Never Compromise | Exodus 4:18-26

INTRODUCTION

Are You Sure You Never Compromise?

Do You feel a bit of Bible and a bit of World is Okay?

We all have been chosen, called, and separated by God for true worship. In our walk in faith do we really stand up for what is right? Do you feel a little bit of obedience and a little of the world is okay for a Christian? Do you follow the worldly culture and customs and in turn compromise on the values and principles of the Word of God?

Exodus 4:18-26 This morning we are going to see the consequences of leading a compromised Christian life, we are also going to see some examples of how we compromise our faith.

BRIEF BACKGROUND

• Moses had the burning bush experience.
• God told Moses to go to Egypt and deliver his people out of bondage.

See what Moses does

Exodus 4:18-23 ¹⁸ Then Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Let me return to my own people in Egypt to see if any of them are still alive.”

Jethro said, “Go, and I wish you well.”

¹⁹ Now the Lord had said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all those who wanted to kill you are dead.” ²⁰ So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand. ²¹ The Lord said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. ²² Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son, ²³ and I told you, “Let my son go, so he may worship me.” But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’”

• Moses got the call to go back to Egypt.
• He left his cattle business.
• Then left his father-in-law’s house.
• He also left for Egypt with his family for ministry.

This shows great obedience on Moses’ part

See what happens:

Exodus 4:24 ²⁴ At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses^[a^] and was about to kill him.

• Moses just days back met God in the burning bush.
• God made him perform many wonders as proof.
• Now Moses is very obedient in going to Egypt.
• Moreover, just in the previous verse, God spoke to Moses very clearly.
• Moses is confident of doing a great ministry in Egypt.

Now the same God is trying to kill Moses.

Why would God want to kill a man whom He called and who is keeping the steps of obedience? Why would we face obstacles, problems, and sickness in our lives even if we are obeying God wholeheartedly? After getting baptized, and coming to church regularly why am I still facing problems?

To understand this we will have to see the next verse.

Exodus 4:25-26 ²⁵ But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin, and touched Moses’ feet with it.^[a^] “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. ²⁶ So the Lord let him alone. (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood,” referring to circumcision.)

According to the Bible Moses had 2 sons; Gershom and Eliezer.

Exodus 18:3-4 ³ and her two sons. One son was named Gershom,^[a^] for Moses said, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land”; ⁴ and the other was named Eliezer,^[b^] for he said, “My father’s God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

Why did his wife circumcise his son now on the way? How many sons did Moses have? Two, then why would Zipporah circumcise only one son now?

When we study the Bible the first son was born immediately after marriage and Moses named him Gershom meaning ‘I have become an alien in a foreign land.’ Now, Moses was fresh with the law of the Lord coming from Egypt. According to the law every Hebrew child had to be circumcised on the 8th day. This was the law given to Abraham.

Genesis 17:10-14 ¹⁰ This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. ¹¹ You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. ¹² For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. ¹³ Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. ¹⁴ Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

Moses Obeys and Keeps the Law

Now, Moses wanted circumcision as per his custom and culture, but his wife was from Midian and she did not have the law of circumcision. Understand the Midianites were also the descendants of Abraham through Keturah, Abraham’s second wife. But the Midianites never had the law of circumcision, whereas Moses had. Moses’ culture and values were different than that of Zipporah’s. Now, there was a problem in the family; Moses wanted circumcision and Zipporah never wanted it. Finally, I feel Moses being a man got his way and went ahead with circumcising his son, Gershom.

I can imagine when Zipporah saw Gershom’s circumcision she was appalled and disgusted. There was too much of blood and screaming from her baby. Can you visualize that picture: One spouse is happy and other is not, the baby is crying, there is too much of blood. Zipporah would have picked up a fight with Moses after the circumcision.

After all the circumcision Zipporah would have told Moses, “l love you Moses but you are not going to do this to any of our other children.”

Now, the second son, Eliezer was born after some gap. He was born probably somewhere near the burning bush experience because Eliezer means ‘God my helper.’ By now Moses started putting his trust on God.

Once the child was born mamma put her foot down. She said, “No blade or knife will touch my son. No circumcision. I don’t care what God said.” Moses would have said, “Please Zipporah let us do the circumcision. Zipporah said. “It is never going to happen, my culture is different, I was not raised like this.” She continued “I have agreed for the first child, now let the second child be according to my culture.”

Moses Compromise

Finally, Moses in difference with his wife allowed his child to remain uncircumcised. He broke the covenant of circumcision with God but at the same time Moses was obedient to God to go to Egypt.

Now listen, Moses was obeying God for the most part but not completely. Moses had compromised on his Christian values and God wanted to kill him. Moses was obedient but his family life was compromised. Do not compromise your family. Obeying God 95% is not enough, we must obey God 100%. Do not compromise your Christian faith and values with worldly customs and traditions. It is sin, God hates it

Do We Compromise?

What are the areas we compromise in our Christian Life? Some tips.

1. Worship God and idols.
2. Family devotion/prayer for TV Time.
3. Social Habits.
4. Moral life.
5. Money
6. No Baptism.
7. Compromise in the family.

The problem with us is that we feel if we do good in one area towards God will overlook evil in our life. It never happens. We have to obey God 100%, no compromise.

Will You Give in and Compromise or rather, Stand Firm on The Word of God

Let us see the example of King Saul.
He is the first king of Israel.
God told Saul to attack the Amalekites and destroy everything that belongs to them.
However, Saul and his army spared the Amalekite king and some cattle.
Now, Samuel asked King Saul why did you disobey God?

I Samuel 15:19-23 ¹⁹ Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?” ²⁰ “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. ²¹ The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” ²² But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. ²³ For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”

Gone, that day Saul’s ministry was over. God rejected him as king. Saul did spare the cattle for a good cause, but it was disobedience in the presence of God and he had to face the music.

CONCLUSION

Dear Child of God, Let us decide not to compromise on the Word of God. You may be in the ministry, secular job, or anything but never compromise the Word of God and never succumb to the pressures of our culture, society, and workplace and compromise the Word of God. It will cost you dearly.