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Text: Exodus 6:9-13, 28-30, Isaiah 6
When Moses brought God’s message to Pharaoh to let his people go, Pharaoh doubled down and increased his rigorous demands on the Israelites. The people blamed Moses for making life more difficult. And when Moses went back to the people they were not interested in what he had to say. So the LORD told Moses to go back to Pharaoh with the same message. Moses protests wondering how God expects Pharaoh to listen when the Israelites won’t listen. It’s in this context that Moses describes his lips as uncircumcised. That sounds weird. But it does make clear that Moses’ understanding of circumcision in general is an act that represents a spiritual truth. Moses’ statement is recorded twice by the Holy Ghost in the scriptures here in this chapter.
Let’s quickly deal with circumcision as a token of righteousness. Romans 4:8-11 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. 9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe…
Circumcision was akin to the Holy Spirit of God the way it’s explained in the New Testament. It was a seal of imputed righteousness. John 14:26, 2 Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
So what did Moses mean when he said his lips were uncircumcised? In fact, why does Isaiah say the same thing? Isaiah 6:5-7 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
They both understood the power of holiness and the weakness of uncleanness
- Uncleanness causes unnecessary fear – the wicked flee when no man pursueth.
- Uncleanness eats up your life as you try to appear to be clean.
- Someone said, Tell the truth, then you don’t have to remember what you said.
- You can’t speak for God with a wicked life. Physically, you can say words about the LORD, but you can’t expect them to have any power or meaning coming from a filthy life.
They both understood that serving God is not for unclean people
- Proverbs 25:4
- Christianity is not about getting clean, but some people have made it that. If it’s only about getting and staying clean, then it’s not about serving God. The point is to be vessel that is capable of good works; 2 Timothy 2:21.
They both understood the work of God was dependent on holiness
- In some ways, it’s like any job is dependent on holiness. You can’t be a thief and handle money for very long.
- In the same way the LORD says his calling is holy. He can’t entrust someone with a holy calling who loves filth.
