The NIV 365 Day Devotional

The Obedience of Zipporah

In this jarring aside in Moses’ narrative, the reader encounters the importance of covenant faithfulness through the actions of Moses’ Midianite wife, Zipporah.

In Genesis 17:9–14, God establishes circumcision as the sign of his covenant with Abraham and requires all male children to be circumcised on the eighth day. If not, the uncircumcised male would “be cut off from his people” because he has broken the Lord’s covenant (Ge 17:14).

In Exodus 4:24–26, Moses has transgressed the covenant by neglecting to circumcise his son. God acts according to his word, attempting to cut Moses’ son off from his people by way of death. Zipporah intervenes by obeying the covenant, and, because of the circumcision, God lets her son live.

Zipporah responds faithfully to God’s covenant, even though she is not a biological member of the covenant people. Women continue to be invited into God’s work, even women from unexpected bloodlines.

The Old Testament is peppered with stories about the praiseworthy ministry of unlikely women. Zipporah is one of many Gentile women, like Rahab and Ruth, who act according to the promise and are welcomed into the covenant people. From their stories, we see that God’s providential plan extends outside genetic Israel. He offers women on the outside the opportunity to join the covenant people of God. In the end, through the ministry of the true Israel—Jesus Christ—all nations will be blessed.

Churches today may disagree about the role that women should play in positions of leadership and priesthood. But one thing is crystal clear from the Bible—over and over again, God used and empowered women to carry out his plan to establish his kingdom on earth.

Taken from the NIV Upside-Down Kingdom Bible.