Moses: Why He Said He is of “Uncircumcised Lips”

When Moses declared, “I am of uncircumcised lips,” he expressed not only his hesitation but also a deeper spiritual issue tied to his relationship with God and obedience to His covenant. To fully understand this, we must trace the connections between Moses’ words, his actions, and the broader context of God’s covenant with Israel.

The Phrase “Uncircumcised Lips”

In Exodus 6:12, Moses said, “Behold, the children of Israel have not heeded me. How then shall Pharaoh heed me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” This was not the first time Moses expressed his inadequacy. Earlier, in Exodus 4:10, Moses told God, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”

God responded to Moses’ reluctance by appointing Aaron as his spokesperson (Exodus 4:14-16). While Moses’ initial concern may have been about his speech, his later statement of being of “uncircumcised lips” carried a deeper meaning. This phrase indicates unworthiness, impurity, or a state of spiritual deficiency that parallels the physical act of circumcision, a key sign of the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 17:10-14).

The Covenant and Obedience

Circumcision was the physical mark of God’s covenant with Abraham’s descendants, signifying their separation as God’s people. Failure to circumcise was seen as breaking the covenant. In Genesis 17:14, God commanded, “And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”

Moses’ own household was not in full obedience to this covenant. This became evident when God sought to kill Moses on his journey back to Egypt. In Exodus 4:24-26, the text recounts:

“And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the LORD met him and sought to kill him. Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, ‘Surely you are a husband of blood to me!’ So He let him go. Then she said, ‘You are a husband of blood!’—because of the circumcision.”

This shocking event demonstrates that Moses, though called by God, had neglected to obey the covenant by failing to circumcise his son. Zipporah’s decisive action saved Moses’ life, but her words reflect her frustration with this critical oversight. This act of circumcision directly connects to Moses’ sense of inadequacy in being a spiritual representative for the Hebrew people.

Moses’ Unworthiness as a Covenant Mediator

Moses’ statement of being of “uncircumcised lips” aligns with his failure to fully honor God’s covenant in his personal life. Just as his son was not circumcised, Moses felt spiritually and ritually unfit to be the mouthpiece of God before Pharaoh and the people.

In the broader biblical context, “uncircumcised” is often used metaphorically to describe a lack of spiritual readiness or obedience. For example:

Jeremiah 6:10: “To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Indeed their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot give heed.”

Ezekiel 44:7: “When you brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in My sanctuary to defile it—My house—and when you offered My food, the fat and the blood, then they broke My covenant because of all your abominations.”

This spiritual application of circumcision emphasizes the necessity of a heart and life fully submitted to God. Moses’ recognition of his own failure ties directly to this theme.

The Incident of Moses’ Son and God’s Wrath

The connection between Moses’ “uncircumcised lips” and his failure to uphold covenant obedience is made clearer in Exodus 4:24-26. After Moses accepted God’s commission to deliver Israel, the text says, “And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him.” This shocking moment highlights an unresolved issue: Moses’ son had not been circumcised, violating the covenant God made with Abraham in Genesis 17:10-14, which commanded circumcision as a sign of the covenant.

Zipporah, Moses’ wife, took swift action: “Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, ‘Surely you are a husband of blood to me!’” (Exodus 4:25). This act appeased God’s wrath, allowing Moses to continue his mission. The incident reveals Moses’ failure to ensure his household was in alignment with God’s covenant.

Isaiah’s Confession: “I Am a Man of Unclean Lips”

The confession of Isaiah in Isaiah 6:5, “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,” parallels Moses’ admission of being of “uncircumcised lips” (Exodus 6:12, 30). Both men, called by God for significant roles in His redemptive plan, recognized their own inadequacies and unworthiness, particularly in the context of speech and representation before God and others.

Isaiah’s vision in Isaiah 6 takes place in the presence of the holy God, where he is overwhelmed by his sinfulness. His declaration of “unclean lips” reflects his understanding that, in the presence of the perfectly holy Lord, his words—and by extension, his heart—were impure. Like Moses, Isaiah felt utterly disqualified to be God’s messenger to His people.

A Spiritual Lesson for Us

Moses’ struggle reminds us that God calls imperfect people to accomplish His perfect will. However, obedience is essential in our walk with God. Just as Moses needed to align his household with the covenant through circumcision, we are called to walk in spiritual integrity:

Romans 2:28-29: “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.”

This passage connects physical circumcision to its spiritual counterpart: a heart fully devoted to God.

My Final Thoughts

Moses’ declaration of being of “uncircumcised lips” reveals a deeper issue than mere speech impediment. It was a confession of his spiritual inadequacy and a reflection of his failure to fully align with God’s covenant. Yet, God, in His mercy, chose to use Moses, providing Aaron as a helper and empowering Moses to fulfill his calling.

For us, this is a call to examine our own hearts and lives. Are there areas where we are not fully aligned with God’s Word? Just as Moses had to address his own obedience before he could effectively lead God’s people, we too must ensure that our lives are marked by submission to God’s covenant. Let us strive for both outward and inward obedience, knowing that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.

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