Exodus 4:1-17

Moses and Signs from God

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4:1 Then Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”

 

2 The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A staff.”

 

3 Then He said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.

 

4 But the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand and grasp it by its tail”—so he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand—

 

5 “that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

 

6 The LORD furthermore said to him, “Now put your hand into your bosom.” So he put his hand into his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow.

 

7 Then He said, “Put your hand into your bosom again.” So he put his hand into his bosom again, and when he took it out of his bosom, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh.

 

8 “If they will not believe you or heed the witness of the first sign, they may believe the witness of the last sign.

 

9 But if they will not believe even these two signs or heed what you say, then you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water which you take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”

 

10 Then Moses said to the LORD, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”

 

11 The LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?

 

12 Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.”

 

13 But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.”

 

14 Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. And moreover, behold, he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.

 

15 You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do.

 

16 Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him.

 

17 You shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs.”

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This is the Word of the Lord ... It is meant to change the way we think, and the way we live.

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Commentary by Bob Pardue

Moses Tries to Get Out of His Mission from God - Our "Staff"

Let's Talk about Worry

An old saying: "Dreading a task is almost always worst than doing it." Moses was caught up in the trap we all sometimes fall into - looking at what might happen in the future. Not that this is a bad thing. Situations in our lives should be thought out in advance so that we don't get into trouble down the road but, when it comes to God, rationality doesn't always come into play.

"and I, even I, will be with your mouth"

When God asks us to do something for him, he does not ask us to go it alone. To do his work, we will be given direction, the tools we need, and the people who will become involved to make it happen. God will get his way, no matter if we do the task or someone else takes the reins.

Excuses

Moses thought up every excuse he could to get out of doing something he was uncomfortable doing. God showed him that everything would be provided - even a voice to speak for him in the form of Aaron. Moses didn't know at the time, but the plan was put into action, the action would turn into the great Exodus from Egypt, and Moses would be recorded as one of the greatest people in the Old Testament section of the Bible.

Using Tools for God

God turned Moses' staff into a mighty tool to use when he presented the plan to Egypt. God can use anything "simple" to do mighty works if we only have a little faith in his abilities. I know, I have this same problem of trusting completely what God can do but, sometimes we just have to let go - let God work through us.

We may not have a "magic" staff but, we have other tools God can use such as a gift of gab, playing an instrument, singing, abilities to write - well, you know what talents or tools you have. Are you ready to use them for God today?

Love in Christ

- Bob

Exodus 1:1-8-2:1-10 - Moses is Born

Exodus 20:1-17 - The Ten Commandments