Who hath made man’s mouth?

As well as the remarkable longsuffering of the Lord towards a very human, excuse-laden Moses in Exodus 4, the specificity of the call is interesting.  It was Moses specifically, and Aaron, who would be called on this mighty mission to lead the Israelites out of slavery at that moment in time.  However, of those who … bowed their heads and worshipped (4:31), it would turn out that not all Israel were Israel in the true, redemptive sense, theologically explicated in Romans 2.  Lest a nation, any nation become puffed up and proud the Lord records for our instruction His particular, man-humbling creation of a people formed (Rom 9:20) as a … vessel unto honour … (v.21), intended chiefly for His glory and pleasure; our highest calling to be cradled in and even used by His hand.

The argument is expounded in Isaiah 43, where spiritual Israel is described as having been specifically made by God to be His possession: … O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine (v.1).  Moreover, such a people are to be called from the east, and … from the west (v.5), from the north and the south (v.6); in other words, a global people.  Even though God in Exodus 4 is seen threading a people through the limited fabric of theocratic Israel by the literal mouthpiece of Moses & Aaron, the vision is far grander and more comprehensive than might at first appear:  In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory (Is 45:25).

Not that any saved-sinner is worthy of such a high and holy calling.  Far from it, for despite having been formed for our Father’s glory, we have wearied Him with our iniquities (v.24).  Nevertheless, the good news of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ the Holy One of Israel (v.3) is that I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins (v.25).  What cause for thanksgiving, repentance and praise, especially at a time when Santa has all but replaced Christ in the popular imagination of the West!  Let our mouths therefore echo that new song before the throne sung by that symbolic number (Rev 14:3), as we millions dwell … as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore … (Gen 22:17).