Ex 4:1-5.
Moses's rod is turned into a serpent.
Ex 4:6-9.
His hand is leprous.
Ex 4:10-12.
He is loath to be sent.
Ex 4:13-17.
Aaron is appointed to assist him.
Ex 4:18-20.
Moses departs from Jethro.
Ex 4:21-23.
God's message to Pharaoh.
Ex 4:24-26.
Zipporah circumcises her son.
Ex 4:27-28.
Aaron is sent to meet Moses.
Ex 4:29-31.
The people believe them.
Exodus 4:6-9
HIS HAND IS LEPROUS.
Lesson Text, Ex. 4:6-9 (Roboto Cond. Med.)
6Then the LORD said, "Put your hand inside your cloak." So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, the skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.
7 "Now put it back into your cloak," he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh.
8Then the LORD said, "If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first sign, they may believe the second.
9But if they do not believe 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 become blood on the ground."
Introduction
Moses objects because he believes that the people would not ACCEPT his word unless he showed them some sign. God gives him the power to work miracles. However, those who are now employed to deliver God's messages to men do not need the power to work miracles: their character and doctrines are to be tried by that word of God to which they appeal. These miracles mainly referred to the miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ. It belonged to Him only to cast the devil's power out of the soul and heal the soul of the leprosy of sin; and so it was for Him first to cast the devil out of the body, and heal the leprosy of the body.
Commentary
6Then the LORD said, "Put your hand inside your cloak." So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, the skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.
The Second Sign appeared when the other hand became covered with leprosy like snow, referring to white leprosy (see Leviticus 13:3). - "Was turned again as his flesh;" i.e., was restored, became healthy, or clean like the rest of his body. So far as the meaning of this sign is concerned, Moses' hand has been explained in a perfectly random manner as representing the Israelitish nation, and his bosom as representing first Egypt, and then Canaan, as the hiding-place of Israel. If the shepherd's staff represented Moses' calling, the hand directed or ruled the calling. It is in the bosom that the nurse carried the sucking child (Numbers 11:12), the shepherd the lambs (Isaiah 40:11), and the sacred singer the many nations, from whom he has suffered reproach and injury (Psalm 89:50). So Moses also carried his people in his bosom, i.e., in his heart: of that his first appearance in Egypt was proof (Exodus 2:11-12). However, now he was to set his hand to deliver them from the reproach and bondage of Egypt. He put his hand into his bosom, and his hand was covered with leprosy. The nation was like a leper who defiled everyone that touched him. Leprosy represented not only "the servitude and contemptuous treatment of the Israelites in Egypt," but the impurity of the Egyptians also, or rather the uncleanness of Egypt in which Israel was settled. This Moses soon discovered (cf. Exodus 5:17.), and on more than one occasion afterward (cf. Numbers 11); so that he had to complain to Jehovah, "Wherefore hast Thou afflicted Thy servant, that Thou layest the burden of all these people upon me?...Have I conceived all these people, that Thou shouldest say to me, Carry them in thy bosom?" (Numbers 11:11-12). Nevertheless, God had the power to purify the nation from this leprosy and endow His servant Moses with that power. At the command of God, Moses put his hand, now covered with leprosy, once more into his bosom and drew it out entirely cleansed. This was what Moses was to learn by the sign, while Israel also learned that God both could and would deliver it, through the cleansed hand of Moses, from all its bodily and spiritual misery. The object of the first miracle was to exhibit Moses as the man whom Jehovah had called to be the leader of His people; that of the second, to show that, as the messenger of Jehovah, he was furnished with the necessary power for the execution of this calling. In this sense, God says, in Exodus 4:8, "If they do not hearken to the voice of the first sign, they will believe the voice of the latter sign." A voice is ascribed to the sign as being a clear witness to the divine mission of the person performing it. (Psalm 105:27).
His hand was leprous, as snow - For whiteness. This signified That Moses, by the power of God, should bring sore diseases upon Egypt, that at his prayer, they should be removed.
Moreover, whereas the Israelites in Egypt were become leprous, polluted by sin, and almost consumed by oppression, they should be cleaned and cured by being taken into the bosom of Moses.
