Why couldn't God use Moses in his first attempt to deliver Israel?
God could not use Moses in his first attempt because Moses was self-prepared and prepared by the world. After forty years in Pharaoh’s palace, he had Egypt’s wisdom, polish, charisma, and power, but Israel rejected him. God was not in that effort, and He cannot use someone who is self-prepared or world-prepared.
Les explains that Moses’ first attempt to deliver Israel came after forty years in Pharaoh’s palace, where he had all the wisdom of Egypt at his disposal. He had the polish, charisma, and power, but Israel still rejected him. God was not in that effort, and God could not use him that way, because God cannot use somebody who is self-prepared or has been prepared by the world. Later, in Exodus 4, Moses argues that he is not eloquent and is slow of speech, but the Lord answers that He made man’s mouth and will be with Moses’ mouth. God also gave signs—the rod becoming a serpent and the hand becoming leprous and then whole—to prove He meant what He said.