I Will Teach You What to Say

“Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say” (Exodus 4:12).

Moses said, “Here am I.” Others too had said and would say, “Here am I”; namely, Abraham, Samuel, and Isaiah. Like Moses they responded to God’s call immediately.

But a recognition of unworthiness, an expression of humility, set in upon hearing God’s commission. “Woe is me” was Isaiah’s response, and “Who am I” was David’s.

Therefore, the very man, the only man, able to meet Pharaoh face to face, recognizing his state after forty years in Midian, acknowledged, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11). Oh that we would be like Moses in disclaiming our own ability, in not being presumptuous that we, on our own, can perform spiritual tasks!

Moses, diffident, distrusting himself, needed the Lord’s assurance. And the Lord gave him just such an assurance. Had he not attempted forty years before to liberate his brethren in his own strength? Had he not assumed that he was God’s deliverer even before God had prepared him fully? (Acts 7:25-29). He had been thoroughly disillusioned.

Only when God accosted him and personally commissioned him could he have been fully ready.

So Moses posed five questions/objections, and the Lord answered them graciously. He promised all help from Him, so clearly, so convincingly that Moses’ initial reluctance gave way to steadfast willingness to serve the Lord.

The five questions/objections elicited from the Lord the following assurances and promises:

1. God assured him of His protection;
2. God revealed His Person—the self-existing eternal One;
3. God signified His power by:
   1. the rod becoming a serpent,
   2. the leprous hand and
   3. the water turning into blood;
4. He vouchsafed His presence to teach, instruct and guide Moses;
5. His provision of a spokesman in the person of Aaron, Moses’ brother.

(See Exodus 3:11-15; 4:1-17).

Moses, now willing, ready and able to serve the Lord, took his shepherd’s rod and set out for Egypt accompanied by his family.

Adapted and modified excerpts from Day by Day: Bible Promises
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.