This is another dense chapter full of many events, so I’ll only pick out the one that resonates the most.
To summarize the remainder: God gives Moses 3 signs so he may convince the Pharaoh to let Israel go – a staff that becomes a snake when thrown on the ground (it becomes a staff again when picked up), the ability to make his hand leprous and then clean again, and the ability to turn the Nile water into blood. Moses packs up his family and somewhere on their journey Moses and Zipporah circumcise their son Gershom, to hopefully ensure that he is part of God’s covenant with Israel, and not be killed along with the Egyptian firstborn sons. Aaron, Moses’ brother, comes out of Egypt to meet Moses and his family on their journey to Pharaoh.
“Then Moses said to the Lord, ‘Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.’ But he said, ‘Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.’ Then the anger of the Lord burned against Moses, and He said, ‘Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do. Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him.’ ” (v10-16)
So here’s a little bit of God’s sovereignty mixed with human insecurities – God picks Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt, but Moses basically says “You know I have a speech impediment, right? Can you maybe send someone else? You may have made a poor choice here.” It makes sense that God is slightly angry, because He intentionally chose Moses, and the speech impediment was probably part of that choice – God wants the people to know that it was Him who freed Israel, not some over-qualified, crafty politician/salesman who could sell ice on Antarctica. God picked a lowly shepherd of poor speech, who has a checkered past and cowardly spirit who could not have freed the people on his own – that was the whole point.
That being said, God still wants Moses to do the job, despite Moses’ insistence that he not be the one to do it, so God compromises and allows Aaron to be Moses’ mouthpiece to Pharaoh and the people. God of course still sets some important boundaries – ” ‘You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do. Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him.’ ” (v15-16) God still says that “I’m in charge, I tell you what to say, then you tell Aaron what to say, and Aaron says it. You are My mouthpiece to Aaron, and he is your mouthpiece to the people.”
Father, thank you for being so understanding and kind toward us. You know just how broken we are, and You choose to partner with us anyway. Even if we say we’re not qualified, You will assist us in fulfilling our calling, rather than just sending someone else. Father may we learn to be obedient to Your calling, requiring less and less prodding from You as we slowly mature. May You please continue teaching us to hear Your voice, so we may respond without hesitation. Praise be to You God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses, who partners with the least qualified people in order that You would be glorified, not us. To You be the glory forever and ever.
~ Conqueror in Training