Notes on Exodus 4-6

Dear Girls,

Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.” --Exodus 4:10-13

This is Moses' fourth argument to God in response to God telling him that He wanted him to go to Pharaoh and lead His people out of Egypt. (Don't miss the irony in that statement, please) Moses focuses on his weakness of speech....he is not eloquent, he is slow of speech and slow of tongue.  I can completely sympathize and identify with Moses ...I so often feel this way.  Here, however, is what I have noticed.  When God truly wants to make a point and deems to use my mouth for that purpose, I do fine.  He is with my mouth and does teach me what to say.  

I love God's reply to Moses:  "Who has made man's mouth."  This should be a huge comfort to each of us.  God has a purpose and plan for even things in our make up that we view as weaknesses and disabilities.  God takes responsibility for them all and uses them for his purposes. 

After more argument Moses does wind up going before Pharaoh.  

Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” And Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.”--Exodus 5:1-2

Pharaoh asks what many of us have asked in our arrogance and self will...Who is the Lord and why should I obey Him??!  I will do what I want...I will go my own way.  The Bible tells us in many places that there is a way that seems right to man, but it way leads to death.  God has given us everything we need in His word for life and godliness.  The Scripture is filled with exhortations to obey and be blessed both in this life and the next.  Unfortunately, most of us ignore both God and His word and in doing so court disaster.  THAT is what Pharaoh is doing here...courting disaster.  God will answer his question.  He will show Pharaoh who He is and I am pretty sure Pharaoh will not like it.  There will come a day for each of us when, like Pharaoh, our desire to live for ourselves and do as we please will reap eternal consequences.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”

And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the LORD. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name LORD[a] I was not known to them. 4 I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. 5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. 6 Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the LORD.’” --Exodus 6:1-8

An awesome passage of Scripture.  God establishes His word and His covenant with His people.  He is doing as He said He would do.  "I will take you as My people and I will be your God." (See Genesis 15:1-21 and Genesis 17:1-8.) 

As you read this passage you cannot help but notice the personal pronoun "I" used by God here.  God is directly and intimately involved in the affairs of Israel.  He is directly and intimately involved in your life. THAT IS SUCH A COMFORT.  Look at just verses 6-8 alone.  Notice the 7 I will's.  

I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, 

I will rescue you from their bondage, 

I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 

I will take you as My people, and 

I will be your God. 

I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; 

I will give it to you as a heritage:

Need help?  Need comfort?  Need salvation?  Need rest? Need an advocate?  GO TO HIM!

The rest of the chapter goes on to identify Moses and Aaron's Levitical heritage.  Aaron's son, Eleazar and grandson, Phinehas, both of whom would become Israel's high priest are also named.  And just in case you are still questioning who this Moses and Aaron are....God makes it clear in the last verses of this passage.

"These are the same Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, “Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.”  These are the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt. These are the same Moses and Aaron."

Just in case there was still any doubt....smile.

Love

Mom