Daily EncouragementSample

This is Moses’ final plea as he presents his case for refusing the call of God. His argument has so far included his sense of personal inadequacy (“Who am I, that I should go . . . ?”), his limited knowledge of God, his doubts about impressing the Egyptians and his slowness of speech (“O Lord, I have never been eloquent”) (Ex. 3:11,13; 4:1,10). If we have even the remotest conception of the significance of such a call from “the God of glory” we shall not be surprised at his attitude. A man “educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22) might have stepped confidently into a Pharaoh’s shoes, but the service of God was something else.

God’s reaction to Moses’ request that he send someone else may surprise us: “Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses” (Ex. 4:14). A call like this is a command, not an invitation to volunteer. It is a call to a specific person by name, and there can be no substitute. Protestations of weakness leading to disobedience incur the Lord’s displeasure.

Nevertheless, as ever, in wrath God remembers mercy. Aaron is already on the way, and the Lord promises to help them both to speak and to act. And in Moses’ hand is “the rod of God.”