In Exodus 4:10-14, does it mean that Moses was doubting the Lord concerning not being eloquent?
The Lord had earlier said to Moses in Exodus 3:16-17, “Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt: And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.”
What a great privilege to be used to bring His people out of the captivity of Egypt and “unto a land flowing with milk and honey.” Yet, Moses, like a lot of us, looked at himself instead of looking at the Lord. Instead of considering the limitless strength of the Lord, he thought of his own weakness. So, he began to make excuses as to why he could not do what the Lord asked of him.
Exodus 4:1, “And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.” The Lord had promised Moses that the people would listen to him in Exodus 3:18, yet Moses made the excuse that they would not hear him.
Exodus 4:10, “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.” After the Lord had reassured Moses and had given him signs to show the people, he still made the excuse that he was not an eloquent man. Years later, another man who was not eloquent became a great servant of the Lord. The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 11:6, “But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.” He truly was not eloquent, but he did not let that deter him from doing what the Lord instructed him to do.
Exodus 4:13, “And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.” At this point, Moses asks the Lord to send someone else. This angered the Lord for He knew He could use Moses if Moses would submit to Him completely. Verse 14 says, “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.” So, much of the work the Lord had intended for Moses was given to Aaron, his brother. It is a blessing to know that the work of the Lord will not be hindered by the reluctance of man. The Lord will make sure to complete His purposes.
I am reminded of what I once read: THE LORD DOES NOT CALL THE EQUIPPED, HE EQUIPS THE CALLED. The Lord does not call us to a service that He does not give us the ability to perform.
We are all apt to react like Moses did. We consider our own abilities and believe we are not able to perform what the Lord asks of us. May we be constantly reminded of the Lord’s words in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (464.2)