she saved his life
Moses is one of the greatest men in the Bible. It was to him who Yahweh entrusted the commandments to. He was the one privileged to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Yahweh Himself said in Numbers 12:8 that He speaks to Moses mouth to mouth (other versions say face to face), clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of Yahweh.
With all the greatness that this man possessed, one would think that his wife shared equal recognition. Unfortunately, not much is said about Zipporah. Yahweh intended it this way, not to downplay her or put her on an insignificant stage, but to show us, wives, some valuable lessons to her character.
Zipporah is the daughter of Jethro, priest of Midian. She is not an Israelite, and therefore did not have an understanding of their laws and commandments. When Moses met and married her, Moses barely knew the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as well. He was fresh from his escape from Egypt. This means that whatever Zipporah learned about God, she learned after Moses' burning bush experience. And after that, Moses left for Egypt and became very busy fulfilling God's plan and following His instructions. I believe that a lot of what Zipporah learned, she learned by observation and perhaps by talking to her sister-in-law, Miriam, and whoever she had the chance of talking to.
Zipporah is the daughter of Jethro, priest of Midian. She is not an Israelite, and therefore did not have an understanding of their laws and commandments. When Moses met and married her, Moses barely knew the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as well. He was fresh from his escape from Egypt. This means that whatever Zipporah learned about God, she learned after Moses' burning bush experience. And after that, Moses left for Egypt and became very busy fulfilling God's plan and following His instructions. I believe that a lot of what Zipporah learned, she learned by observation and perhaps by talking to her sister-in-law, Miriam, and whoever she had the chance of talking to.
With the little knowledge that she gained, she still proved to be wiser than Moses in this story below.
Exodus 4:18-26
Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” And Yahweh said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of Yahweh in his hand.
And Yahweh said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says Yahweh, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”
At a lodging place on the way Yahweh met him and sought to put him to death. Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” So He let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.
Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” And Yahweh said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of Yahweh in his hand.
And Yahweh said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says Yahweh, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”
At a lodging place on the way Yahweh met him and sought to put him to death. Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” So He let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.
Before I explain Zipporah’s role here, let us first answer the question on why Yahweh sought to put Moses to death.
Yahweh was instructing Moses to do something very significant – the fulfillment of a promise Yahweh Himself made. This required a powerful anointing of Yahweh on Moses, which also required the vessel to be pure.
Yahweh was instructing Moses to do something very significant – the fulfillment of a promise Yahweh Himself made. This required a powerful anointing of Yahweh on Moses, which also required the vessel to be pure.
How many of us are fully aware that disobedience waters down Yahweh’s anointing upon our lives? How many of us totally understand that to “much is given, much is required”?
Moses’ son was uncircumcised, which means that he didn’t have the seal of Yahweh’s covenant on him. How can Yahweh kill the firstborn of Pharaoh, for the Israelites’ sake, if Moses’ (their own leader) own son is not even a part of Yahweh’s covenant, and therefore not covered by His promise?
It seems like Moses overlooked this part. He was probably not even sure why Yahweh sought to kill him. Guess who knew what was going on?
Zipporah! -- The foreign wife of Moses who hardly knew Yahweh, let alone His commands.
Zipporah did not waste any time. She immediately cut off her son’s foreskin and spared her husband’s life. She understood the covenant. She knew how serious it was. Perhaps she only had her realization that moment. Perhaps she refused to have her son circumcised out of ignorance, and realized Yahweh’s seriousness when her husband’s life was at stake. Whatever it was, Zipporah still saved Moses.
It seems like Moses overlooked this part. He was probably not even sure why Yahweh sought to kill him. Guess who knew what was going on?
Zipporah! -- The foreign wife of Moses who hardly knew Yahweh, let alone His commands.
Zipporah did not waste any time. She immediately cut off her son’s foreskin and spared her husband’s life. She understood the covenant. She knew how serious it was. Perhaps she only had her realization that moment. Perhaps she refused to have her son circumcised out of ignorance, and realized Yahweh’s seriousness when her husband’s life was at stake. Whatever it was, Zipporah still saved Moses.
Wives, listen to me please.
Our husbands, more so if you are married to a minister, can get preoccupied with their calling, making them lose sight of the details. If you are too busy and preoccupied yourself, or if you also hold a title and position of prestige, you may miss the details that your husband is already missing. You may not be able to protect and save him.
I did not realize until a few years ago, that just as our husbands were created to protect us; we were also created to protect them. Their protection for us is more physical, while our protection for them is more spiritual. I had an awakening on this very issue when one day my husband complained of my very busy schedule. He said, “How can you pray for me if you are always busy and preoccupied”?
I did not realize until a few years ago, that just as our husbands were created to protect us; we were also created to protect them. Their protection for us is more physical, while our protection for them is more spiritual. I had an awakening on this very issue when one day my husband complained of my very busy schedule. He said, “How can you pray for me if you are always busy and preoccupied”?
It is true! We won’t be able to do our part as our husbands’ armor-bearers and their third eye if we don’t pay attention to them and what is going on. This is the very reason why Yahweh put Zipporah on an insignificant stage, and why He did not exalt her the way He did for Moses.
I had great visions for myself before I was married. I was ready to conquer the world for Yeshua. During the early part of my marriage, I was trying to build this vision and make it happen. Little did I know that my role was to be available for my husband and to make sure that the vision that Yahweh has given him is fulfilled.
It takes sensitivity to the Ruach, the Spirit of Yahweh, to discern what is going on in and around our husbands. They are not like us, women, who talk about our feelings, and who smell things from afar. Sensitivity requires prayer and study of the Word. It requires hearing clearly the voice of the Father, as He reveals to us His plans. It requires humility so that we don’t get in the way of what Yahweh is trying to do.
I had great visions for myself before I was married. I was ready to conquer the world for Yeshua. During the early part of my marriage, I was trying to build this vision and make it happen. Little did I know that my role was to be available for my husband and to make sure that the vision that Yahweh has given him is fulfilled.
It takes sensitivity to the Ruach, the Spirit of Yahweh, to discern what is going on in and around our husbands. They are not like us, women, who talk about our feelings, and who smell things from afar. Sensitivity requires prayer and study of the Word. It requires hearing clearly the voice of the Father, as He reveals to us His plans. It requires humility so that we don’t get in the way of what Yahweh is trying to do.
Truly, the call of a wife is a very high calling. And we don’t have to be famous preachers or artists or entrepreneurs to be recognized as great women of God.
Whoever you are, and wherever you are, understand that you have a high calling upon you, for your husband. Be like Zipporah in her being observant and in her sensitivity to what is going on. Be like her in her submission to her husband, not trying to compete with him or wanting equal power, but embracing her role as a wife and the weaker vessel. Be like her in her openness to receive something that was strange to her, because it was Yahweh’s plan. Be like her in being one with her husband.
Lastly, when Zipporah said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me”, this was a confirmation of her conversion and her coming into Yahweh’s covenant. She not only saved her husband but became a part of Yahweh’s family.
Lastly, when Zipporah said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me”, this was a confirmation of her conversion and her coming into Yahweh’s covenant. She not only saved her husband but became a part of Yahweh’s family.
Lisa Maki is the founder/editor of God'z Gurlz, a Bible-based online magazine for women. She and her husband Jason are part of the growing movement of Christians who are discovering their Hebrew roots, and who are studying the Torah and its parallelisms to the New Testament. Lisa is likewise a Professional Writer with over 15 years of experience in the field. Jason and Lisa are part of El Shaddai Ministries, a First Century Believers Church headed by Pastor Mark Biltz.
