Chapter 8: Please Send Someone Else

MOSES“But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, 'The Lord did not appear to you.'”— Exodus 4:1

GOD“What is that in your hand?”

MOSES“A staff.”

GOD“Throw it on the ground.”— Exodus 4:2-3

Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent. Moses ran from it. God told him to reach out and grab it by the tail. Moses obeyed, and it became a staff again in his hand. (Exodus 4:3-4)

Then God told him to put his hand inside his cloak. When Moses pulled it out, his hand was leprous, white as snow. He put it back and pulled it out again, and it was restored. God gave him a third sign: if neither of the first two convinced them, Moses was to take water from the Nile and pour it on dry ground, and it would become blood. (Exodus 4:6-9)

Three signs. And still Moses resisted.

MOSES“O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”— Exodus 4:10

GOD“Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”— Exodus 4:11-12

MOSES“O my Lord, please send someone else.”— Exodus 4:13

The anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses. But even in His anger, God provided.

GOD“Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. He shall speak for you to the people. And you shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”— Exodus 4:14-17