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27,299 commentary entries
The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:10
Slowness of speech a drawback on ministerial fitness, but not a disqualification. It is remarkable that both Moses, the great prophet of the First Covenant, and St. Paul, the "chosen vessel" for the publication of the S…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:10-17
God's wrath will fall where his service is declined. I. MOSES' OBJECTION AND GOD'S ANSWER (10-12). 1. He deems himself unfit to occupy the place even of spokesman to the Lord. The objection was based upon a real infirmi…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:10-12
The fourth difficulty: Moses alleges defect of utterance. The third time-is often represented in Scripture as the final and decisive time (1 Samuel 3:8; Matthew 26:44, Matthew 26:45, Matthew 26:75; John 21:17; 2 Corinth…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:10-17
Slow of speech. The longer Moses pondered the mission on which he was sent, the more he shrank from it. The difficulty which now oppressed him was his want of eloquence. It seemed to him that in this respect he was the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:11-13
Who hath made man's mouth! God could and would have cured the defect in Moses' speech, whatever it was; could and would have added eloquence to his other gifts, if he had even at this point yielded himself up unreserved…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:11
God the Giver of our faculties. See— 1. His power in the creation of them. "Who hath made," etc. Wisdom also. Eyes, ears, organs of speech—miracles of contrivance. 2. His goodness in the bestowal of them. A reason for t…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:13-16
Moses, taking a step too far, is suddenly arrested. In Exodus 4:13 we must evidently look at the spirit of the words, rather than the words themselves. There is nothing wrong in the words. Uttered in a different tone an…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:13
A servant's difficulties. Observe— I. WHAT THEY WERE. Moses' difficulties resolved themselves into three. 1. The power of Pharaoh. "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?" (Exodus 3:10). We may be staggered by the though…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:14
The love of brothers. Few things are more lovely than the affection of brothers. James and John, Simon and Andrew, Philip and Bartholomew, James and Jude, were sent out together by our Lord, that they might enjoy this s…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:14-16
Diversities of gifts a benefit both to individuals and to the Church. After all, the self-distrust of Moses was turned by God to good. Without it Moses would have been sole leader of the entire enterprise, must have app…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:14
The anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses. The expression used is a strong one, but does not perhaps here mean more than that God was displeased. At least, he did not punish the offender in any severer way than by…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:15
Thou shalt speak unto him and put words in his mouth. Moses was to tell Aaron what to say—furnish, i.e; the matter of his speeches—and Aaron was to clothe this matter in fitting words. God promised to be with both of th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:16
He shall be thy spokesman. Literally, "He shall speak for thee." He shall be, even he. It is the verb that is repeated, not the pronoun. Probably the meaning is, "he shall surely be." There is no comparison between Aaro…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:17
The importance of the rod: God guards Moses against a very natural oversight. "Thou shalt take this rod in thine hand." Was Moses, then, likely to forget it? That rod had just been pointed out to him as connected with h…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:17
The rod. The rod a fit emblem of "the word of the truth of the Gospel." 1. The rod was something definite. "This rod." Not any rod, but the one which God gives us. 2. The rod was perhaps the instrument of a despised cal…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:17
Thou shalt take this rod. Not any rod, but the particular one which had already once become a serpent. Wherewith thou shalt do signs. Rather, "the signs," i.e. the signs which thou wilt have to do, as already declared i…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:18-31
Facing Egypt. "And the people believed, and when," etc. (Exodus 4:31). This section of the history may be homiletically treated under three geographical headings, which will keep the historical development prominent, wi…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:18-25
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:18-25
If Moses had, as we have supposed, been accepted into the Midianitish nation, he would need permission to withdraw himself from the tribal head. This head was now Jether, or Jethro, Moses' connexion by marriage, perhaps…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:18
My brethren probably means here "my relations" (compare Genesis 13:8; Genesis 29:12). Moses could scarcely doubt but that some of his countrymen were still living. It would not have been for the interest of the Egyptian…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:18-21
The return. Weeks, perhaps months, intervened between the revelation at the bush and Moses' actual departure from Midian. Time was given for allowing the first agitation of his spirit to subside, for enabling him to tak…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:18-23
True faith and its joy. I. THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH. 1. Note Moses' swift compliance with God's command. He tarried no longer: "He went and returned, and said, let me go." He does not seek advice. He does not even wait fo…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:19
The fact of having a mission does not release a man from social obligations. Direct communications with Jehovah, appointment to a great and glorious mission, with the power of working miracles, might have rendered many…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 4:19
And the Lord said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return. It would seem that Moses was still reluctant, and was delaying his departure, even after he had obtained Jethro's leave to go. Perhaps he was making it an excuse to hi…