Exodus 4:18-23

Let My Son Go

Read the passage

18Then Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro and said to him, “Please let me return to my brothers in Egypt to see if they are still alive.” “Go in peace,” Jethro replied.

19Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who sought to kill you are dead.”

20So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and headed back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.

21The LORD instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.

22Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son,

23and I told you to let My son go so that he may worship Me. But since you have refused to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son!’”

Berean Standard Bible

Read aloud

Moses returns to Jethro, his father-in-law, and asks permission to go back to his brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive. Jethro tells him to go in peace. The LORD tells Moses in Midian to return to Egypt because all the men who sought his life are dead.

Moses takes his wife and sons, sets them on a donkey, and returns toward Egypt with the staff of God in his hand. The LORD tells him that when he returns, he is to perform before Pharaoh all the wonders God has put in his power. God says he will harden Pharaoh's heart so that he will not let the people go.

Moses must tell Pharaoh that Israel is the LORD's firstborn son. God demands that Pharaoh release His son to worship Him and warns that refusal will bring the death of Pharaoh's own firstborn.

God announces that He will harden Pharaoh's heart. The king's resistance will fall under God's rule and judgment; it will not overturn His purpose. At the same time, God addresses Pharaoh as responsible for refusing to release Israel. Neither God's sovereignty nor Pharaoh's responsibility disappears from the warning.

Calling Israel His firstborn son tells us why this conflict matters. These enslaved people belong to God, who claims them for worship and will act to free them. Pharaoh's power over their labor cannot cancel their relationship with the Lord.

Questions

1 How does Jethro respond to Moses' request to return to Egypt?

AnswerHe tells Moses to go in peace. Moses then takes his wife and sons toward Egypt with the staff of God in his hand.

2 What does God tell Moses about the men who sought his life?

AnswerThey are all dead. God tells him to return, though the coming confrontation with Pharaoh will still be difficult.

3 What does God call Israel, and why must Pharaoh release them?

AnswerGod calls Israel His firstborn son. Pharaoh must let them go so that they may worship the Lord to whom they belong.

4 What warning must Moses deliver to Pharaoh?

AnswerIf Pharaoh refuses to release God's son, the Lord will kill Pharaoh's firstborn son. The warning makes clear the seriousness of resisting God's command.

What This Means for Us

Israel's value is not measured by the bricks they produce for Pharaoh. God claims them as His son and demands their release for worship. When work or another person's demands consume everything, we need to remember that no human authority has an unlimited claim on our lives.

Those of us who set expectations for others should examine what we require. Does a child, employee, or person in our care have room for worship, rest, and relationships? Authority is accountable to God. Use it to care for people rather than make their whole lives serve your convenience.

Prayer

God of Israel, defend people treated as property or threats. Give us wisdom when freedom is contested, courage to speak truth, and care for families who face danger while seeking justice. Amen.

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