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No one is indispensable!
Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. (Exodus 4:25)
Notice the words---A Bloody Husband! Sounds like a good title for a drama or horror movie but these were the words uttered by Zipporah, who was Moses wife. The issue here was accountability and preparation. Moses, earlier in this same chapter had a life changing encounter with God. He had seen miracles and was given a charge to appear before Pharaoh but something happened. In Exodus 4:24, it states that the Lord met him and sought to kill him. Why was this so?
The reason for this was circumcision. The Jewish law commanded every male child to be circumcised after 8 days. This displeased the Lord. It so displeased him that death was imminent unless he made the proper adjustments. Zipporah, upon having a revelation of this, proceeded to circumcised the young child in order to spare her husband's life. Notice at the end of Exodus 4:25, there might have been a note of sarcasm when she did this calling him a bloody husband. Who knows? She could have done it reluctantly but whatever the case, Moses life was spared.
A charge to the Husband and wife.
It could have been that Zipporah did not agree with circumcision. She might have argued with her husband about the procedure. Another thing to observe is that the Bible does not mention her after that act. Who knows? Perhaps she could have separated from her husband after that act.
Husbands and wives, before being sent out to ministry, there has to be unity and order in the house. Husbands, do not allow the spirit of compromise to be present in your home. It can jeopardize your ministry and might cause you to die before your time. In God's kingdom, no one is indispensable. God was showing us and Moses that when we harden our hearts, he can remove us and raise someone else in our place.
Wives, If your husband has a calling in his life for full time ministry, do not stand in his way. Another thing, when you do stand by his side, do so with a willing heart and not be sarcastic about it. Zipporah had the chance to make an impact for God but, unfortunately, her statement cost her in the long run. The word makes no more mention of her.
So, in reviewing this, Your calling is important but you are not indispensable. Marriage unity is key and serving God with a willing heart are key factors for a successful ministry. Let's learn from these past mistakes and make an impact for God. God bless.
