Genealogy in Exodus 6

In the Bible, there are twenty or so lists of the twelve tribes of Israel. Many of the lists have a slightly different order of the tribal list due to other categories like numeration, mothers, geography, and blessings etc. When you start reading in Exodus and get to Exodus 6:14ff you might think, "Ok, here we go, another list."  This list seems to be cut short.  Instead of the twelve tribes, it only lists Reuben and his sons, Simeon and his sons, and Levi and his sons,  grandsons and some great-grandsons and some great-great grandsons and one great-great-great grandson.  That's it!

Genealogy's have some magnificent little gems tucked inside them. There is one such diamond in the order of the names of Moses and Aaron. First of all, this list is the Genealogy of Aaron and Moses, so it zeroes in on the tribe of Levi. These two play predominant roles in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. In verse 20, Aaron is listed first because he is three years older than Moses.

Exodus 6:20 And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years.

Later on at the end of the chapter (or maybe where the end of the chapter should be - remember chapter divisions were not put in by God) in verse 26, Aaron is still listed first.

Exodus 6:26 These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the Lord said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.

In verse 27 however the order is reversed. Moses is listed first, then Aaron. Did a scribe get sloppy? No God's word is very detailed and He has a reason why He has a certain order in lists of people.

Exodus 6:27 These are they which spake to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt: these are that Moses and Aaron.

In this verse Moses is listed first. God had set this order up in Exodus 4 when Moses suggested to God that someone else run the show:

Exodus 4:14 And 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. 15 And 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. 16 And 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.

God knew the long suits and capabilities of Moses. Moses was meek to God and would not be swayed by the people as Aaron was in the case of the golden calf in Exodus 32. A leader needs to stand for what he believes in and not waver. Moses may have asked a lot of questions, but he was faithful to God's direction. God fronted Moses for this project.