7 "Now put it back into your cloak," he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh.
And he said, Put thine hand into thy cloak, and leave leprosy on it: and he put his hand into his bosom again, and plucked it out quickly after he had put it in: and, behold, it was turned again like his other flesh; it was cured of leprosy, recovered its color, and was as sound as before and any other part of his body. This was a very astonishing miracle that he should be at once smote with leprosy; that this should be only in his hand and not in any other part of his body; and that it should be cured immediately, without the use of any means; and by this miracle Moses, and the Israelites, might be instructed and confirmed in the power of God, that he that could so suddenly inflict such a disease, and so quickly cure it, was able to deliver them out of captivity, which was as death; and that however until Moses might be in himself to be a deliverer of the people, signified by his weak and leprous hand, yet being quickened and strengthened by the Lord, would be able to answer to the character; though, after all, the deliverance must be imputed not to his hand and power, but the mighty hand and power of God.
8Then the LORD said, "If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first sign, they may believe the second.
Moses objected. He objects that the people would not take him at his word unless he showed them some sign (proof). God gives him the power to work miracles. However, those who are now employed to deliver God's messages to men do not need the power to work miracles: their character and doctrines are to be tried by that word of God to which they appeal. These miracles mainly referred to the miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ. It belonged to Him only, to cast the devil's power out of the soul, and to heal the soul of the leprosy of sin; and so it was for Him first to cast the devil out of the body, and to heal the leprosy of the body.
To the voice of the first sign; to the voice or word of God delivered and confirmed by the first sign. For Moses did not make dumb shows before them but acquainted them with the mind of God. Alternatively, he saith the voice to note that God's works have a voice to speak to us, which we must diligently observe. (See Micah 6:9).
The voice of the first sign.—Not "the voice of Moses witnessed to by the first sign," but the voice, which the sign itself might be regarded as uttering. (Comp. Psalm 105:27, where Moses and Aaron are said to have proclaimed "the words of God's signs.”) A miracle speaks to men.
They will believe that most of them are accustomed to the tricks of the serpent charmers (see Exodus 7:11 ). The Israelites might be unmoved by the sight of the first miracle. They were then shown the second, which would be much more astonishing, having no parallel in their experience. This would persuade a more significant number. As some, however, might still doubt, a third sign was provided. God is patient with all reasonable doubt.
To the voice of the first sign; to the voice or word of God delivered and confirmed by the first sign. For Moses did not make dumb shows before them but acquainted them with the mind of God. Alternatively, he saith the voice to note that God's works have a voice to speak to us, which we must diligently observe. (See Micah 6:9).
Some understand "the voice of Moses as he gave them the first sign," but it is better to regard the sign itself as speaking to them. According to the sacred writer, everything that can teach us anything - day, night, the heavens, the firmament, the beasts, the fowls of the air, the fishes, nay, the very stones - has a voice. They teach us, speak to us, declare to us, cry aloud, lift up their voices, shout, sing, proclaim God's will, whether man will hear or withhold. (See Psalm 19:1-3; Job 12:7, 3; Habakkuk 2:11; Luke 19:40, Eetc.) Equally, or rather much more, must a miracle be regarded as having a voice. God speaks to us by it.
9But if they do not believe 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 become blood on the ground."
Moreover, if they will not believe these two signs, performed before their eyes; for these were done over again for the Israelites, when Moses came into Egypt, yet some of them might remain unbelievers in his commission, and so to the voice of these signs, which loudly called for their faith: neither do they hearken unto thy voice; affirming he came from God and was sent to deliverer them. Thou shalt take of the water of the river; of the river Nile, when he should come into Egypt; wherefore Josephus is mistaken when he intimates that this was done at the same time with the other signs, and was water he took from another source and poured on the ground. Philo indeed refers this to Egypt, where it was done, as it ought to be: and poured it upon the dry land, and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land; by which it would appear how easily the Lord could destroy the land of Egypt, and make it a barren land. The river's fertility was on account of the overflow of the river Nile. This would illustrate what he could do in the future by turning the river's waters into blood, thereby avenging the blood of innocent babes drowned there by the Egyptians.
