These are the Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said: “Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts.” It was they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the people of Israel from Egypt, this Moses and this Aaron.
The above two verses follow a long list of names. The names are the heads of Israel and contain both Moses and his older brother, Aaron. This genealogy was placed right in the middle of the story of Moses trying to convince Pharaoh to let the nation of Israel go. The Egyptians had found a great resource for their construction trades via the nation of Israel. But Pharaoh was not impressed with Moses. Moses himself has stated on a couple of occasions that he was not eloquent of speech and lacked the ability to convince Pharaoh. This is where his older brother comes into the story. Aaron was three years older and, apparently, much more compelling in speech. It is important to realize that no amount of good speaking was going to change Pharaoh’s mind. It would be God’s power that would finally change his mind and have him release the nation. Yet, it was God who did send Aaron to be the spokesperson. This genealogy is put into the middle of this story for this purpose. A lesson here is that God uses mankind to convey the message of His power but He does not intend for mankind’s speech to be the power. Aaron was a better speaker, but God did not need him. Moses needed Aaron. God did not need Aaron. God chose to use Moses AND Aaron. Aaron was a better communicator but God didn’t need eloquent speech to convince Pharaoh. He would use Aaron to convey to Pharaoh, something Moses felt lacking in his abilities. Moses was thinking it was great argumentation and debate that would win over Pharaoh. But God knew it was His power and His speaking to Pharaoh through the plagues that would convict him. We ought to realize that when conveying God’s plan it is not dependent upon our eloquent speech. It is based upon HIs divine power. Paul told us this when he was explaining his preaching the gospel to those in Corinth:
1 Corinthians 2:3-4 (ESV)
And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
1 Corinthians 1:17 (ESV)
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
God does not need eloquent speech. He needs available mouths.
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