Wednesday: Uncircumcised Lips
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 16th of July 2025
The Lord had indeed given Moses some powerful promises about what He was going to do. Though that encounter must have encouraged Moses, his encouragement was probably short-lived, given the response that he received from his people.
Read Exodus 6:9-13. What happened next, and what lessons can we take from this story about times of disappointment and struggle in our lives?
Image © Jeff Preston at Goodsalt.com
The Hebrews are so disheartened by their grief, suffering, and hard labor that they do not listen to Moses’ words of reassurance that God will act to fulfill what He promised. They have waited so long for it, and their expectations have not been met. Why should it be different now? They were losing heart and hope, which must have been even more bitter because, perhaps for the first in all their lifetimes, they saw real hope of deliverance.
And yet, who hasn’t been in a similar place? Who hasn’t at some point felt depressed, disappointed, dissatisfied—even abandoned by God?
Remember the story of Job? What about Asaph, a psalmist who struggled with his questions regarding the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous? Yet, regardless of his struggles, Asaph has one of the most beautiful confessions of faith: “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalms 73:23-26, NIV).
Through sacred history, God has assured His people that He is with them (Isaiah 41:13, Matthew 28:20). He gives them His peace, His comfort, and He strengthens them to make it through life’s challenges (John 14:27; John 16:33; Philippians 4:6-7).
The covenant formula, “ ‘I will take you as My people, and I will be your God’ ” (Exodus 6:7, NKJV), expresses the intimate relationship that the Lord wanted to have with His people.
|
Think through the phrase “ ‘I will take you as My people, and I will be your God’ ” (Exodus 6:7, NKJV). Though the context was corporate, how does this apply to each one of us individually, and how should this relationship be manifested in our daily lives? (See also 2 Corinthians 6:16.) |
(1)
The man Moses very much felt that the mission God was giving him was too much for his abilities. Using all sorts of excuses, he wanted God to let him out of the mission to Pharaoh. Using a figurative expression: "uncircumcised lips", was another attempt to escape the mission (Exodus 6:12). No matter how Moses expressed his inability to do the task, God was not letting him alone. It is not Moses only who protested when God assigned missions to His messengers. Prophet Jeremiah protested too!
“O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you... And I have put my words in your mouth!” (Jeremiah 1:6-9, NLT)
Why did God excuse Moses from this “burden”? God wanted Moses and us by extension to learn a few spiritual lessons.
1. God calls the weak and qualifies to demonstrate His power (2 Corinthians 12:9). In our weakness, God’s power is manifested.
2. True power does not lie in the messenger but in the message. The message is as good as the one who gives it.
3. Spiritual readiness is more essential that the skills. God will make “uncircumcised lips” more effective when used by the One who created them.
4. God does not abandon us regardless of our bitter protests. He is ever patient with us.