“Then the Lord told Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. When he feels the force of my strong hand, he will let the people go. In fact, he will force them to leave his land!” And God said to Moses, “I am Yahweh—‘the Lord.’ I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty’—but I did not reveal my name, Yahweh, to them. And I reaffirmed my covenant with them. Under its terms, I promised to give them the land of Canaan, where they were living as foreigners. You can be sure that I have heard the groans of the people of Israel, who are now slaves to the Egyptians. And I am well aware of my covenant with them. “Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt. I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your very own possession. I am the Lord!’” So Moses told the people of Israel what the Lord had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and tell him to let the people of Israel leave his country.” “But Lord!” Moses objected. “My own people won’t listen to me anymore. How can I expect Pharaoh to listen? I’m such a clumsy speaker!” But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them orders for the Israelites and for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. The Lord commanded Moses and Aaron to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt.”
Exodus 6:1-13 NLT
Just as before, Moses became despondent at his own inabilities. However, before, it was while he was alone with God, here we see him cower before the people. This is not the same man who slayed the slave driver long ago, but it is also not the same man who would lead the people across the Red Sea. He was a man who too informed by his own self to understand the full significance of standing before his creator. This can easily happen to us. It is easy to be crippled with fear at our own inabilities. The scripture also records, quite charitably, that the people were also crippled by the weight of the sorrow and toil placed on them. They were too emotionally exhausted to hold onto any hope Moses would give. Yet, it must be noted that Moses didn’t give the hope he was commanded. He stand before the Pharaoh with miracles and decrees loaded. Instead he tried to manipulate the Pharaoh, and it backfired spectacularly. The added burdens were as a result of his own refusal to command in full faith. Nonetheless, Moses was on a journey to discover what it means to be called by God. God would not abandon him in his immaturity, or them in their exhaustion. He gently reminds them to keep going and sits at the ready to do his part.
Moses’s Insecurities: Moses, despite past strength, felt inadequate and fearful, highlighting the human tendency to doubt oneself, even when standing with God.
People’s Despair: The Israelites, burdened and exhausted, lacked hope, mirroring, and possibly due to Moses’s own struggles.
God’s Patience and Guidance: God remained committed to Moses and the Israelites, offering support and encouragement despite their shortcomings.
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