These are the heads of their fathers’ houses: (6:14)
These are the Aaron and Moses to whom HaShem said: “Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts.” (6:26)
The first twelve verses of today’s passage details the descendants of the oldest three sons of Jacob/Israel. The third of Jacob’s sons is Levi, and his descendants are named from Levi to Aaron and Moses. One thing this does is show us that this is not simply a made-up story to teach us something. These events happened. Aaron and Moses were real people, their ancestry is detailed. It also shows us the value of each human life named. For example, Kohath is named as Amram’s father, who in turn was Aaron and Moses’ father. Whatever else Kohath did in life, and however else he might have been a blessing and used by God, if he didn’t exist, Amram, and thus Aaron and Moses, wouldn’t exist.
The next verses of today’s passage are a summary of the call of Moses, his protest to God, and God’s plans to use both Moses and Aaron.
But Moses said to HaShem, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?” And HaShem said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go out of his land. But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and through I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. The Egyptians shall know that I am HaShem, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them.” Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as HaShem commanded them. Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh. (7:1 –7)
We have read about this in previous chapters, but it’s worth noting that when all was said and done, Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as HaShem commanded them. (7:6)
Is not that the best way to live – “Just as God commands us?” I love the phrase “for your good” when Moses is telling the Israelites years later when they are about to enter the promised land, “to keep the commandments and statutes of HaShem, which I am commanding you today for your good” (Deuteronomy 10:13)
God’s commandments are for our good. They are life-giving, not burdensome. Our Creator knows how we should live. I want to embrace them. In the case of Moses and Aaron in this chapter, it wasn’t general commandments for everyone that they were following, but God’s specific directions to them of speaking to Pharaoh, etc.
Some years ago, Alan and I were planning to have a contractor do some major, much-needed repairs on our home. One of our sons kept on telling us that he thought we should sell our house and rent a home. I was completely closed to that idea. Until one day when God made it clear to Alan and me that this is what we were to do. And so, we did. Once it was God’s directives, I definitely wanted to obey. God knows best. Whether it is God’s commandments that are in His Word or more specific directives to us, obeying God is wise and life-giving. I want it said of me as it was said of Moses and Aaron, “She did just as God commanded her.”
Prayer: Lord, help me to embrace your commandments, to walk in Your ways for my good. Show me where I am not, and in what ways I should change to align myself with what You, Who made me, say in Your Word.
