Moses — "O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send."
O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.
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Details
Exodus 4:13, spoken to God after being tasked with leading Israel
Date: c. 13th century BCE (biblical account)
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Understanding this quote
What it means
Moses is essentially saying, 'Please pick someone else.' He's reluctant to take on a massive responsibility and is asking God to choose a different person for the job. It captures that moment when you're handed an overwhelming assignment and instinctively try to pass it off to someone more qualified, more eloquent, or simply more willing to step into the spotlight.
Relevance to Moses
Moses spoke these words at the burning bush when God commissioned him to confront Pharaoh and lead Israel out of Egypt. He cited his slow speech and stuttering as disqualifications, revealing deep self-doubt despite later becoming Judaism's greatest prophet and lawgiver. This reluctance defined his call narrative and foreshadowed his humility, which the Torah praises as unmatched among all people on earth.
The era
Around the 13th century BCE, Hebrew slaves labored under Egyptian bondage while Pharaoh's regime held absolute divine-kingship authority. Challenging Pharaoh meant confronting a living god-king backed by military power and an established priesthood. In that era, prophetic callings were rare and dangerous, and leaders were expected to possess commanding oratory. Moses's hesitation reflects the genuine peril and cultural weight of speaking against Egypt's throne.
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