He Gave Them Charge

So Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account of their despondency and cruel bondage.

Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the sons of Israel go out of his land."

But Moses spoke before the Lord, saying, "Behold, the sons of Israel have not listened to me; how then will Pharaoh listen to me, for I am unskilled in speech?"

Then the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a charge to the sons of Israel and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt...

Then the Lord said to Moses, "See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. You will speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall speak to Pharaoh that he let the sons of Israel go out of his land."

~Exodus 6:9-7:2

Moses did not feel empowered. It wasn't his fault the Israelites were too despondent to believe God sent him to free them from slavery. Cruelly burdened by a tyranny that grew over centuries, they felt abandoned by God and looked upon this dusty, aging shepherd from the wilderness with disillusioned skepticism. But Moses took their rejection personally. Their response shattered the initial self-confidence that had carried him across the desert since his meeting with God at the burning bush.

Yet it is in the midst of his pain and questioning that God gives Moses and Aaron a charge--

an assignment,

a responsibility,

a stewardship,

a commission...

...not only to the Israelite slaves, but also to the Pharaoh who held them in bondage, to bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.

Notice God does not give the brothers a full briefing; rather, throughout the Exodus, information comes on a need-to-know basis. This MO promotes trust, faith, and great opportunities for God to reveal His glory and character. But at this point, all they know is that they have a job to do--an overwhelming job for which Moses does not feel equipped.

Verses 14-27 establish their credentials. Credentials? What credentials? Moses and Aaron descend via some rather intriguing characters and circumstances. Their father, Amram, married his Aunt Jochebed, and these two bore the brothers. However, notice the information in verse 16: "These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations." It is the genealogy, not circumstances or skills, that make Moses the man for the job.

Finally in Ex 7:1 God reveals an encouraging element of His plan: "See, I will make you as God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet."

I will make you...

Lord, please make me into the person You created me to be, and direct me, that I might fulfill the purpose for which You created me. Grant me discernment to know what You give me charge of, versus what You don't, that I might stay on task. And thank You for not giving me too much information ahead of time. I love to watch You work and I love Your surprises! Oh my Lord, be glorified!!!