Exodus 6:9-13: a reflection

9Moses spoke so to the children of Israel, but they didn’t listen to Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. 10The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 11“Go in, speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.” 12Moses spoke before the LORD, saying, “Behold, the children of Israel haven’t listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, when I have uncircumcised lips?” 13The LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a command to the children of Israel, and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

Moses brings Israel God's promise of deliverance, and they do not listen, the text says, because of their anguish of spirit and their cruel bondage. Notice the reason. It is not stubbornness or unbelief exactly; it is that they were too crushed to hear. The suffering was so heavy that even good news could not get through. Hope requires a little room to breathe, and their slavery had left them none.

That is worth sitting with, because it is true of people still. Someone ground down by long trouble may be unable to receive comfort or promise, not because they refuse it, but because the weight has deafened them. God does not scold Israel for this; he simply keeps working, keeps moving toward their rescue whether or not they can yet feel hopeful about it.

And then Moses himself falters: if my own people will not listen to me, how will Pharaoh, and besides, I am of uncircumcised lips, a poor speaker. And God commissions him anyway. Here are two quiet comforts. God is patient with those too crushed by suffering to hear his promise, and he still works through them. And he sends the reluctant, ill-equipped person who feels unfit for the task. If you feel too weighed down to hope, or too inadequate to be used, this passage meets you. God keeps working through both.

Lord, when I am too crushed to hear your promise, be patient and keep moving toward my rescue. And when I feel too inadequate to be used, send me anyway, as you sent Moses. Work through me despite my weakness.