Exodus 4:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which he had sent him to speak, and all the signs that he had commanded him to do.

NIV: Then Moses told Aaron everything the Lord had sent him to say, and also about all the signs he had commanded him to perform.

NASB: Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which He had sent him, and all the signs that He had commanded him to do.

CSB: Moses told Aaron everything the Lord had sent him to say, and about all the signs he had commanded him to do.

NLT: Moses then told Aaron everything the Lord had commanded him to say. And he told him about the miraculous signs the Lord had commanded him to perform.

KJV: And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.

NKJV: So Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord who had sent him, and all the signs which He had commanded him.

Aaron is Moses' older brother (Exodus 6:20; 7:7). He's been appointed by God as the public spokesman (Exodus 4:14–16) for Moses' mission to free Israel (Exodus 3:10). Their reunion started off well (Exodus 4:27). Here, Moses relays what's happened so far. Presumably, this includes his encounter with the burning bush (Exodus 3:4–6) as well as the signs the Lord has provided. Moses' three signs include transforming his staff into a snake (Exodus 4:3–4), inflicting and removing leprosy from his hand (Exodus 4:6–7), and turning water into blood (Exodus 4:9).

Artist depictions of Exodus often show Moses as the "front man" of these events. Actually, it is Aaron who does nearly all the public speaking (Exodus 4:15). The two will become something of a team leading the Israelite people. The phrase "Moses and Aaron" occurs dozens of times in Scripture. First Samuel 12:6 will later remember these brothers, saying, "The Lord is witness, who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt." Generations later Psalm 77:20 sings, "You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron."

Exodus 4:27–31 recounts Moses' first encounter with the Israelites upon his return from exile. First he meets Aaron, sent to meet him in the wilderness by God. The two men gather Israel's leaders. The elders respond to Mo-ses' story and signs with belief. Knowing that the Lord is acting to remove their suffering, the men worship.

While speaking with God in the form of a supernaturally burning bush, Moses expresses a lack of confidence. God gives Moses several miraculous signs so he can prove the source of his message. Moses is still unsure because of his poor speech. Though irritated, God appoints Moses' brother, Aaron, to be the spokesman while Moses relays the words of God. Moses returns to Egypt. Along the way, he nearly dies due to God's anger over some issue related to circumci-sion. After meeting his brother, Moses convinces the elders of Israel that his mission is genuine.

Moses, born an Israelite (Exodus 2:1) but raised by an Egyptian princess (Exodus 2:10) fled into exile after killing an abu-sive Egyptian taskmaster (Exodus 2:14–15). Later, Moses meets God (Exodus 3:6) and receives the initial command to challenge Pharaoh for the freedom of the Israelites (Exodus 3:18–20). In this chapter, Moses makes excuses about his public speaking and nearly dies because of an uncircumcised son. Israel's elders believe Moses' story. But in the next chapter, Moses' early confrontation with Pharaoh goes poorly; the people are worked even hard-er (Exodus 5:5–9) and they begin to turn against Moses (Exodus 5:20–21).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.