What is puzzling is the excuse Moses gave for going back to Egypt. He
said to Jethro, “Let me go back to my own people in Egypt to see if any of
them are still alive” (Exod. 4:18a). This statement shows how thoroughly
Moses had identified himself with God’s people. He did not consider himself
an Egyptian anymore but a Hebrew. It also gives a hint how long Moses
had been away (forty years) and how badly the Egyptians had been treating
the Israelites. The phrase “to see if any of them are still alive” may havesaid to Jethro, “Let me go back to my own people in Egypt to see if any of
them are still alive” (Exod. 4:18a). This statement shows how thoroughly
Moses had identified himself with God’s people. He did not consider himself
an Egyptian anymore but a Hebrew. It also gives a hint how long Moses
had been away (forty years) and how badly the Egyptians had been treating
been an ancient expression for checking on someone’s welfare, but it leaves
open the question whether they were alive or dead.
The problem with what Moses said is that it was not entirely truthful.
He failed to mention anything about his encounter with God at the burning
bush, and what he did say about his mission was misleading. He was not
going back to see if his relatives were still alive — God had told him they
were — but to rescue them from slavery!
Why didn’t Moses tell the whole truth? Perhaps he was afraid that if he
went into too much detail, his father-in-law would start raising questions
about his trip. More likely, Moses still wasn’t entirely sure himself whether
everything God said was true. Like many people, he was wavering somewhere
between faith and unbelief. But at least he was still walking down
the path of obedience! Even if he lacked the courage to state his intentions,
he was doing what God told him to do.
--phil ryken, former sr.pastor of 10th pres in philly, now prez of wheaton college
