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hath sent me unto you。〃
Moses was commanded first to assemble the elders of Israel； the most noble
and righteous among them； who had long grieved because of their bondage； and
to declare to them a message from God； with a promise of deliverance。 Then
he was to go with the elders before the king； and say to him
〃The Lord God of the Hebrews hath met with us： and now let us go； we beseech
thee； three days' journey into the wilderness； that we may sacrifice to the
Lord our God。〃
Moses was forewarned that Pharaoh would resist the appeal to let Israel go。
Yet the courage of God's servant must not fail； for the Lord would make this
the occasion to manifest His power before the Egyptians and before His
people。 〃And I will stretch out My hand； and smite Egypt with all My wonders
which I will do in the midst thereof： and after that he will let you go。〃
Direction was also given concerning the provision they were to make for the
journey。 The Lord declared； 〃It shall come to pass； that； when ye go； ye
shall not go empty： but every woman shall borrow of her neighbor； and of her
that sojourneth in her house； jewels of silver； and jewels of gold； and
raiment。〃 The Egyptians had been enriched by the labor unjustly exacted from
the Israelites； and as the latter were to start on the journey to their new
home； it was right for them to claim the reward of their years of toil。 They
were to ask for articles of value； such as could be easily transported； and
God would give them favor in the sight of the Egyptians。 The mighty miracles
wrought for their deliverance would strike terror to the oppressors； so that
the requests of the bondmen would be granted。
Moses saw before him difficulties that seemed insurmountable。 What proof
could he give his people that God had indeed sent him？ 〃Behold；〃 he said；
〃they will not believe me； nor hearken unto my voice： for they will say； The
Lord hath not appeared unto thee。〃 Evidence that appealed to his own senses
was now given。 He was told to cast his rod upon the ground。 As he did so；
〃it became a serpent； and Moses fled from before it。〃 He was commanded to
seize it； and in his hand it became a rod。
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He was bidden to put his hand into his bosom。 He obeyed； and 〃when he took
it out； behold； his hand was leprous as snow。〃 Being told to put it again
into his bosom； he found on withdrawing it that it had become like the
other。 By these signs the Lord assured Moses that His own people； as well as
Pharaoh； should be convinced that One mightier than the king of Egypt was
manifest among them。
But the servant of God was still overwhelmed by the thought of the strange
and wonderful work before him。 In his distress and fear he now pleaded as an
excuse a lack of ready speech： 〃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。〃 He had been so long away from the Egyptians
that he had not so clear knowledge and ready use of their language as when
he was among them。
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？〃 To this was
added another assurance of divine aid： 〃Now therefore go； and I will be with
thy mouth； and teach thee what thou shalt say。〃 But Moses still entreated
that a more competent person be selected。 These excuses at first proceeded
from humility and diffidence； but after the Lord had promised to remove all
difficulties； and to give him final success； then any further shrinking back
and complaining of his unfitness showed distrust of God。 It implied a fear
that God was unable to qualify him for the great work to which He had called
him； or that He had made a mistake in the selection of the man。
Moses was now directed to Aaron； his elder brother； who； having been in
daily use of the language of the Egyptians； was able to speak it perfectly。
He was told that Aaron was coming to meet him。 The next words from the Lord
were an unqualified command：
〃Thou shalt speak unto him； and put words in his mouth： and I will be with
thy mouth； and with his mouth； and will teach you what ye shall do。 And he
shall be thy spokesman unto the people： and he shall be； even he shall be to
thee instead of a mouth； and thou shalt be to him instead of God。 And thou
shalt take this rod in thine hand； wherewith thou shalt do signs。〃 He could
make no further resistance； for all ground for excuse was removed。
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The divine command given to Moses found him self…distrustful； slow of
speech； and timid。 He was overwhelmed with a sense of his incapacity to be a
mouthpiece for God to Israel。 But having once accepted the work； he entered
upon it with his whole heart； putting all his trust in the Lord。 The
greatness of his mission called into exercise the best powers of his mind。
God blessed his ready obedience； and he became eloquent； hopeful；
self…possessed； and well fitted for the greatest work ever given to man。
This is an example of what God does to strengthen the character of those who
trust Him fully and give themselves unreservedly to His commands。
A man will gain power and efficiency as he accepts the responsibilities that
God places upon him； and with his whole soul seeks to qualify himself to
bear them aright。 However humble his position or limited his ability； that
man will attain true greatness who； trusting to divine strength； seeks to
perform his work with fidelity。 Had Moses relied upon his own strength and
wisdom； and eagerly accepted the great charge； he would have evinced his
entire unfitness for such a work。 The fact that a man feels his weakness is
at least some evidence that he realizes the magnitude of the work appointed
him； and that he will make God his counselor and his strength。
Moses returned to his father…in…law and expressed his desire to visit his
brethren in Egypt。 Jethro's consent was given； with his blessing； 〃Go in
peace。〃 With his wife and children； Moses set forth on the journey。 He had
not dared to make known the object of his mission； lest they should not be
allowed to accompany him。 Before reaching Egypt； however； he himself thought
it best for their own safety to send them back to the home in Midian。
A secret dread of Pharaoh and the Egyptians； whose anger had been kindled
against him forty years before； had rendered Moses still more reluctant to
return to Egypt； but after he had set out to obey the divine command； the
Lord revealed to him that his enemies were dead。
On the way from Midian； Moses received a startling and terrible warning of
the Lord's displeasure。 An angel appeared to him in a threatening manner； as
if he would immediately destroy him。 No explanation was given； but Moses
remembered that he had disregarded one of God's requirements； yielding to
the
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persuasion of his wife； he had neglected to perform the rite of circumcision
upon their youngest son。 He had failed to comply with the condition by which
his child could be entitled to the blessings of God's covenant with Israel；
and such a neglect on the part of t