Moses voices his doubt about the effectiveness of God’s plan by pointing to his speech impediment, forcing God to address the practical obstacles Moses perceives as insurmountable and thereby seeking either release from the commission or additional reassurance.

God does not verbally answer Moses’ question here but immediately responds in action by reiterating the appointment structure: Moses will be ‘as God to Pharaoh’ and Aaron will be his prophet-spokesman (Exodus 7:1-2).

Moses asks ‘How will Pharaoh listen to me?’ not as an academic inquiry but as an objection wrapped in a question, a rhetorical device expressing his conviction that the mission is doomed because of his defective speech. The Hebrew ‘aral sephatayim’ (uncircumcised lips) is a striking metaphor borrowed from covenant language to describe speech that is ritually or functionally unfit. Moses asks rather than declares his inadequacy because framing it as a question shifts responsibility back to God, essentially asking ‘What are you going to do about this obstacle?’ The question functions as both complaint and negotiation tactic. This is Moses’ fourth recorded objection to his divine commission, revealing persistent human resistance even after miraculous signs. Theologically, the question highlights a recurring biblical theme: God delights in using flawed instruments precisely so his power, not human ability, receives the credit.