What we have to say for God is not nearly as important as what God wants to say through us. We must speak, but He must speak through us. Instead of the pride of life, we must speak “in weakness and fear, and with much trembling” (1Corinthians 2:3). In this way, we listen attentively for His voice to accomplish His purposes. What we speak in our own power accomplish our own ends.
At first, Moses may not have known this. The proud prince, raised in Pharaoh’s palace, confessed in broken humility, “I have never been eloquent” (Exodus 4:10). Whether that was true or not, he certainly lacked confidence. He was no longer the bold man who had tried in his own power to defend his people. Self-doubt alone could have made him “slow of speech and tongue.” Perhaps because of this humility, Moses desperately relied on God to speak through him.
Later, this same Moses stood defiantly before Pharaoh (Exodus 8-10). On more than one occasion, he himself spoke God’s words directly to the people (Exodus 20:18-19). Moses acted as general and judge (Numbers 31). Yet, at the heart of his powerful speech was his dependence on God. As with the people, Moses moved only when God moved (Numbers 9:15-23). As with the people, when he did otherwise, it was tragic.