Saturday, July 31, 2010

Moses and Aaron Visit the Children of Israel

For more details, search Exodus 4.

In Exodus 4, God shows that when He wants a specific person to perform a task for Him it will be done by that person. The specific person God wants to deliver the children of Israel from oppressive living is Moses; however, Moses does not feel up to the task and comes up with various ways of trying to get out of it. Of course, when everything is done and said, God has built up Moses to go to Egypt to free the children.

Moses starts with telling God that the children of Israel will not believe that God has sent him. As proof to the people, God gives Moses the power to perform miracles. One miracle is to turn his rod into a snake and back into a rod again. Another miracle is for leprosy to appear upon his hand and then for it to be healed. If the people still do not believe, Moses is to take water from the river and it will turn to blood on the dry land.

Although Moses had the power to perform miracles to show the people, he still lacked confidence because of his speech. "And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou has spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue" (Exodus 4:10). God responds "...Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord" (Exodus 4:11)? "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say" (Exodus 4:12).

Then, Moses seems to plea with the Lord to send someone else. "And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send" (Exodus 4:13). This statement by Moses makes God angry and God replies, "...Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart" (Exodus 4:14).

"And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth and will teach you what ye shall do" (Exodus 4:15).

"And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a month, and thou shalt be to him instead of God" (Exodus 4:16).

"And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs" (Exodus 4:17).

Thus, Moses will be well-equipped to deliver the children of Israel.

Moses returned to his father-in-law, Jethro, and said, "...Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace" (Exodus 4:18).

"And the Lord said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life" (Exodus 4:19).

Following God's command, Moses sets out for Egypt with his wife and sons and 'the rod of God in his hand' (Exodus 4:20).

"And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go" (Exodus 4:21).

"And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn (Exodus 4:22):

"And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn" (Exodus 4:23).

"And the Lord said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him" (Exodus 4:27).

"And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him" (Exodus 4:28).

"And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel" (Exodus 4:29):

"And Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people" (Exodus 4:30).

"And the people believed: and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped" (Exodus 4:31).

God's Hand in the Matter: God works to build up Moses' faith to deliver the children of Israel. God also works to bring Moses and Aaron together to speak the words of the Lord to the children of Israel and to perform miracles. The people believe Moses and Aaron. At the end of the chapter, the people bowed their head and worshipped God for looking upon their conditon.

Personal note: Today, if God wants you to perform a task, He will build your faith up through His Word in the bible and will teach you through the Holy Spirit.

"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified" (Acts 20:32).

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26).

As with Moses, God will spend all the time it takes to accomplish His purpose through you.

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