Now we come to Moses’ fifth objection: “I don’t know how.” Consider the next few verses.
10 And 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.
11 And 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?
12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. Up to this point Moses has objected to God’s commission based upon circumstances or people outside himself. Now he just plainly says that he is not capable of doing what God has called him to do. He suggests that his speech will not be eloquent or forceful enough to have any impact upon Pharaoh. Notice how God-centered the LORD’s answer to this objection is. It is not about how well Moses can use his mouth to glorify God. It is that God will Himself be with Moses’ mouth, and teach him how to use it properly. Does the Tool-Maker not know how to use the very tools that He has made? In the present day there is often too much focus upon a servant of God having the “proper training” so as to develop the necessary “know-how” for the work. Many with such training have no idea how to be helplessly dependent upon God. When God calls a person to do a work for Him, it has nothing at all to do with proficiency on the part of the servant. I personally believe that any servant of the LORD ought to have been taught as much of the Bible as possible, in its full context. Other classes[1] may be helpful, or they may become a hindrance if the student feels that the classes have in themselves adequately equipped him/her for the work. As we have seen, God had providentially provided Moses with the best “education” that Egypt had to offer. But education in itself does not necessarily prepare a servant of God for what he/she will be called to do. It can provide a number of tools (extensive reading, language skills, historical perspective, etc.), but these in themselves are not enough. There must be the absolute reliance upon knowing and genuinely trusting God for His enabling. Finally, we encounter Moses’ sixth objection to God’s call on his life: “Send someone else.” 13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.
14 And 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. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.
16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.
17 And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs. Moses’ last objection calls forth the anger of the LORD. In every previous objection God was able to manifest patience and mercy, since there was a degree of credibility to them. But in this final objection Moses was essentially just saying, “Look LORD, why don’t you just send someone else to do this?” This was not an argument from real concerns; it was a deliberate statement of personal unwillingness to obey. What made it even more heinous was that Moses said this after he had already had God’s answers to all of his previous objections. God is merciful and longsuffering with His servants. But the one thing that God will not countenance from them (us) is outright disobedience to His known will.[2] Even though this response from Moses drew forth God’s anger, God still manifested mercy to him by revealing that Aaron was already on his way to meet Moses. If we need secondary assistance to fulfill God’s calling, we may be sure that He will provide it. God knows that Aaron can “speak well.” This certainly suggests that God had previously anticipated Moses’ personal concerns about his own awkwardness in speaking. God also knows that Aaron is already on his way to Moses, presumably because God has Himself worked in Aaron’s heart to come to his brother in the wilderness. And, notice God’s plan to use these two brothers: · Aaron can be Moses’ “mouthpiece” · Moses can speak to Aaron with the authority of God · God will Himself “be with” both Moses’ and Aaron’s mouths [1] Bible College or perhaps Seminary classes. [2] This is the whole truth of the book of Judges. Note particularly the first two chapters.
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This is excellent, brother!