Aaron to Be Moses’ Mouthpiece
July 28, 2021
Commentary
Moses still had another excuse. He said “I cannot speak well. I am slow of speech and (I John 4:7-10) my tongue is slow” (v. 10). The Lord was very patient with Moses when He said, “Who made your mouth (v.11)” and answered it by saying “I did. I will teach you what to say (v.12).”
Still Moses hesitated to obey. Evidently he was looking at himself and his failures instead of God and His power. He suggested that God get a replacement (v. 13). At that point God became angry with Moses (v. 14). Perhaps He perceived that Moses was speaking more out of disobedience than real fear.
So God told Moses He would let his brother, Aaron, speak for him (vv. 14-16). Aaron turned out to be more of a hindrance than a help! He, later, led the nation into idolatry (Ex. 32:15-28) and murmured against Moses (Num. 12). How tragic that Moses was willing to trust a weak man of the flesh instead of the living God of Heaven. Then He says, “Take this walking stick and use it to perform miracles (v. 17). Sometimes God will allow us to have our own way even when it is not best just to teach us a lesson.
Application
God does not need eloquence or oratory; He needs only a clean and available vessel that He can fill. Am I keeping my body and mind from the filth of this world? What have I been watching on the internet or T.V.?
Exodus 4:10– 17 (NET)
10 Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not an eloquent man, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant, for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave a mouth to man, or who makes a person mute or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 So now go, and I will be with your mouth and will teach you what you must say.”
13 But Moses said, “O my Lord, please send anyone else whom you wish to send!”
14 Then the Lord became angry with Moses, and he said, “What about your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he can speak very well. Moreover, he is coming to meet you, and when he sees you he will be glad in his heart.
15 “So you are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And as for me, I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you both what you must do. 16 He will speak for you to the people, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were his God. 17 You will also take in your hand this staff, with which you will do the signs.”