Ministry Starts at Home

ZIPPORAH

²⁴ On the way to Egypt, at a place where Moses and his family had stopped for the night, the Lord confronted him and was about to kill him. ²⁵ But Moses’ wife, Zipporah, took a flint knife and circumcised her son. She touched his feet^[a] with the foreskin and said, “Now you are a bridegroom of blood to me.” ²⁶ (When she said “a bridegroom of blood,” she was referring to the circumcision.) After that, the Lord left him alone. Exodus 4:24-26

In this passage, God spoke to Moses after his family set out on their mission to “deliver His people from Egypt.” One might wonder why Moses didn’t take a moment to consider his family’s well-being before starting this journey. This scripture serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of prioritizing “ministry beginning at home” before moving forward. It requires us to pause and pray, “Lord, is there anything in my life or my family’s life that needs attention before we begin our journey?” While this may seem straightforward and obvious, in the excitement of our calling, we often overlook these crucial inquiries.  

When Zipporah said, “Now you are a bridegroom of blood to me,”  this statement grabbed my attention.  If you read this verse in the AMPC Bible it states that “Along the way at a [resting] place, the Lord met [Moses] and sought to kill him [made him acutely and almost fatally ill.] [Now apparently he had failed to circumcise one of his sons, his wife being opposed to it; but seeing his life in such danger] Zipporah took a flint knife and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it to touch [Moses’] feet, and said, Surely a husband of blood you are to me.!” (vs. 24-25)

In Jewish tradition, a Mohel is the one designated to carry out circumcision, and any other person performing the act is deemed invalid, even if a rabbi is present. So, what made this particular act in the scripture permissible? Was this Zipporah’s punishment for not allowing her husband to lead? Was the blood on her hands a picture of correction? These ideas may seem harsh, but we must understand the influence we carry as a spouse. Do you currently have blood on your hands because you still choose to be disobedient within your marriage? It’s not about who does or doesn’t do what, instead, it’s about obedience! Are you a wife who encourages your spouse to be obedient even if it costs you something?

Let’s consider the role of the wife in this scenario. Her reaction seems to stem from her strong conviction against circumcising their son, which ultimately led to her husband suffering a severe, nearly life-threatening illness as a result of his disobedience. This defiance is significant because he chose to prioritize his wife’s wishes over God’s divine instruction. Zipporah has a background of Midianite heritage. For her, circumcision represented a customary rite marking a young man’s transition into marriage, while the Hebrews viewed it as a vital symbol of their covenant with God. It seems as though Zipporah didn’t fully grasp the significance of Moses’ covenant. Her familiarity with her cultural practices created a gap in their shared household beliefs.

Many couples enter marriage carrying the weight of their traditional backgrounds, rather than circumcising those influences so they can begin creating their unique traditions and ministry within their new marriage covenant. Instead, we bring our respective traditions into the relationship, expecting the husband to harmonize everything seamlessly.

Our families must be in order. Our family dynamics can become chaotic due to our “good intentions.” Instead of allowing our spouse to take the lead, we sometimes rush ahead, which can lead to them stepping back over time, and in turn, they let us take control. As easy as this is for us to do, DON’T! This shows our spouse, kids, and others an independent attitude of,  “I don’t need your father, or I don’t need your mother, I can lead this household on my own.” This will start to unravel our families because it creates an open door of division instead of being a household within a covenant.

The core concern is that God entrusts man with the responsibility for the family’s well-being, as illustrated in this narrative. Regardless of personal decisions, God communicated directly with Moses. If we genuinely support and have faith in our husbands, we should strive to do everything we can to enable them to thrive in the sight of the Lord. This commitment brings joy to our Heavenly Father, as we recognize that our desires are fulfilled when we prioritize our spouse.

A helpmate is not a term that belittles; rather, it reveals a powerful truth. We witness nations falling apart due to disobedience to God’s law. What often goes unnoticed is that the fate of our families and spouse is significantly shaped by our actions-that’s the incredible power and responsibility we hold as wives. Are you a helpmate who guides your family toward triumph, or do you lead them into despair? Our adversary seeks to keep us from grasping this truth because it would transform the understanding of a woman’s role within “ The Marriage Covenant.” In today’s society, so many believe the lie that being a wife requires being submissively ruled by a husband. We are indeed called to submit to our husband, yet we are also called to submit to the authority of Christ, and both of us should line up with the Word of God. This means our position as a wife is determined by how we position our husband first and vice versa.

In this critical moment, Zipporah understood the need to follow God’s command, knowing that her husband would suffer severe repercussions otherwise. She took action by circumcising their son, reinforcing their family’s commitment back to God. This choice left her with blood on her hands, as she had not allowed Moses to take the lead in their home. What choices are you making that are causing you to bear the weight of disobedience? Often, we hastily point fingers at our husbands when things are out of order in our household. I urge you to reflect on the word curses you may have spoken over your spouse and renounce them. This is very important!

Obedience plays a crucial role in every aspect of our lives, especially within our home. The scriptures highlight the rewards that come with obedience: “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God.” (Deut. 28:1-2) Following God’s command opens the door to His blessing, as He honors those who choose to obey Him. When God confronted Moses regarding his failures in upholding the practice of circumcision, may have stemmed from his wife’s influence or his shortcomings in leadership. Whatever the reason, we need to make sure we are not the cause of our husband’s disobedience to the will of the Father.

Communication plays a crucial role in a successful marriage! When a family shares a mission, they collectively grasp their purpose. This unity creates an environment of partnership and trust. Family members recognize that your words serve to correct, uplift, nurture, and guide them along the right path. This approach is essential for establishing harmony, structure, and a clear direction for everyone involved. It’s not just the responsibility of mom and dad; it’s truly “a family on a mission.” Adopting this mindset encourages us to be more deliberate in maintaining order within our home. James 4:17 states, “So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin.” How can we disciple others by leading them to God if our own family doesn’t follow the same commandments? The Lord needed Moses to understand this concept before He sent Moses to set His people free!” How can we guide others toward God if our own family doesn’t adhere to the same principles? The Lord needed Moses to comprehend this idea before sending him to liberate His people! Correction is needed before God can use us to our full potential.

Are you teaching your family how to submit to authority or rebel against authority? If rebellion is in the home or your heart, it will also reflect outside the home! What kind of ministry are you producing -Heaven or hell? What kind of atmosphere do you dwell in -speak life or speak death? Is your household freely under authority? Is your family producing fruit? Are your spouse and children excited to be a part of what you do, or do you pull them around and threaten them to fake it? Ministry outside the home is a wonderful thing when we are reproducing good fruit. This requires, making our family the most important ministry first!

PRAYER:

I encourage you to explore this blog and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit concerning any areas of your life where you feel the need for repentance, forgiveness, or a heart’s desire for genuine submission. This journey may begin with an act of going before the Lord in repentance. Then engage in open conversation with your spouse, children, or others close to you. Take your time and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal where you might have introduced chaos, conflict, or a controlling spirit within yourself and your family. What doors did you allow opened through your words or attitude? Ask for His help in discerning whether your actions align with the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of darkness. While this may feel overwhelming, it’s essential to ensure that we are not leading ourselves or others astray. When you feel ready, ask the Holy Spirit if there is any blood on your hands due to disobedience, spirit of independence, or rebellion. If there is, renounce it, acknowledge it, bring it to the cross, and invite the Holy Spirit to renew you and fill you in those areas. Be still in prayer and listen closely to His voice. Once you finish praying, express your gratitude because he is a good, good, Father. Amen!