Moses is one of the few biblical “greats,” one of those whose life stories grab our attention and command our respect. You can’t spend much time in church before you’ve heard about Egypt, Pharaoh, plagues, the Red Sea, manna from heaven, the Ten Commandments, and forty years in the wilderness trying to get to God’s Promised Land. If you’re of a certain age, looming above all the stories is the figure of Charlton Heston in his prime (and Yul Brynner).
But, as we’re beginning to see, Moses didn’t do great things alone. God was always there, sometimes powerfully, sometimes less so, but still always present. There was his sister, Miriam, the watcher and the caregiver, and his father-in-law, Jethro, the one not afraid to offer him advice. Today, we look at his brother, Aaron … the helper.
When God called Moses from the burning bush, Moses didn’t exactly leap at the opportunity. His response sounded more like a string of excuses than a heroic “Here I am, send me!”
He said, “Who am I?” Then, “What if they don’t believe me?” And finally, “I’m not a good speaker – I’m slow of speech and tongue.”
In other words, “Lord, I think you’ve got the wrong guy.” His excuses sound a lot like ours. I can’t do that. I’m not good enough. Find someone else.
But God didn’t back down. Instead, he sent Moses a helper—his brother Aaron.
God got a little angry with Moses’ excuses, but must have understood. Because God offered a solution: “He said, ‘What about your brother, Aaron? I know he can speak well… You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.’”
Aaron was the spokesman, the voice behind the public face. When Moses stammered or struggled to find the right words, Aaron spoke. They were a team—different gifts, one purpose.
It’s a beautiful reminder that God doesn’t require us to be everything or do it all ourselves. He simply asks us to be faithful with what we have and trust him to send others to fill in the gaps. He assures us that we don’t have to take on tasks on our own; we can reach out to others for help.
Sometimes we’re Moses—hesitant, feeling inadequate, painfully aware of our weaknesses, and knowing we can’t do it without help. Sometimes we’re Aaron—standing beside someone who needs our voice, our strength, our confidence, and knowing there is someone who needs our help. Both roles are sacred.
There’s a quiet humility in being Aaron, using his gifts to help his brother fulfill God’s call. And that’s what the Church is meant to look like: each person lending their strengths so that, together, God’s purposes move forward.
God doesn’t call superheroes; he calls siblings (brothers and sisters in Christ), caregivers, wise advisors, and helpers. And God pairs them, joins them in his mission, strengthens them in unity, and teaches them to lean on each other.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the Aarons in my life—those who speak when I can’t find the words, those who steady me when I feel like I’m about to fall. Help me to be that kind of companion for others, lending my gifts to your work. Amen.
