Complete Equality

These are Aaron and Moses to whom God said: Bring out the Children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their hosts. These are they who spoke to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to bring out the Children of Israel, these are Moses and Aaron.  

                                                      Exodus 6: 26-27

Rashi quotes Midrash Shemot Rabba which notes that some verses mention Aaron before Moses and others mention Moses before Aaron, to teach that they are equal.

       The order within the verses seems opposite to what it should be. Verse 26, where Aaron is given primacy, refers to God’s instructions to deliver the Children of Israel from Egypt. Yet, God’s words were spoken directly to Moses.  Verse 27, “these are they who spoke to Pharaoh” mentions Moses first. Yet, it was Aaron who actually spoke.

Moses and Aaron are each listed first specifically in the area in which they were, in fact, secondary.

The lesson is the complete equality of those who fulfill God’s command.