But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” (Exodus 4:10-12 ESV)
In reading about Moses today in our Chronological Reading plan, I was struck by the excuse Moses makes concerning his ability speak to Pharaoh as an ambassador for God. Some have suggested that perhaps Moses had a stuttering problem as indicated by the phrase “slow of speech and tongue” and others have refuted this as simply an excuse.
The bottom-line truth of the matter is that Moses was called by God to be His spokesman to Pharaoh and to give Him a message. Moses was using his perceived weakness as an excuse.
How many times do we struggle with the same excuse? I cannot speak to my neighbor or friend about Jesus because what if they ask me a question I don’t know the answer to? What if I cannot think quick enough on my feet? I don’t want to look stupid. Surely there is someone more qualified.
But the Bible is clear that most of the time God uses people to proclaim His message of hope and freedom. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:19-21 (NIV), “And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”
The key to being an Ambassador of God is found in God’s response to Moses. He said, “I will be with your mouth and I will teach you what to say.” We simply need to trust that if God calls us to go and share with someone the truth and hope of His Word that He will fill our mouths with what to say.
Prayer Focus: Ask the Lord to teach you how to trust Him with your mouth today so that you can be His ambassador and witness to those who need to hear the message of hope and truth.
