The incident in Exodus 4:24-26 at the inn raises several questions, mainly: Who was the Lord trying to kill, why, and what was Zipporah doing?

- Who was the Lord trying to kill? Some think it was Moses' son that was the target, but that it was Moses is more likely. There is no indication here of some sort of sudden attack in the night. If anything, the word 'sought' indicates that the means was by some slow, lingering method like an illness that gave plenty of warning. It's the same word used in Ex. 2:15, 'Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses.'

- Why was the Lord out to kill Moses? Given what happens, the consensus is it is because Moses' son was not circumcised, in violation of God's command. The likeliest explanation is that Moses wasn't willing to risk having his son weakened by the operation while they were on this long journey through the wilderness—a lapse of faith by Moses in God's provision.

- What is Zipporah doing? Her phrase about the 'bridegroom of blood' brings forth two likely contextual explanations:
1. It is a phrase of marital relationship, recalling circumcision as a premarital rite. This fits best if it is Moses being circumcised, but if circumcision was normally 'pre-marital' where Zipporah came from, it might be the sort of thing she would say anyway.
2. It is a statement that the child is circumcised and therefore, by virtue of that circumcision, protected. This has explanatory strength because the word 'cast' is the same word used to describe how blood was applied to the lintels and doorposts at Passover for protection. This interpretation also understands 'husband' (chathan) as being related to a cognate word that signifies 'protection'.

PROBLEM: Exodus 4:24 states, “And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him.” The verse does not explicitly say whom the Lord met in the encampment, but the context indicates that it was Moses. If so, why did God seek to kill him, since He had called him to lead Israel out of Egypt?

SOLUTION: First, it is clear that Moses had been selected by the Lord to be His instrument to deliver the people of Israel from Egyptian bondage and from the power of Pharaoh. But, as one of God’s covenant people, Moses was obligated to circumcise his sons on the eighth day. For one reason or another, Moses had not performed the rite of circumcision on his son as one of the covenant people of the Lord. It was not possible for the Lord to permit His chosen deliverer to represent Him to the people of Israel when he had not complied with the dictates of the covenant relationship himself. Apparently, God took this drastic measure to prompt Moses to obey Him, knowing that Moses would not willingly go against the wishes of his wife Zipporah. Zipporah performed the circumcision, perhaps because Moses was incapacitated from an affliction which the Lord had brought upon him. As soon as the circumcision was performed, the Lord ceased from seeking to kill Moses.

Second, it is obvious that the Lord could have killed Moses suddenly if that were the intent of this incident. God certainly possessed the power to do this without delay. The incident clearly indicates that God’s purpose was to cause Moses to comply with His requirements. God obviously did not want to kill Moses. What He wanted was Moses’ obedience and complete commitment to His law, if he was going to be the great lawgiver to his people.