*Exodus 4:1-17
Doubting himself, Moses is reassured by God and given a staff to perform miracles in order to convince the Israelites to follow him.
- Moses’ Doubts and God’s Responses:
- Moses expresses concern that the Israelites will not believe him or listen to his claim that the God of their ancestors has appeared to him.
- To address Moses’ concerns, God provides him with three signs to prove His divine commission.
- First Sign: The Staff Becomes a Snake:
- God instructs Moses to throw his staff on the ground. When he does, it turns into a snake. Moses flees from it.
- Then, God tells Moses to grab the snake by the tail, and when he does so, it turns back into a staff. This sign is meant to demonstrate God’s power over the natural and supernatural.
- Second Sign: Moses’ Hand Becomes Leprous:
- God tells Moses to put his hand inside his cloak. When Moses takes it out, it is leprous, white as snow.
- Upon putting his hand back inside his cloak and taking it out again, it is restored to normal. This sign illustrates God’s control over human health and disease.
- Third Sign: Water Turned to Blood:
- As a final sign, God instructs Moses to take some water from the Nile and pour it on the ground. The water turns into blood on the dry ground, symbolizing God’s authority over the elements and foreshadowing the plagues to come.
- Moses’ Reluctance to Speak:
- Despite these signs, Moses hesitates, claiming he is not eloquent and is slow of speech and tongue.
- God reassures him, reminding Moses that He will help him speak and will teach him what to say.
- Aaron is Appointed as Moses’ Spokesperson:
- Still reluctant, Moses asks the Lord to send someone else. In response, God becomes angry but offers a compromise.
- God tells Moses that his brother Aaron, who is eloquent, can speak for him. God says He will help both of them speak and will teach them what to do.
- Aaron will speak to the people for Moses, and Moses will act as God’s representative, performing the signs.
- Moses Takes the Staff of God:
- Moses is instructed to take the staff with which he will perform the signs, reinforcing the importance of God’s divine assistance in the mission ahead.
Exodus 4:1-17 teaches us that God can use us, even when we feel weak or unqualified. Moses doubted himself and made excuses, but God reminded him that He would provide the help needed. This shows us that we don’t have to be perfect to do something important—God can use our abilities, no matter how small they seem. It encourages us to trust Him, take steps of faith, and remember that He will give us the strength and support we need to accomplish His plans.
Exodus 4:1-17 (WEB)
4:1 Moses answered, “But, behold, they will not believe me, nor listen to my voice; for they will say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’ ”2 The LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?”He said, “A rod.”3 He said, “Throw it on the ground.”He threw it on the ground, and it became a snake; and Moses ran away from it.4 The LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand, and take it by the tail.”He stretched out his hand, and took hold of it, and it became a rod in his hand.5 “This is so 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 said furthermore to him, “Now put your hand inside your cloak.”He put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, as white as snow.7 He said, “Put your hand inside your cloak again.”He put his hand inside his cloak again, and when he took it out of his cloak, behold, it had turned again as his other flesh.8 “It will happen, if they will not believe you or listen to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. 9 It will happen, if they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, that you shall take of the water of the river, and pour it on the dry land. The water which you take out of the river will become blood on the dry land.”10 Moses said to the LORD, “O Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”11 The LORD said to him, “Who made man’s mouth? Or who makes one mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Isn’t it I, the LORD? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak.”13 Moses said, “Oh, Lord, please send someone else.”14 The LORD’s anger burned against Moses, and he said, “What about Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Also, behold, he is coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 You shall speak to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do. 16 He will be your spokesman to the people. It will happen that he will be to you a mouth, and you will be to him as God. 17 You shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.”