Answers to Questions on Page 512

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Apollos was “an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures.” Acts 18:2424And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. (Acts 18:24). He is the only man spoken of as “eloquent” in the whole Word of God. This man had been converted, was well-read in the Scriptures, and had a fervent spirit. He labored diligently according to the light he had, but he needed to be better instructed in the way of God. He received this instruction at Ephesus and then went to Corinth where he labored after the Apostle Paul. In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul speaks of himself as having planted the seed, and of Apollos as watering it, but only God gave the increase—made it grow.
Moses pleaded with God that he was not eloquent when God told him to go to Pharoah. Forty years before this, Moses started out in his natural strength to deliver the Israelites from the Egyptian bondage. When his own courage failed, he fled. Then after forty years God calls him to go to “bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt.” Now he was reluctant to go and used his lack of eloquence as a reason for not going. God reproved him for this, saying, “Who hath made man’s mouth?  ... have not I the Lord?” (See Ex. 2:11-22; 4:10-1611And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. 13And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? 14And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known. 15Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. 16Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. 17And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. 18And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day? 19And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock. 20And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread. 21And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. 22And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land. (Exodus 2:11‑22)
10And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. 11And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? 12Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. 13And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. 14And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? 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. 15And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. 16And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God. (Exodus 4:10‑16).)
Thus we see that while Apollos had great ability to convince people with his words, only God could make his labor fruitful. Apart from God’s blessing, the greatest human oratory is worthless in the things of God. Mere human persuasiveness cannot do the work of God. He may use an eloquent man, but it is He Himself who works. The converse is also true; God may use a man who lacks eloquence, but again it is God who works. He can give the word of wisdom, or He may bless a very faltering word. May we neither disparage gift, nor think of it more highly than we ought.