On the King’s business (Exod 6:10–7:7)

Despite God’s encouragement, Moses is still struggling with a sense of failure (Exod 6:10-12). He communicates God’s affirmation to Israel, but the people in their despondent state (the Hebrew says they are ‘short of spirit’, Exod 6:9) dismiss what he says. Yet God is not discouraged. He does not give up on His servant but sends him on to Pharaoh. He knows the gifts He has given Moses, the qualities and character that he developed along the way. Through the Lord’s enabling he will be sufficient for the task. It should encourage us when we attempt new things for God and stumble our way through the initial steps that the Lord is able to work with what we have and are.

Once again, God includes Aaron in His plans (v.13) to support Moses through his jitters. The genealogy (Exod 6:14-25) interrupting the story, highlights Aaron’s credentials and reminds readers that God vindicates His choice of leaders, but that they also need to be faithful to Him (see the section ‘For interest’ below). A brief recap lands us back in the story (Exod 6:26-28) and as we start the next chapter, an additional aspect of God’s enabling is brought to the forefront (Exod 7:1-2). The Lord will make Moses God to Pharaoh (translations soften this to ‘as God’) and Aaron will be his prophet. What does this mean? Moses will not be made into a god, rather he will be God to Pharaoh in the sense of representation. He will be the face and presence and power of the one true God in Pharaoh’s court. He goes with the Lord’s authority and on His mission. When he is dismissed, disbelieved or rejected, he need not take it personally, but recognise that Pharaoh resists the living God whom Moses represents. Moses, in fact, will be the only God Pharaoh will see – a position of both honour and responsibility. No wonder that after this Moses’ questions and insecurity are finally laid to rest.

This is not simply meant as an encouragement for him, however, but indicates something of God’s purposes. He wants to make Himself known. Through Moses’ words and actions, through Pharaoh’s hardening (see my post on this here), through the consequent signs and wonders, He will reveal Himself to the Egyptians (Exod 7:3-5). Their response, sadly, will not be worship, but rebellion. Nevertheless, it is important for us to understand that God wants to give people opportunities to respond to Him.

Although Moses’ position is unique in one sense, it is not hard to see some parallels between his and our (Christian) experience. Like Moses, we too represent the Lord in the world. The invisible God becomes visible in His servants. It should give us tremendous dignity and encouragement. When we are on the King’s business, He will back us up every step of the way. God’s plan is risky – we are far from perfect representations – and He could achieve His purposes much easier and absolutely perfectly without us. Yet, it speaks volumes of His generosity that He included us in His plans and made us co-workers in His endeavour to make Himself known in the world.

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For interest – Genealogies

In our modern context, we experience genealogies as a tiresome interruption, but for ancient readers (and for many traditional cultures still) it was/is an important way to establish someone’s credentials. It can also function as a timeline or historic summary in succinct form. The arrangement of a genealogy is significant – it is not simply a mechanical listing of everyone but usually has a particular focus. For example, the genealogy in our reading moves down Jacob’s sons (Exod 6:14-16) who will form the twelve tribes of Israel. We go from Reuben, the firstborn, to Simeon and then Levi and his sons. We are alerted to the importance of Levi because he is the only one whose lifespan is given. We do not move on to the other sons of Jacob but stay with the descendants of Levi’s three sons (Exod 6:17-19) and once again, our attention is drawn to Levi’s second son Kohath, whose lifespan is specified.

The next segment identifies the descendants of Kohath’s sons (Exod 6:20-22) and Amram, whose sons are Aaron and Moses, is singled out by the details given about his wife and his lifespan. The following section zooms in on Aaron’s family and on his cousin, Korah (Exod 6:23-25). The emphasis on Aaron is clear from the details (wife’s name and lineage) and Aaron’s sons are important because they will form the priestly clan. Nadab and Abihu, the two older sons will perish when they bring ‘strange fire’ to the tabernacle (Lev 10:1-2), i.e. they do not follow the prescribed ways of worshipping God and their duties will be taken over by Aaron’s other two sons. Korah and his family are singled out next because they will rebel against the leadership of Moses and Aaron, especially against the latter (Num 16:1-3). Finally, Aaron’s grandson, Phinehas is mentioned because when Israel sins, he will show his dedication to God and will receive from Him the promise of a permanent priesthood (Num 25:10-13).

An ancient reader familiar with Israel’s history will be reminded through these names of God’s choice of Aaron, the importance of adhering to God’s instructions for the priests lest they are destroyed, the repercussions for those who question God’s choice of leadership and the blessings flowing from a faithful commitment to the Lord.