Exodus 4:19-20
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This command from God isn't just a green light; it's a divine reassurance directly addressing Moses's deepest fears. By highlighting that those who sought his life are dead, God removes a significant obstacle and provides a potent antidote to Moses's likely hesitation, making the path forward seem safer.
And the LORD 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 God in his hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Moses had just received his commission from God at the burning bush and gained permission from his father-in-law, Jethro, to return to Egypt. However, he hesitated, likely due to the fear of the Egyptian authorities who, forty years prior, had sought his life after he killed an Egyptian. God reassures Moses by revealing that all those who were a threat to him are now dead, removing a significant obstacle and encouraging him to proceed immediately.
Moses had a serious reason to hesitate about returning to Egypt. What was it, and how did God address it?
Moses had fled Egypt forty years prior after killing an Egyptian. He had every reason to believe that the authorities, or even the family of the slain man, would still be looking for him. This past act could have been a massive source of anxiety, making him reluctant to return. God, however, steps in with crucial, reassuring information: 'all the men who were seeking your life are dead.'
A Removed Obstacle
This wasn't just a casual remark; it was a divine declaration removing a significant personal barrier for Moses. God knew Moses's inner fears, even if unexpressed, and provided the specific truth needed to propel him forward. It shows God's intimate knowledge of our struggles and His practical care in clearing the path for His will.
God's command to 'Go, return' isn't just about the destination, but the moment. What does this reveal about God's plan?
The text suggests Moses might have delayed his departure even after receiving permission from his father-in-law, Jethro. The Lord's word, 'Go, return,' is described as peremptory – a direct, immediate command. It implies that the timing was now perfect.
The Enemies Are Gone
The death of Moses's pursuers wasn't just a personal relief; it was a sign that the political climate had shifted, or at least that the specific human threats against Moses were neutralized. God orchestrated these events so that Moses could enter Egypt without the immediate danger of his past actions catching up to him. This highlights God's perfect timing in His plans, ensuring His servants are equipped and protected as they step into their calling.
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Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the unique, personal name of the covenant God of Israel, YHWH. It signifies His eternal self-existence, faithfulness, and His active role in the redemption of His people.
Elohim · Hebrew Noun
Used to describe the staff that God empowered, signifying that the authority and power contained within the object belong entirely to God, not the human bearer. It highlights that Moses was merely an instrument of divine sovereign agency.
c. 1446 BC
Moses flees Egypt
After killing an Egyptian taskmaster who was mistreating an Israelite slave, Moses fled from Pharaoh's wrath into the land of Midian.
c. 1406 BC
Moses marries Zipporah
Moses settled in Midian, married Zipporah, and became a shepherd, living a quiet life away from Egypt for forty years.
c. 1406 BC
Moses encounters the burning bush
God appeared to Moses in a burning bush, commissioning him to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of slavery.
c. 1406 BC
Moses obtains leave from Jethro
Moses asked his father-in-law Jethro for permission to return to Egypt to check on his people, and Jethro agreed.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
God reassures Moses
The LORD spoke to Moses in Midian, urging him to return to Egypt because the men who had sought his life were now dead.
c. 1406 BC
Moses returns to Egypt
Moses, accompanied by his wife and sons, journeyed back to Egypt to confront Pharaoh and begin the liberation of Israel.
This passage details Moses's first intervention in Egypt, where he killed an Egyptian oppressor. This act led to him fleeing to Midian, creating the very danger God is now reassuring him about.
Joshua 1:9Similar to how God encouraged Moses to go to Egypt despite his fears, Joshua is told to be strong and courageous because the Lord will be with him, highlighting God's presence as a source of strength in daunting tasks.
Psalm 27:1This psalm echoes the sentiment of Exodus 4:19, where the Psalmist declares, 'The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?' It speaks to overcoming fear through trust in God's protection.
1 Samuel 26:8-9David, having spared Saul's life when he had the opportunity, states, 'Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?' This reflects the idea that those who sought Moses's life were now 'dead,' implying a divine removal of threats against God's chosen servant.
Matthew 2:19-20After Herod, who sought Jesus's life, died, an angel instructed Joseph to return to Israel. This mirrors God telling Moses to return to Egypt because those who sought his life were dead, indicating a divine orchestration of safety for His emissaries.
gillExodus 4:19: "And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life."
And the Lord said unto Moses in Midian,.... After he had obtained leave of his father-in-law to quit Midian, but before he left it: go, return into Egypt: that is, directly, immediately; before he had only given him a commission at large to go thither, but had not fixed the time when he should go; but now he orders him to set forward at once: for all the men are dead whi…
bensonExodus 4:19: "And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life."
Exodus 4:19-20 . The Lord said unto Moses — This seems to have been a second vision, whereby God calls him to the present execution of the command given before. The rod of God — His shepherd’s crook, so called, as it was God’s instrument in so many glorious works.
This command from God isn't just a green light; it's a divine reassurance directly addressing Moses's deepest fears. By highlighting that those who sought his life are dead, God removes a significant obstacle and provides a potent antidote to Moses's likely hesitation, making the path forward seem safer.
Moses had just received his commission from God at the burning bush and gained permission from his father-in-law, Jethro, to return to Egypt. However, he hesitated, likely due to the fear of the Egyptian authorities who, forty years prior, had sought his life after he killed an Egyptian. God reassures Moses by revealing that all those who were a threat to him are now dead, removing a significant obstacle and encouraging him to proceed immediately.
Moses had just received his commission from God at the burning bush and gained permission from his father-in-law, Jethro, to return to Egypt. However, he hesitated, likely due to the fear of the Egyptian authorities who, forty years prior, had sought his life after he killed an Egyptian. God reassures Moses by revealing that all those who were a threat to him are now dead, removing a significant obstacle and encouraging him to proceed immediately.
"And the LORD 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…" — This command from God isn't just a green light; it's a divine reassurance directly addressing Moses's deepest fears. By highlighting that those who sought his life are dead, God removes a significant…
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Last reviewed October 2026
