands of artifacts, found in the excavation of Herodium, an ancient fortress and palace south of Bethlehem, in the West Bank. Recently researchers have methods to start analyzing those objects with advanced photography, were able to decipher the ring’s inscription.

It reads “of Pilates,” in Greek letters set around a picture of a wine vessel known as a krater, and is said by archaeologists to be only the second artifact from his time ever found with his name. Kraters - wine containers - are a common image in artifacts of that time and place.

Why would this be near Herod's Tomb? Crates of Wine? No. The ring was found in a room filled with bits of glass, shards of pottery, arrowheads, coins and other items. The language of the ring’s inscription is Greek, which Roman officials used to communicate with the peoples of the eastern Mediterranean. It could have been used for official correspondence by Pilate himself and his officials who had to sign his name.

Probably, Pilate had authorized Herod to use the ring and Herod had found this worthy to be saved for eternity as an honor showing Power and Rome. Pilate's inscription on the Title of the Cross was written in Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Greek was commonly used through the whole Mediterranean as the language of trade.

It is a Historical marker for conversations held between Herod and Pilate in Archaeology.

Mount Nebo is where Moses body was placed. Many people go to Mount Nebo to see the Land of Milk and Honey Jesus was to choose as His Hometown. Very few people hope to have conversation with Pilate or Herod. Many people hope to meet Moses in Heaven and to speak more with Jesus and Father God.


To see how the events unfold is to see the Very Wisdom of Father God.
And be able to say:

Abba, Holy Father,

We earnestly ask You today for Your tender-hearted, willing Blessings.

We'd like to have Your Heart, Your counsel, Your encouragement, Your answers, Your Hope, Your wisdom, Your Love, Your direction, Your humor, Your ways and Your Mercy. Blessing You knowing our plan and path is best when we are on Your Plan and Your Path.

We are bold to give thanks for the Children of God asking for more Heaven on earth. All our cares, held tenderly to Your Love. You care for us.

All Your Love for the people we Love.

For our Nation trusting in You.

For the nations of the world believing in You, trusting You to be our Light.

In the Name of Jesus, we thank You for bold access to Your Home as we Pray.

Blessings of Jesus in this Christmas Season,

Amen Amen Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †