Moses
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Direction was also given concerning the provision they were to
make for the journey. The Lord declared, “It shall come to pass, that,
when ye go, ye shall not go empty: but every woman shall borrow of
her neighbor, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver,
and jewels of gold, and raiment.” The Egyptians had been enriched by
the labor unjustly exacted from the Israelites, and as the latter were to
start on the journey to their new home, it was right for them to claim
the reward of their years of toil. They were to ask for articles of value,
such as could be easily transported, and God would give them favor
in the sight of the Egyptians. The mighty miracles wrought for their
deliverance would strike terror to the oppressors, so that the requests
of the bondmen would be granted.
Moses saw before him difficulties that seemed insurmountable.
What proof could he give his people that God had indeed sent him?
“Behold,” he said, “they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my
voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.” Ev-
idence that appealed to his own senses was now given. He was told
to cast his rod upon the ground. As he did so, “it became a serpent;
and Moses fled from before it.” He was commanded to seize it, and
in his hand it became a rod. He was bidden to put his hand into his
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bosom. He obeyed, and “when he took it out, behold, his hand was
leprous as snow.” Being told to put it again into his bosom, he found
on withdrawing it that it had become like the other. By these signs the
Lord assured Moses that His own people, as well as Pharaoh, should
be convinced that One mightier than the king of Egypt was manifest
among them.
But the servant of God was still overwhelmed by the thought of
the strange and wonderful work before him. In his distress and fear he
now pleaded as an excuse a lack of ready speech: “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.” He had been
so long away from the Egyptians that he had not so clear knowledge
and ready use of their language as when he was among them.
The Lord said unto him, “Who hath made man’s mouth? or who
maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I
the Lord?” To this was added another assurance of divine aid: “Now
therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou
shalt say.” But Moses still entreated that a more competent person be