Old Testament Survey

(Exo 6:10-13) God tells Moses to stick with His plan.

a. How then shall Pharaoh heed me: God told Moses to repeat what he had unsuccessfully done before (Exodus 5:1-2). Moses felt this approach had failed once, so there was no sense in repeating it. This approach failed to persuade even the people of Israel; it seemed that it would never work with Pharaoh.

Note the ground for Moses’ discouragement: For I am of uncircumcised lips. Now he objected because he believed he was not worthy for the task. “That inability was now born of a sense, not as before of his lack of eloquence, but of his uncleanness.”

b. Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave them a command: Moses wanted to quit after the first setback.

(Exo 6:28-30) Moses objects again.

And it came to pass, on the day the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, that the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “I am the Lord. Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.” But Moses said before the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh heed me?”

a. Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you: God previously commanded Moses to speak to Pharaoh. After the first disappointing experience, Moses now hesitated in his obedience.

b. I am of uncircumcised lips: It is not our sin that hinders us from fulfilling God's plan - its our unbelief.