Verse for the Day, 19 June 2014.

Exodus 4:10-17, “But Moses said to the LORD, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue."  (11)  Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?  (12)  Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak."  (13)  But he said, "Oh, my Lord, please send someone else."  (14)  Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses and he said, "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.  (15)  You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do.  (16)  He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him.  (17)  And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”

Exodus 4 is a chapter that illustrates that even when man is in the presence of God, he can still doubt God’s power and ability. Moses has seen the presence of God in the burning bush, God has revealed His power and ability to Moses by turning his staff into a snake and by turning Moses’ hand leprous. Yet in spite of these clear revelations and displays of God’s power and ability, coupled with the promises of God to be with Moses and grant Moses success, Moses still doubts and questions God.

Moses objects when God tell Moses to speak to Pharaoh, he objects on the basis that he lacks an eloquent tongue and is slow of speech. God seeks to assure, even comfort Moses, by reminding Moses that He is the creator of the tongue and therefore Moses need not worry, furthermore God promises that He will be with him and even give Moses the very words to say. We would be inclined to think that this would satisfy and reassure Moses, yet Moses continues to object!

We are told that God’s anger kindled against Moses. Just because one is chosen and called by God, that doesn't mean that He is not provoked to anger by our sinfulness. As a result of Moses’ lack of faith in God, and his unwillingness to trust God, God in an amazing display of grace undertakes. God doesn't treat Moses as he deserves to be treated, He relents, shows mercy and provides, raises up another. Moses is instructed by God that Aaron would function as his mouthpiece, his spokesman before Pharaoh.

While we are surprised by Moses’ doubt, if we are honest with ourselves, that very same doubt resides in us all. God can demonstrate His faithfulness, power and ability to us in a myriad of ways, we can read of all His wonderful and true promises in His Word, we can know the working of His Spirit within us. Yet when it comes to the future, especially facing a difficult, potentially risky or dangerous future, we can become quickly filled with the very same doubt that Moses had. All God's promises and previous works are discounted, ignored, in our minds the situation facing us is greater than what God has done before, and we fear that God’s faithfulness, power, presence and promises will either fail, prove insufficient or not even be there. To think this is not only foolishness, it is to call into question everything that God is, that He has revealed Himself to be and proved Himself to be. It is to say that God is a liar, He breaks His promises and therefore cannot be trusted, that God is not sovereign, nor does He know the future any better than we do, that He is not all-powerful because there are situations that are beyond His power. It is to say that His faithfulness, ability and presence are all circumstantial and limited. When we are tempted to think, behave or believe in such a manner, we need to quickly address and counter that sinful and foolish way, with the unchanging nature of God’s character, attributes, abilities, promises and previous works. We should lean more upon God and the knowledge of who He is, than we lean upon ourselves, God and His character should be the first place of help and refuge that we turn to.

Most gracious God, how we plead with You to forgive us for our foolishness and doubt. Help us to see the sheer folly of calling You, the unchanging God, into question. We pray that we will so fill our minds with the knowledge of who You are, that when trial, difficult or danger stands before us, we will run to You and find in You our refuge and strength. Amen.