God Equips Moses for His Mission (Exodus 4:1–17)
Have you ever been given a big job and felt completely unqualified? That’s exactly how Moses felt when God asked him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses didn’t feel ready or confident, but God patiently showed him that he would have everything he needed to succeed.
Let’s walk through what happened.
Moses Doubts His Ability
After the burning bush encounter, Moses had serious doubts.
“What if they don’t believe me?” he asked God. Moses was afraid the Israelites would laugh at him or call him a liar. He didn’t think anyone would listen to him.
God Gives Signs to Moses
To ease Moses’ fears, God gave him three signs to prove that He had really sent him:
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The Staff Becomes a Snake: God told Moses to throw his staff (his shepherd’s stick) on the ground. It turned into a snake! Then when Moses picked it up again, it turned back into a staff.
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The Hand Becomes Leprous: God told Moses to put his hand inside his cloak. When Moses pulled it out, it was covered with disease. When he put it back inside and pulled it out again, it was completely healed.
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Water Turns to Blood: God said that if the first two signs weren’t enough, Moses could pour water from the Nile River onto the ground, and it would turn into blood.
These signs were powerful reminders that God was in control and that Moses wasn’t going alone.
Moses Worries About Speaking
Even after seeing these miracles, Moses still had concerns.
“I’m not a good speaker,” Moses said. “I get tongue-tied and slow with my words.”
Moses was scared that he would mess up when talking to Pharaoh and the people.
God’s Reassurance
God’s answer was kind but firm:
“Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Is it not I, the Lord?”
God reminded Moses that He created everything — including Moses’ ability to speak.
God promised, “I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
Moses Asks for Someone Else
Even after all these promises, Moses still wasn’t ready to say yes.
“Please, Lord, send someone else!” he begged.
God Sends Help
God was not happy with Moses’ reluctance, but He showed patience and mercy.
God told Moses that his brother Aaron could go with him. Aaron was a good speaker, and he would speak for Moses. Moses would still be the leader, but Aaron would help deliver the message.
Together, they would be a team — and God would guide them both.
Key Lessons
There’s so much we can learn from Moses’ story:
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God is Patient with Our Fears: Even when we doubt or drag our feet, God doesn’t give up on us.
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God Provides What We Need: God gave Moses signs, words, and even a helper when he needed one.
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God Still Chooses Us: We don’t have to be perfect for God to use us. God’s strength shines through our weakness.
Final Thoughts
Moses had lots of fears, but God gave him everything he needed to succeed.
If God is calling you to do something that feels big or scary, remember — you don’t have to do it alone.
Think about this: What fears are holding you back from stepping into what God has for you?
When God calls, He also equips. You just have to take the first step.
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.”