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There are several times that God got angry at Moses in the book of Exodus.
One time it was so serious that God was going to kill him. Does it interest
you to know why? Uh, me too. I don't want God mad at me:
"Then the LORD¹s anger burned against Moses and he said, "What about your
brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his
way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you." Exodus 4:14 God got very angry at Moses when he demonstrated some fear about speaking in
public (isn't that a fear for most people?). Here's the problem: In the Book of Acts, it says this about Moses: "Moses
was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he became mighty in both
speech and action." (7:22) So, Moses wasn't the frightful public speaker that he makes himself out to
be-- he's just being disobedient! And disobedience angers God. Moses had
the ability, he just didn't want to exercise it. This happened again:
"On the journey, when Moses and his family had stopped for the night, the
LORD confronted Moses and was about to kill him. But Zipporah, his wife,
took a flint knife and circumcised her son. She threw the foreskin at Moses¹
feet and said, "What a blood-smeared bridegroom you are to me!" (When she
called Moses a "blood-smeared bridegroom," she was referring to the
circumcision.) After that, the LORD left him alone." Exodus 4:24-26 At first glance, this is a weird and troubling passage. But it is pretty
easily explained. God would have required Moses to practice circumcision
(the sign of His covenant with His people). Zipporah undoubtedly thought
the practice was "cruel and unusual" and Moses hesitated to have his son(s)
circumcised. Disobedience angers God. Zipporah's response to the circumcised foreskin shows her contempt and
Moses' ultimate obedience. Bottom line: do what God says- all the time...even if you don't understand
why. Bret
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