
Human Doubt, Divine Power, and Challenges of Obedience
Exodus 4–6 takes us deeper into God’s unfolding plan as Moses steps into the role God called him to. God has revealed Himself to Moses through the burning bush and has called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
As the story transitions into Exodus 4, Moses wrestles with doubt and hesitancy, questioning his ability to convince the Israelites and Pharaoh, fearing they won’t believe him (v. 1). God patiently and gently deals with Moses’ apprehensions. Fear that the Israelites might not believe God had appeared to him is reasonable because God had apparently not appeared to the Israelites for over 400 years, the length of the sojourn in Egypt.
The chapter begins with a narration of the dialogue between God and Moses regarding the signs he will perform before Israel and Pharaoh. The Lord was to enable Moses to perform three supernatural tasks, two immediate and one in the future: turning his staff into a snake, making his hand leprous and then healed, and turning water from the Nile into blood (v. 2-9).
Moses’ next complaint was his lack of eloquence and oratorical skills. Even with these signs, Moses hesitates, claiming he is “slow of speech and tongue” (v. 10). God’s initial reaction to Moses’ objection was to remind him, by a series of questions, that the Lord determines man’s abilities or disabilities. God reassures him that He is the Creator of the mouth and the One who gives the ability to speak (v. 11-12). When Moses continues to resist, God patiently provides Aaron, his brother, to speak on his behalf (v. 14-16).
Again, through these verses, we are reminded that God does not call us because of our abilities but because of His power working through us. When we feel inadequate or uncertain, we can trust that God equips and strengthens us for His purposes. As 2 Corinthians 3:5 says, “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” This is a stark reminder that God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called. His grace is sufficient, and His power is made perfect in human weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). God’s call comes with His provision. When we step out in faith, He equips us with what we need to fulfill His purposes.
Moses finally obeys and sets out for Egypt with his family, but along the way, God confronts him because he has neglected to circumcise his son—a critical sign of the covenant. The events in these verses emphasize both the faithfulness of God and the necessity of obedience to His covenant. While God remembered His covenant promises to His people, His people were also called to honor the conditions of the covenant, such as the requirement of circumcision. Moses, having neglected to circumcise his son during his years in Midian, faced severe consequences—God was about to kill him. But, his wife, Zipporah, circumcised her son and saved Moses’ life (v. 24-26).
Aaron is sent to meet Moses at the “mountain of God,” which is also the place where Moses first received the call to lead Israel out of Egypt (v. 27). Moses performed miracles before the people and explained God’s concern for their misery and His plan to deliver them from Egypt. In response, the people believed that Moses was sent by the Lord, and they bowed down and worshiped God (v. 29-31).
In Exodus 5, when Moses and Aaron approach Pharaoh with God’s command to let the Israelites go, Pharaoh refuses (v. 1-2). Instead of releasing the Israelites, he increases their workload, demanding they make the same amount of bricks without providing straw (v. 6-9). The Israelites struggle under the oppression, and their leaders plead with Pharaoh, only to be met with further harshness (v. 10-18). Frustrated, they turn against Moses and Aaron, blaming them for worsening their suffering (v. 19-21). In response, Moses cries out to God, questioning why He has allowed His people to suffer even more instead of delivering them as promised (v. 22-23).
This chapter sets the stage for God’s dramatic intervention, showing that deliverance often comes through struggle and that God’s plans unfold in His perfect timing. Obedience to God does not guarantee immediate results or an easy path. Sometimes, following God’s will brings challenges that test our faith. In these moments, we must persevere, trusting that God’s plans are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8–9). Trusting in God’s timing and His promises allows us to endure, even when circumstances appear to worsen.
In Exodus 6, God reassures Moses of His plan to deliver Israel from slavery. In response to Moses’ doubts from the previous chapter, God declares that Pharaoh will be forced to release the Israelites by God’s mighty hand (v. 1). God reminds Moses that He is the same God who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and who promised to give their descendants the land of Canaan (v. 2-4). God promises to redeem Israel with great acts of judgment and to bring them into the land He swore to their ancestors (v. 5-8).
Despite this reassurance, the Israelites are too discouraged by their suffering to believe Moses’ words (v. 9). Nevertheless, God commands Moses to go back to Pharaoh (v. 10). Moses hesitates, however, questioning how Pharaoh will listen when even the Israelites have rejected him (v.12-13). What Moses didn’t realize at the time was that God’s faithfulness is not dependent on human belief or circumstances. God fulfills His promises because of who He is, not because of who we are. When discouragement clouds our faith, know that we can cling to God’s character and His promises to fulfill His purposes in His perfect timing.
The chapter concludes with a genealogy emphasizing Moses and Aaron’s lineage and their God-given leadership role. The genealogy was placed here to identify Moses and Aaron more precisely because of the prominent position they were assuming as representatives of the people before Pharoah. The genealogy is framed by opening and closing sections, which nearly mirror each other. The function is to preserve the particular history of Moses and Aaron as the ones through whom the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt (v. 14-27). The final verses offer a renewed but familiar command from God for Moses and Aaron to confront Pharaoh and demand Israel’s release (v. 28-30).
Exodus 4-6 reminds us that God’s plans often involve a process that requires patience, faith, and obedience. Moses’ journey shows us that God is patient with our doubts, faithful to equip us, and committed to His promises even when circumstances seem bleak. If you’re in a season where obedience feels hard, or God’s promises seem distant, take heart. The God who called Moses is the same God who calls and equips you. Trust Him in the process, knowing that He is faithful in completing the good work He has begun in you. Let these chapters encourage you to step forward in faith, relying not on your own strength but on the power and faithfulness of God.
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