John Calvin Commentary Exodus 4:14

"And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is there not Aaron thy brother the Levite? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart." — Exodus 4:14 (ASV)

And the anger of the Lord was kindled. This passage confirms, by contrast, the expression that there is no better sacrifice than to obey the voice of the Lord (1 Samuel 15:22), since God is so grievously offended with the hesitation of Moses, despite his specious excuses. But nothing is more pleasing to God than to maintain the authority of His word, and that people should allow themselves to be guided by this rein.

God had pardoned His servant’s slowness and unwillingness for the work; but seeing that he obstinately refused, He no longer spares him. Therefore, we are warned to be careful, lest if God is patient with us for a time, we give way to self-indulgence, as if we were permitted to abuse His patience with impunity.

Still, it is a mark of His fatherly kindness that in His anger He is content with reproof. As for His saying that He knew Aaron would be his brother’s interpreter, it is questionable whether He had intended from the beginning to employ him in this way, or whether He eventually conceded this much to the hesitancy of Moses.

It is indeed true that God does nothing which He has not decreed by His secret providence before the creation of the world; yet sometimes secondary causes intervene, explaining why this or that is done. Either view is probable: either that God affirms Aaron to be already chosen by Him as an assistant to Moses, or that He says He will grant this concession to the infirmity of Moses.

I prefer the latter view: that Aaron was added in anger as his brother’s companion, and that part of the honor was transferred to him, when Moses, by his own reluctance, had deprived himself of some of his dignity.

But why is he called “the Levite,” as if he were an unknown person? Some reply that there were many among the Israelites of that name. However, this simple solution satisfies me: that it was not just any ordinary individual of the children of Israel who was promised to Moses as his companion, but his own brother—one who, by his close relationship, might interact more closely with him.

Unless, perhaps, God was looking ahead to the future calling of the tribe of Levi; for He tells us, by the mouth of Malachi, that His covenant was with Levi, that his descendants would be the keepers of the law and of the truth, and the messengers of the Lord of hosts (Malachi 2:4–8). Thus, the meaning would be very satisfactory: that God would restrain His wrath, and although provoked to anger by the refusal of Moses, He would still take an ambassador out of that tribe which He destined for the priesthood.

Moreover, significant confirmation is added in that Aaron would come out to meet his brother in the desert and would receive him with great joy. This was as good as showing that while God was urging His servant forward from the land of Midian with one hand, He would stretch out the other to draw him into Egypt.

Although the vision should have motivated him to perform God’s command, yet because it was necessary to spur him from his inactivity, Aaron was sent, as if God openly extended His hand to urge him forward. For Aaron had not come into the desert for pleasure, nor by chance, nor out of idle curiosity; but Moses knew for certain that a banner was thus set up for him by God, to show him the certainty of his path.

Similarly, by the coming of Ananias, the vision Paul saw was confirmed and placed beyond all doubt (Acts 9:17). This, indeed, was wrung from God by the persistence of Moses. According to His infinite goodness, He willed to draw out from His servant's sin opportunities for His grace, just as He is accustomed to bring light out of darkness (2 Corinthians 4:6).

God mentions his brother’s gladness to Moses to rebuke his own reluctance, as if to say, “Aaron will willingly come out and will receive you with joy and gladness, while you, weighed down with sorrow and anxiety, or numbed by distrust, can hardly be persuaded to stir a foot.”