And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.
The verse belongs to the call of Moses at Horeb to deliver Israel, where as a humble shepherd with only a rod in his hand, which God would make the symbol of His power, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob spoke to him from the burning bush as the Angel of the covenant who had revealed Himself to the fathers in ages past. Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look upon God, showing that humility and reverence must characterize all who come into the presence of God and that none must approach Him with presumptuous boldness as if on a level with themselves.
On the way to Egypt, the LORD met Moses as the angel of the Lord in a threatening posture as though to slay or kill him, so that Moses was fearful for his life. The journey itself was right because it was by God's express command. The angel gave no explanation for the threat. Moses at once knew the cause and remembered his neglect.
The cause was living in neglect of a known covenant requirement and positive command of God, the required circumcision of his youngest son, having yielded to his wife's refusal and entreaties to postpone the ceremony from undue affection for her son. His wife, identified as Zipporah, fearful that her husband would be slain, overcame her undue affection and performed the circumcision herself, after which obedience the angel let Moses go and continue.
The threatening was necessary because Moses was about to stand in a perilous position before Pharaoh where his life would be exposed to the king's will unless preserved by God's power through the presence of His angels. While neglecting known duty his life was not secure and outside the security of divine protection because God's angels could not protect him in disobedience, and after he obeyed nothing hindered the ministration of angels in connection with his work and he was free to go before Pharaoh. His neglect could have weakened the force of God's commands among the people. The episode illustrates that in the time of trouble before Christ's coming, angels will preserve the righteous but will not protect those who disregard God's law.
The verse belongs to the call of Moses at Horeb to deliver Israel, where as a humble shepherd with only a rod in his hand, which God would make the symbol of His power, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob spoke to him from the burning bush as the Angel of the covenant who had revealed Himself to the fathers in ages past. Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look upon God, showing that humility and reverence must characterize all who come into the presence of God and that none must approach Him with presumptuous boldness as if on a level with themselves.
On the way to Egypt, the LORD met Moses as the angel of the Lord in a threatening posture as though to slay or kill him, so that Moses was fearful for his life. The journey itself was right because it was by God's express command. The angel gave no explanation for the threat. Moses at once knew the cause and remembered his neglect.
The cause was living in neglect of a known covenant requirement and positive command of God, the required circumcision of his youngest son, having yielded to his wife's refusal and entreaties to postpone the ceremony from undue affection for her son. His wife, identified as Zipporah, fearful that her husband would be slain, overcame her undue affection and performed the circumcision herself, after which obedience the angel let Moses go and continue.
The threatening was necessary because Moses was about to stand in a perilous position before Pharaoh where his life would be exposed to the king's will unless preserved by God's power through the presence of His angels. While neglecting known duty his life was not secure and outside the security of divine protection because God's angels could not protect him in disobedience, and after he obeyed nothing hindered the ministration of angels in connection with his work and he was free to go before Pharaoh. His neglect could have weakened the force of God's commands among the people. The episode illustrates that in the time of trouble before Christ's coming, angels will preserve the righteous but will not protect those who disregard God's law.