And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

Moses Hears God’s Promise

Moses was afraid to speak publicly, or as some believe that he might have had a stammer. Whatever the reason he give the excuse that he was adequate to the task of calling God’s people together or of speaking before the court of a King. It is interesting that Moses seems to have a greater fear of the disbelief of God’s people than he does of Pharaoh.

Now God gives him two assurances. First, God gives himself to empower Moses’ speech.

Verse 11-12 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

God promised Moses, He would speak for him. He would put the words that needed to be said in Moses’ mouth.
Secondly, God also gave Aaron to empower Moses’ heart.

Still Moses was afraid, so much so that he asks God to send someone else.

Vs. 13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. (Lord choose someone else.)
God until now had not been angry with Moses but this near refusal after God’s promise stirred the Creator to anger. Yet He does not give up on Moses even in His anger. Exodus 4:14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, 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.

God seems to say, I’ll give you Aaron to be your spokesman, He is on his way and at least he will be glad that I have called him.
So, God then gives Aaron, his brother to be his helper in order to empower Moses’ heart and assure him that God can use even a slow-tongued, old, on the run, lowly shepherd to do great things.

Hearing God’s Promise For Us

There is only one Moses and God used him and only him in this special way for a unique task but the way that God empowered and assured Moses is not unique to Moses. We have all been called to serve the Lord and we have all been given promises that should give us the courage that will empower our hearts in the service of our Lord.

Listen to what God told Jeremiah, “Jeremiah 1:9-10 9 Then the LORD put forth his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. 10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

Just like Moses, He has promised us the words to speak and one who will be with us to give us what we lack.

Look at Matthew 10:19-20 19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you...

Luke 21:14-16 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

Also like Moses, the Lord has also promised us, One to walk with us, One who will bless our hearts, even more than Aaron was a blessing to Moses.

John 16:7-14 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you.

With the promise of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, Jesus has given us One who will always be with us to strengthen, comfort and guide us as we follow and serve the Lord. With the Spirit of God in us, what task for God can we not face? What challenge can we not meet? What obstacle can we not overcome?

As Paul said in Romans, “If God we for us, who then can be against us?