Exodus 4:10-1310And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. 11And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? 12Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. 13And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. (Exodus 4:10‑13)
Though armed with the most convincing signs, and having been repeatedly assured by God that He would be with him in performing all that his mission required, Moses still continued to withdraw from the privileged task. “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent,... but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” It was self that was obstructing the vision of faith in Moses. Was it his eloquence or was it the Lord’s power that would bring about Israel’s deliverance from Egypt? He speaks as if all depended upon his eloquence and ability to persuade others. And this is a sad error so common in the Church of God today. How many are attracted by eloquence or gift, with little or no thought for the truth of God itself. The Apostle Paul, that faithful servant of Christ, told the saints of God at Corinth: “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” 1 Corinthians 2:1,41And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1)
4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: (1 Corinthians 2:4). Thus it is that God often uses the “slow of speech” far more than those who are eloquent.
How strange that Moses should yet object. It is true that he was accounted later the meekest man on earth, yet this very meekness should more readily have cast him in full confidence and dependence on God who had promised to be with him. In answer to Moses’ further reluctance, the Lord teaches him another lesson, and at the same time administers a rebuke. “Who hath mad man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? No therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.” Surely his servant could not require more than that. In effect God was saying: “Well, the very thing you count for weakness will be My means of more forcefully expressing My purposes, both to Pharaoh and to the children Israel.” But there is a danger in forgetting that the way in which the Lord may use us might not bring honor to ourselves. Moses’ timidity, humility and lack of eloquence actually stood as a barrier to obedience to the Lord. Holding back from undertaking the mission given to him by God, because he thought he failed to possess the qualities necessary for that position, was not true humility, but rather pride — looking within himself for some good quality that would qualify him to be God’s representative. This was dishonoring to the Lord who was so patient with him.
Moses desired to be excused from such a difficult mission. He therefore says, “O my Lord, send, I pray Thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.” verse 13. In other words, Send anyone, but not me.
Five times did Moses raise objections to the Lord’s command, trying his patience and long-suffering, but now “the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well.” God was very gracious to Moses and He did not set him aside altogether. He allowed Aaron to be the spokesman for him.
ML 08/11/1968