“And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again, and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.”
This verse is a part of the account where God appears to Moses at the burning bush and commissions him to deliver the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt. Moses expresses his doubts and concerns about his ability to fulfill this task, specifically his ability to convince the Israelites and the Egyptians of his divine appointment. In response, God provides Moses with signs and miracles to demonstrate His power and authority. In this particular verse, God instructs Moses to put his hand into his bosom (his cloak or the front of his garment). Moses obeys and places his hand inside his bosom. Then, as he withdraws his hand, he discovers that it has become leprous or afflicted with a skin disease. However, upon returning his hand to his bosom and withdrawing it again, it is restored to its original healthy state. This miraculous transformation serves as a sign from God to reassure Moses that He is with him and will provide the necessary confirmation of His authority and power to both the Israelites and the Egyptians. It demonstrates God’s ability to control and override the natural order of things.
From this verse, we can draw several key lessons:
God’s power and authority:The transformation of Moses’ hand highlights God’s supremacy over creation. It demonstrates that He has control over physical elements and can perform supernatural acts to accomplish His purposes.
Confirmation and reassurance:God knew Moses’ doubts and concerns, and He provided tangible signs to assure Moses that He was indeed chosen and empowered by God. Similarly, God understands our doubts and fears and can provide confirmation and reassurance when we seek Him.
Obedience and trust:Moses demonstrated obedience by following God’s instructions, even when they seemed unusual or challenging. This incident reminds us of the importance of trusting in God’s guidance and acting according to His word, even when it may not make immediate sense to us.
God’s ability to transform:The transformation of Moses’ hand from diseased to healthy signifies God’s power to bring about healing and restoration. It reminds us that God can transform and renew any area of our lives that may be afflicted or broken.
Ultimately, Exodus 4:7 reveals God’s desire to assure and equip Moses for the task ahead. It encourages us to trust in God’s power, seek His guidance, and obey His instructions, knowing that He can bring about transformation and accomplish His purposes through us.
