Exodus 6:10-13
When discouragement and opposition make obedience appear impossible, the Lord advances His saving purpose by renewing His command and appointing His servants to speak.
10 Yahweh 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.”
12 Moses spoke before Yahweh, saying, “Behold, the children of Israel haven’t listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, when I have uncircumcised lips?”
13 Yahweh 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.
When discouragement and opposition make obedience appear impossible, the LORD advances his saving purpose by renewing his command and appointing his servants to speak.
To show that the LORD’s redemptive mission does not collapse under Israel’s discouragement, Pharaoh’s resistance, or Moses’ renewed sense of inadequacy; God reissues his command and binds Moses and Aaron to his purpose for both Israel and Egypt.
This unit follows the Lord's covenant declaration in Exodus 6:1-9. The Lord had just promised redemption, peoplehood, and land inheritance, yet Israel could not receive the message because of crushed spirit and harsh bondage. Exodus 6:10-13 narrows the focus back to Moses' commission and prepares for the genealogy in Exodus 6:14-27, which anchors Moses and Aaron within Israel's covenant family before the recommissioning resumes in Exodus 6:28-30 and Exodus 7:1-7.
The passage follows the LORD’s covenant reassurance in Exodus 6:1-9, where God promised to bring Israel out, free them from slavery, redeem them with an outstretched arm, take them as his people, and bring them into the promised land. Yet Israel did not listen because of discouragement and cruel bondage, setting the stage for Moses’ renewed objection.
The LORD Reaffirms His Name, Covenant, and Promise of Redemption
When Israel is too crushed to listen and Moses feels too weak to speak, the LORD anchors redemption in His name, covenant, promise, and mighty power.