“And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.”
My Notes
What Does Exodus 4:13 Mean?
"O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send." Moses' final objection to God's call is the most revealing: please send someone else. After arguing about his inadequacy (3:11), his lack of authority (3:13), the people's unbelief (4:1), and his poor speaking ability (4:10) — Moses drops the pretenses and says what he really means: I don't want to go. Send anyone else.
The phrase is politely desperate: "by the hand of him whom thou wilt send" sounds deferential — whoever You choose, Lord. But the meaning is transparent: not me. Anyone but me. The politeness is a veneer over refusal. Moses has run out of legitimate objections and resorts to the only honest one: I don't want this.
God's anger (verse 14) shows that the patience for objections has expired. God addressed every concern: I'll be with you. I'll give you the words. I'll provide signs. I'll send Aaron. And Moses still says: send someone else. The objections were never really about ability. They were about willingness.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What calling are you refusing by dressing up objections?
- 2.What's the difference between honest questions and willful refusal?
- 3.Have you received sufficient answers and still said 'send someone else'?
- 4.What fear is hiding behind your legitimate-sounding objections?
Devotional
Please send someone else. After five objections, four divine answers, and a burning bush that won't stop talking — Moses finally says what he's been meaning all along: I don't want to go.
The honesty is almost admirable. Moses tried every legitimate excuse first: Who am I? What's Your name? They won't believe me. I can't speak well. Each objection was addressed. Each answer was sufficient. And Moses is still standing at the bush saying: anyone but me.
God's anger at this final objection reveals the difference between honest questions and willful refusal. God patiently answered four genuine concerns. The fifth isn't a concern — it's a refusal. The patience for questions doesn't extend to the person who has received every answer and still won't go.
Moses' real objection was never about speaking or authority or credibility. It was about fear. The burning bush was asking him to confront the most powerful person on earth, lead a million people through a desert, and take responsibility for a nation's future. The specifics of his objections were cover stories for the real issue: this is terrifying and I don't want to do it.
God doesn't accept the refusal. He compromises (Aaron will speak for you) but doesn't release Moses from the call. The 'send someone else' doesn't get honored because the someone God wants to send IS Moses. The objection is overruled. The calling persists.
What calling are you dressing up legitimate-sounding objections to avoid? What 'send someone else' are you saying to a God who has already answered every concern?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And he said, O my Lord,.... Acknowledging his dominion, his sovereignty, his power to do the above things: or "on me, O…
And he said - The reluctance of Moses is in accordance with the inner law of man’s spiritual development, and specially…
Send - by the hand of him whom thou wilt send - Many commentators, both ancient and modern, have thought that Moses…
Moses still continues backward to the service for which God had designed him, even to a fault; for now we can no longer…
Exo 3:1 to Exo 4:17. Moses commissioned by Jehovah at Horeb to deliver His people. The dialogue between Jehovah and…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture