Moses' Return To Egypt

Moses' return to Egypt was a matter of faith in the LORD, not in himself. Moses was a very humble man, almost to the point of disability (e.g. "But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice" Exodus 4:1 KJV) until the LORD showed him what servant means. After that, Moses' faith (which means obedience - see Faith and Works) was his means of service to Christ:

"^11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter [see The Birth Of Moses]; ^11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; ^11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. ^11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt [see Palace Prince To Sinai Shepherd], not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. ^11:28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. ^11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned." (Hebrews 11:24-29 KJV)

Why was Jesus Christ spoken of in the verses quoted above? Was Moses a servant of Christ? Yes, he was.

"^10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; ^10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; ^10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; ^10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." (1 Corinthians 10:1-4 KJV; see also 'Before Abraham Was, I AM')

"Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel"

Moses' father-in-law Jethro would remain a wise advisor to Moses in the years to come, but for the time being, Moses parted from him to return to Egypt.

"^4:18 And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive.

And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace." (Exodus 4:18 KJV)

Moses then set off toward Egypt, with his wife Zipporah and their children.

"^4:19 And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life. ^4:20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

^4:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go. ^4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: ^4:23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn." (Exodus 4:19-23 KJV)

Zipporah's circumcision of her son has been widely debated, primarily because the specifics are not entirely clear in translation - or in the original Hebrew. Who was the one about to be killed? Moses, by the LORD? Moses' son, by the LORD? Or Moses' uncircumcised son by a momentarily overzealous Moses? (see also the Fact Finder question).

"^4:24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. ^4:25 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. ^4:26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision." (Exodus 4:24-26 KJV)

Along the way, Moses met his brother Aaron.

"^4:27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.

^4:28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him." (Exodus 4:27-28 KJV)

When Moses arrived in Egypt, Moses delivered the LORD's words and signs, through Aaron, to the elders of Israel.

"^4:29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel: ^4:30 And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. ^4:31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped." (Exodus 4:29-31 KJV)

Fact Finder: What was the temporal purpose and meaning of circumcision? Was it the same as that for Physical and Spiritual Temples (i.e. "I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it" Revelation 21:22 KJV)?
See Circumcision