41 Then Moses said , "What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say ? For they may say , ' The Lord has not appeared to you.' " 2 The Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand ?" And he said , " A staff ." 3 Then He said , "Throw it on the ground ." So he threw it on the ground , and it became a serpent ; and Moses fled from it. 4 But the Lord said to Moses , "Stretch out your hand and grasp it by its tail "-so he stretched out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand - 5 "that they may believe that the Lord , the God of their fathers , the God of Abraham , the God of Isaac , and the God of Jacob , has appeared to you." 6 The Lord furthermore said to him, "Now put your hand into your bosom ." So he put his hand into his bosom , and when he took it out, behold , his hand was leprous like snow . 7 Then He said , "Put your hand into your bosom again ." So he put his hand into his bosom again , and when he took it out of his bosom , behold , it was restored like the rest of his flesh . 8 "If they will not believe you or heed the witness of the first sign , they may believe the witness of the last sign . 9 "But if they will not believe even these two signs or heed what you say , then you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground ; and the water which you take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground ."
10 Then Moses said to the Lord , "Please , Lord , I have never been eloquent e , neither recently e nor in time past , nor since You have spoken to Your servant ; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue ." 11 The Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth ? Or who makes him mute or deaf , or seeing or blind ? Is it not I, the Lord ? 12 "Now then go , and I, even I, will be with your mouth , and teach you what you are to say ." 13 But he said , "Please , Lord , now send the message by whomever You will ." 14 Then the anger of the Lord burned against Moses , and He said , "Is there not your brother Aaron the Levite ? I know that he speaks fluently . And moreover , behold , he is coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart . 15 "You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth ; and I, even I, will be with your mouth and his mouth , and I will teach you what you are to do . 16 "Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people ; and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him. 17 "You shall take in your hand this staff , with which you shall perform the signs ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 4:1-17
Commentary on Exodus 4:1-9
(Read Exodus 4:1-9)
Moses objects, that the people would not take his word, unless he showed them some sign. God gives him power to work miracles. But those who are now employed to deliver God's messages to men, need not the power to work miracles: their character and their doctrines are to be tried by that word of God to which they appeal. These miracles especially referred to the miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ. It belonged to Him only, to cast the power of the devil out of the soul, and to heal the soul of the leprosy of sin; and so it was for Him first to cast the devil out of the body, and to heal the leprosy of the body.
Commentary on Exodus 4:10-17
(Read Exodus 4:10-17)
Moses continued backward to the work God designed him for; there was much of cowardice, slothfulness, and unbelief in him. We must not judge of men by the readiness of their discourse. A great deal of wisdom and true worth may be with a slow tongue. God sometimes makes choice of those as his messengers, who have the least of the advantages of art or nature, that his grace in them may appear the more glorious. Christ's disciples were no orators, till the Holy Spirit made them such. God condescends to answer the excuse of Moses. Even self-diffidence, when it hinders us from duty, or clogs us in duty, is very displeasing to the Lord. But while we blame Moses for shrinking from this dangerous service, let us ask our own hearts if we are not neglecting duties more easy, and less perilous. The tongue of Aaron, with the head and heart of Moses, would make one completely fit for this errand. God promises, I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth. Even Aaron, who could speak well, yet could not speak to purpose, unless God gave constant teaching and help; for without the constant aid of Divine grace, the best gifts will fail.