Exodus 4:1-17 - Exposition

The reluctance of Moses to undertake the part of leader, indicated by his first reply at his first calling, "Who am I that I should go?" etc. ( Exodus 3:11 ), was not yet overcome. God had promised that he would succeed; but he did not see how he could succeed, either with the people or with Pharaoh. It was not enough for him that God had declared, "They (the people) shall hearken unto thy voice" ( Exodus 3:18 ); he does not, cannot believe this, and replies: "Behold, they will not believe, neither hearken unto my voice" ( Exodus 4:1 ). This was plain want of faith; but not unnatural, and not, in God's sight, inexcusable. God therefore condescended to the human weakness of his servant, and proceeded to show him how he intended that he should persuade the people of his mission. He should persuade them by producing the credentials of miracles ( Exodus 4:2-9 ). But the laggard heart finds yet a further objection. Moses feels that he labours under a personal defect, which (he thinks) is an absolute disqualification. He is "slow of speech and of a slow tongue" ( Exodus 4:10 ), has always been wanting in eloquence, and does not find himself any the more eloquent since God has been speaking with him. In vain does Jehovah promise to "be with his mouth" ( Exodus 4:12 ); Moses' last word indicates all the old feeling of self-distrust. "Send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send" ( Exodus 4:13 ). Then at last the anger of the Lord is kindled against Moses, and God inflicts on him a sort of punishment—degrades him; as it were—deposes him from the position of sole leader, and associates Aaron with him in such sort that Aaron must have appeared, both to the Israelites and to the Pharaoh, as the chief leader rather than Moses. (See Exodus 4:30 ; Exodus 7:2 , Exodus 7:10 , Exodus 7:19 ; Exodus 8:6 , Exodus 8:17 , etc.)

At this point the interview between Moses and Jehovah ends, and the action of the Exodus commences. Moses obtains leave to quit Midian, and quits it—retires to Egypt, after escaping from a dangerous sickness on the way ( Exodus 4:24-26 ), is met by Aaron and takes him into his counsels, summons the elders and exhibits before them his miraculous powers, persuades them, and is finally accepted as having, with Aaron, a mission from God, both by the elders and the people.