Sometimes We Need a Fresh Command

Exodus 6 contains a short conversation between God and Moses that seems like a rehash of what transpired at the burning bush a few chapters earlier. It has the same statements but there are contextual differences that make it plain: this is a new conversation about an old topic.

Exodus 6:10–13 (ESV) So the LORD said to Moses, “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land.” But Moses said to the LORD, “Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” 13 But the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh king of Egypt: to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

Moses has been in active ministry now for a few days. They have been hard days. He's been believed and rejected in a matter of moments. The words he speaks to the people are falling on deaf ears. Notice the horrible stature of their hearts in verse 9:

Exodus 6:9 (ESV) Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.

Note that Moses just gave the people the exact speech God told him to say. Yet it falls on hardened hearts that have been demoralized by slavery. Sometimes you do exactly what God wants and you hit a brick wall.

This is the frustration of every Gospel preacher at some point or another. Notice that Moses even complains to the Lord. But his complaint is not about the condition of their hearts. His complaint is about the ability of his tongue ONCE AGAIN! "Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?" 

People haven't responded and Moses immediately questions his ability even after hearing all God's promises for himself. Why is that?

Because deep inside we are on a constant quest for self-justification. We want to prove that we can do it! We want to believe we are able. We want to know that something in us is able or worth-while and therefore we are the right person for the job in ourselves. This is nothing more than works righteousness. And the sad reality is how often we fall for it in a hundred different ways and how badly we need to give it up. 

Your calling in God is not dependent on what you bring to the table. Your calling in God is always and only forever dependent on the God who called you. The common saying is "God does not call the equipped, He equips the called." That's true but the better expression might be, "God equips the totally inadequate." We do not have to worry about our ability. 

Notice God's response in Verse 13: "The Lord spoke... and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh king of Egypt". Notice it does not say "for the people of Israel and for Pharaoh." God does not give Moses new words. God gives Moses a fresh charge. The word means "command" or "order". This was not a soft-hearted plea from God. This was a direct order from heaven. In other words, Moses was getting NO OTHER OPTION for his life with God.

You cannot fight the command of God. This word appears concerning how God created the universe. Psalm 33:9 (ESV) For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. In other words, God said "let there be" and there was! There was NO other option. God commanded the prophets to speak, David to lead, and Joshua to succeed in Moses' footsteps. Each time there was some hesitancy by His servants and each time they were eventually overruled by God's command. If God has called you, don't fight it. Step out and do it, regardless of the response of people or the effectiveness of your most recent attempt. 

When you act on God's behalf doing what He has commanded. You can be confident. That though there may be bad days here and there, eventually all that God has commanded for you to do will be accomplished not because of you... but because of Him!