13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. 17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”

Moses now revealed his true feelings. He didn’t want to do what God was asking. (‘Here am I Lord, send Aaron!’). He called Him “Lord” but didn’t want to do what He said. However, lest any of us start to feel superior to Moses, let’s remember he recorded all of this. He was an honest and humble man. (We see a similar pattern with Peter who, it is believed, was the eye-witness behind John Mark’s account in the second gospel).

How merciful God is, that He could be angry with Moses (“burned” seems quite a strong word: v.14) and yet condescend to make provision for him in his timid unbelief.

The humbling truth is that none of us are complete in ourselves. We need the help, the gifts, the abilities of others. None of us is an island. We are called to co-operation – to teamwork.

Leaders often want to be ‘super-heroes’, but even Batman needs Robin!! Even Moses needed Aaron, and both of them needed God (15). (But was it God’s ideal, in this case, that Moses should speak through Moses???)

Although the concentration of this section is on speaking God’s Word, remember God’s pattern is that “signs” should “follow” (or “accompany”) it (17; see Mark 16:17ff.)

Having said everything, we will do well to consider these wise words from Warren Wiersbe, who points out that Aaron was not always a help to Moses:

‘When God in His anger gives us what we selfishly want, that gift rarely turns out to be a blessing (Num.11:33; Hos.13:11). One of the most painful judgments God can send is to let His people have their own way.

Subsequent events proved that Moses was very capable of speaking God’s words with mighty power, both to his own people and to the king of Egypt. As the history of Israel unfolds, you find Moses delivering some eloquent messages in the power of the Lord. The book of Deuteronomy records his magnificent farewell speech.’ ‘Old Testament Commentary’, p.151.