We are in Exodus chapter four with our word for today with both the noun and verb forms. דָּבָר word, speech, matter, affair, thing, something. The noun is used 1,342 times in the Old Testament and the verb is used 1,119 times. Our word is used in our passage today as one of the excuses Moses uses to try and talk God out of sending him to lead his people out of slavery.
Exodus 4:10-16 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not אִ֨ישׁ דְּבָרִ֜ים eloquent, either in the past or since you have דַּבֶּרְךָ֖ spoken to your servant, but I am כְבַד־פֶּ֛ה slow of speech (slow of mouth) and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall תְּדַבֵּֽר speak.” But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can כִּֽי־דַבֵּ֥ר יְדַבֵּ֖ר speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You shall וְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ speak to him and put the הַדְּבָרִ֖ים words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. He shall וְדִבֶּר speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”
I think Moses was lying when he gave God this excuse of not being a man of words or heavy mouth and tongue because of what God says in Acts. Acts 7:22 Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action. God gave Moses the opportunity to have probably the best education available at that time. So he was very capable of what God called him to do. He simply didn’t want to do it. It is amazing how gracious God is with us when we don’t want to do what he is calling us to do. God was able to eventually get Moses to do what he was created to do. I think God knew that Moses was thinking I already tried this once and it was a terrible failure. We know what Moses was thinking before he had to flee for his life from Acts 7. Acts 7:25 Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. So Moses was probably reluctant because he didn’t want to experience failure again. We as people tend to be risk averse especially when we have already failed at something. But the good news is that God is the one that accomplishes his work through us if we are willing and available. And God will accomplish what he has said he will. Joshua 21:45 Not one of all the Lord’s good הַדָּבָ֣ר promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. I’ll close with these encouraging words. Colossians 1:28-29 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
