Exodus 6:10 - Meaning and Application

Here, God sends Moses a second time to Pharaoh on the same mission as before, to command him, at his own risk, to let the Israelites go (Exodus 6:11). God often repeats his warnings before he begins to punish. People who have often been called to leave their sins, but have refused, must be called again and again, whether they listen or not (Ezekiel 3:11). God is said to "cut" sinners down through his prophets (Hosea 6:5), which suggests repeated strokes. "How often would I have gathered you?"

Moses then objects like a man who is discouraged and ready to give up the work (Exodus 6:12). First, he says Pharaoh is unlikely to listen. The Israelites have not listened to him, and they have paid no attention or given him no trust. So how can he expect Pharaoh to hear him? If the people of Israel are so troubled that they cannot hear words meant to comfort them, how much more will Pharaoh, in anger, pride, and stubbornness, refuse words that will only irritate him. If God’s own people do not hear his messengers, how can we expect his open enemy to do so? The stubbornness of people who claim to be Christians often discourages ministers and makes them feel hopeless when dealing with people who are openly irreligious and wicked. We want to help God’s people become united, purified, comforted, and at peace. But if they will not listen to us, how can we expect to persuade those with whom we have even less influence? Yet with God all things are possible.

Second, Moses pleads his own weakness in speaking: "I am of uncircumcised lips." This is repeated again in Exodus 6:30. He knew he did not speak well and had no gift for language. That was not his strength. God had already answered this objection before, so Moses should not have kept pressing it. God’s grace is always enough to supply what nature lacks. Our weaknesses should humble us, but they should not keep us from doing our best in any work God gives us. His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Then God again joins Aaron with Moses in their mission, and he ends the argument by speaking with his own authority. He gives both men a serious charge, as servants owing full loyalty to their great Lord, to carry it out quickly and faithfully. When Moses repeats his defeated arguments, God does not keep debating. He gives a command, along with Aaron, to both the Israelites and Pharaoh (Exodus 6:13). God’s authority is enough to answer every objection, and it calls us to obey without complaining or arguing (Philippians 2:14). Moses himself needed to be charged, and so did Timothy, too (1 Timothy 6:13; 2 Timothy 4:1).