Exodus 4:18

My Notes

What Does Exodus 4:18 Mean?

"And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace." Moses finally OBEYS — but tells Jethro a PARTIAL truth: he says he wants to check on his 'brethren' and see if they're 'yet alive.' He doesn't mention the BURNING BUSH, the DIVINE COMMISSION, or the plan to CONFRONT PHARAOH. The reason for the trip is UNDERSTATED. The mission is described as a family visit. The calling is presented as a welfare-check.

The phrase "let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren" (elkhah na ve'ashuvah el achai — let me go, please, and return to my brothers) is a REQUEST for permission: Moses asks Jethro's PERMISSION to leave. The fugitive who has been Jethro's son-in-law for forty years still respects the familial authority. The request is HUMBLE — 'I pray thee' (na — please). The obedience to God doesn't bypass the respect for the father-in-law.

The "Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace" (vayyomer Yitro leMosheh lekh leshalom — Jethro said to Moses, go to peace/in peace) is the BLESSING that releases: lekh leshalom — go TO peace (not just 'go peacefully' but 'go toward shalom, toward wholeness, toward the destiny that awaits'). The father-in-law RELEASES the son-in-law with a BLESSING. The going is AUTHORIZED by the human authority as well as the divine one. The departure carries both God's commission and Jethro's peace.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What calling have you understated to the people around you — and were you released with peace?
• 2.What does Moses asking Jethro's PERMISSION teach about respecting human authority while obeying divine calling?
• 3.How does the understatement (welfare-check vs. national liberation) model diplomatic wisdom in announcing a calling?
• 4.What does 'go in peace' as a directional blessing (toward shalom) add to the departure?

Devotional

Moses goes to Jethro: let me return to Egypt and check on my brothers. He doesn't mention the burning bush. He doesn't describe the confrontation with Pharaoh. He presents the divine commission as a family welfare-check. And Jethro says: go in peace. The departure is blessed. The calling is understated. The obedience begins quietly.

The 'let me go and return to my brethren' is the UNDERSTATED version of the calling: Moses has been commissioned to CONFRONT PHARAOH and LIBERATE A NATION. He tells Jethro: I want to check on my relatives. The understatement isn't necessarily DECEPTIVE — it's DIPLOMATIC. Moses tells Jethro what Jethro needs to hear. The full scope of the calling will become evident in its execution, not in its announcement.

The 'see whether they be yet alive' adds FORTY-YEAR UNCERTAINTY: Moses left Egypt at age 40. He's now 80. His 'brethren' — the Hebrew slaves he grew up among — may or may not be alive. The question 'are they yet alive?' is genuine. Forty years is long enough for a generation to change. The welfare-check is a real CONCERN even if it understates the real CALLING.

The 'go in peace' (lekh leshalom) is Jethro's BLESSING: the father-in-law doesn't interrogate. He doesn't demand details. He RELEASES — with peace. The 'leshalom' (to peace, toward wholeness) is MORE than 'goodbye.' It's a DIRECTIONAL blessing: go TOWARD peace. Go toward the shalom that awaits. The departure is authorized by BOTH the divine voice (the burning bush) and the human voice (Jethro's blessing). The mission launches with both authorities aligned.

What calling have you UNDERSTATED to the people around you — and did they release you with peace?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture