The Faith of a Wife

Among the pages of Exodus, there is a nugget of encouragement for the wife. Her name wouldn’t jump out to you as one to remember, and truthfully, her name is often forgotten. Her name is Zipporah, Moses’ wife. What we know about her is brief, but her faith and trust in God shines in Exodus 4:24–26:

²⁴ At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. ²⁵ Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” ²⁶ So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision.

At first glance, it’s easy for us to be confused by the jumbled jargon of words we’re unfamiliar with; flint, bridegroom of blood, circumcision. But beyond these unfamiliar words lies a woman’s faith that saved her husband’s life. 

In Genesis 17:10–11, God introduces circumcision as part of His covenant with Abraham. He is to have all members of his household and all his offspring for generations to come be circumcised. This is the mark of God’s chosen people in that time. What comes with the breaking of this covenant is severe, to be “cut off,” or in Moses’ case, death (Exodus 4:24). 

On Moses’ way to Egypt, before he is to speak to Pharaoh on God’s behalf, this critical event occurs. God is serious about His covenant and Moses had broken it by not circumcising his son. Somewhere in there, Zipporah realized their sin, and saved Moses’ life by cutting the foreskin of her son to circumcise him. Moses’ life was preserved by his wife’s faith. 

Wife, your faith can save your husband from trouble. Your prayers, actions, and protection for your family are all worth it in the eyes of God. You’ve been instructed to know God’s covenant, hold your husband accountable, preserve his life, steer him away from sin. Your husband’s faith may not be what you would hope it would, but you are there as his biggest asset. Be his encouragement and his accountability. 

Remember the faith of Zipporah: it is through her faith that led to Moses continuing to be God’s servant. Moses went on to lead God’s people to the Promised Land, serve as mediator on God’s behalf, and wrote the entire Pentateuch!

Be encouraged, your actionable faith in God may be the very tool God is using to preserve your husband’s life.