“And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.”
God beareth with Moses’ doubting, because he was not altogether without faith.
“That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.”
This power to work miracles was to confirm his doctrine, and to assure him of his vocation.
“And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.”
Or, the words confirmed by the first sign.
“And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land. shall become: Heb. shall be and shall be”
Because these three signs should be sufficient witnesses to prove that Moses should deliver God’s people.
“And Moses said unto the LORD, 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. eloquent: Heb. a man of words heretofore: Heb. since yesterday, nor since the third day”
Hebrew, from yesterday, and ere yesterday. Hebrew, heavy of mouth.
“Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.”
Cross references: : Matt. 10:19 ; Matt. 12:22
“And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. wilt: or, shouldest”
That is, the Messiah: or some other, that is more meet than I. Or, ministry.
“And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.”
Though we provoke God justly to anger, yet he will never reject his.
“And 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.”
Thou shalt instruct him what to say.
“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.”
Exod. 7:1 Meaning, as a wise counselor and full of God’s spirit.
“And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.”
Hebrew, caused them to ride. Whereby he wrought the miracles.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.”
By receiving my spirit and delivering him unto Satan to increase his malice.
“And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.”
God punished him with sickness for neglecting his Sacrament.
“Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. sharp: or, knife cast: Heb. made it touch”
This act was extraordinary: for Moses was sore sick, and God even then required it.
“And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.”
So that Moses had now experience of God’s promise that he should have good success.