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Visit our new blog. It lists all the new things that we are doing and what new material has been added to our site. We even list new missionaries who sign up with us for technical support so you can pray for them. FCM BLOG

Moses – The Great Deliverer

Background:  Moses was born (about 1525 BC) into a Jewish family that was enslaved in Egypt. Several hundred years prior to Moses’ birth, Jacob had moved his entire family from Canaan to Egypt. Joseph rose to great power in Egypt, and for many years the Jews prospered. But eventually a new king arose who did not remember Joseph or the great service he had done for Egypt (Ex 1:8). Fearing that the Jews would overpower them, the Egyptians forced the Jews into slavery. To prevent them from further expanding, the Egyptians required the Jews to kill all their newborn male children. It was into this setting that Moses was born.

Moses’ Life
Birth and youth:  Moses’ mother tried to hide him from the authorities who were killing all the male babies, and for a few months she succeeded. But when she could no longer hide him, she put him in a small boat and stationed him in a place where someone might take pity on him and adopt him into his or her family. In the providential will of God, Pharaoh’s daughter found Moses and adopted him as her own son. She even arranged for Moses’ own mother to nurse the child until he was older. She named the child Moses.*1
Shepherd:  The Bible relates no further information about Moses until he is grown. We next find Moses defending a fellow Jew by killing an Egyptian who was mistreating him (the Jewish man). Stephen tells us that Moses “supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not” (Acts 7:25). Soon the Egyptian authorities heard about the murder and sought to arrest Moses. Moses fled into the wilderness. At this point he was about forty years old.
For the next forty years, we find Moses shepherding the flocks of his father-in-law, Reuel*2 in Midian. He had married Reuel’s daughter, Zipporah and had a son named Gershom.
At the Burning Bush:  One day while taking care of the sheep, Moses noticed a bush that was on fire but was not being burnt up. When he went over to investigate, he heard the voice of God talking to him. God told him that he was to deliver the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt. After trying several times to excuse himself from this task, Moses finally agreed to go back to Egypt.
The Exodus from Egypt:  Moses reunited with his family in Egypt and scheduled an appointment with Pharaoh. He told him that God had commanded the Jews to hold a special meeting outside of Egypt. Pharaoh refused, and God sent a series of plagues as a means of convincing Pharaoh to let the Jews go. After the tenth plague, Pharaoh finally allowed the Israelites to leave, but he soon changed his mind and chased after them. Moses and the Israelites were encamped by the Red Sea when the Egyptian army came casing after them. God miraculously opened up the Red Sea, and the Israelites walked through to the other side. The Egyptians tried to do the same and were drowned.

In the Wilderness:  The Israelites spent the next forty years in the wilderness. At Mount Sinai, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. While Moses was on the mountain, the Israelites perverted themselves through immorality and false worship. Moses returned and disciplined the people for their sin. God gave Moses the remainder of the Law. The Jews moved from place to place as guided by a cloud by day and a fire by night. A man named Korah led a rebellion against Moses’ leadership, which resulted in the deaths of Korah and those associated with him. The Israelites eventually came to the edge of Canaan, the Promised Land, and sent in twelve spies, who traveled throughout the land and brought back a report to Moses. Ten of the spies concluded that the land was too strongly protected for the Israelites to take it. Two of the spies encouraged the people to go in at once. The people became discouraged and murmured against Moses. For the next 38 years, the people wandered about the Sinai Peninsula until all those people 20 years old and above died (except Caleb and Joshua).

Moses’ Death:  After the forty years of wandering, the Israelites were nearly ready to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land. In response to the people’s need for water, God told Moses to speak to a rock, from which water would flow. Instead of speaking to it, Moses struck it with his staff. Because of this disobedience, God refused to allow Moses to enter the Promised Land. God did allow him to see into Canaan from a neighboring mountain, however. Moses died on top of Mount Nebo (or Pisgah) in Moab at 120 years old.

Moses’ Failures
The Bible presents its characters to us in realistic terms. We find weaknesses and sinfulness in one of the greatest men of the Bible.

• Killing the Egyptian (Ex 2:11-12): Moses may have been associated with the royal family, but he did not have the right to go around killing people. Pharaoh wanted to impose capital punishment on Moses, but he escaped to Midian.
• Making excuses (Ex 3-4): Moses’ first response to God’s command to return to Egypt was to make a series of excuses. At one point, Moses apparently says, “Send someone else” (4:13). It’s only after God answers all of Moses’ excuses that he agrees to go.

Moses’ excuses:
Objection                                      God’s Reply

• No ability (3:11)                                       God’s ability (3:12)
• No message (3:13)                                    God’s message (3:14)
• No authority (4:1)                                    God’s authority (4:2-9)
• No eloquence (4:10)                                  God’s enablement (4:11-12)

• Lack of faith (Ex 5:22-23): When Pharaoh initially refused to let the Israelites go, Moses is very disappointed and complains that God’s plan is not working out.
• Complaining (Num 11:10-15): Moses’ complaints here approach the level of disrespect. He accuses God of giving him a task he could not accomplish. He is so distressed about the burdens of leadership that he asks God to take his life.
• Disobedience (Num 20:10-12): Because Moses struck the rock with his staff, God did not allow him to enter the Promised Land.

What do such failures and weaknesses show about Moses?  That he was an average guy, not some super-spiritual, perfect person.

Moses’ Outstanding Characteristics
Despite the fact that Moses was far from perfect, he was nevertheless a great man of faith who accomplished much in God’s service. There are many character traits that we can follow in his life.

• Faith: Four times in Hebrews 11, the author uses the words “by faith” in describing Moses. His faith in God is what motivated him to do all he did.
• Leadership: Stephen tells us that the reason he killed the Egyptian was that he believed God had called him to lead his people out of Egypt. He withstood several attempts to unseat him as the leader, even from his own sister and brother. The people followed Moses because Moses followed God.
• Obedience: Moses was reluctant to lead his people after their prior rejection of him, but eventually he obeyed God, returned to Egypt, and led the people out. Moses normally did whatever God told him to do.
• Zeal for the Lord: In his anger and disappointment over the people’s sin, Moses destroyed the original tablets of the Ten Commandments. Moses sincerely desired that the people follow the Lord and became angry when they disobeyed.
• Love for His People: Although the people caused him great distress and trouble, Moses often displayed an amazing compassion and concern for them. At one point he pled for God to forgive them, and if God was unwilling, then Moses asked God not to forgive him, either (Ex 32:32). When God suggested destroying the people and forming a new nation from Moses, he strenuously objected and the Lord pardoned the people (Num 14:11-19).
• Meekness: Moses was a humble person (Num 12:3). He did not seek superiority or rank for himself. He was willing to spread the leadership among many people. He even took advice from his father-in-law, Jethro (Ex 18).
• Faithfulness: Despite all the challenges of leading 2-3 million people out of Egypt and through the wilderness for forty years, Moses remained faithful to the Lord and to the task. When the majority of the people turned from the Lord, he remained faithful. He failed at a number of points, but he fulfilled the task to which God had called him.
• Spirituality: Moses had a close walk with God. On many occasions Moses experienced the physical presence of God and heard his voice. Exodus 33:11 tells us that “the LORD spoke unto Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.”
• Right Priorities: Hebrews 11:24-26  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.

The Character of God
From the story of the Moses, we learn much about the character of God.

• God told Moses that his name is “I AM.” This reveals the self-existent, eternal nature of God.
• The account is filled with miraculous events which display God’s sovereign control over all things: God gives Moses the ability to turn his staff into a snake and to make his hand leprous; the plagues of Egypt; the crossing of the Red Sea; leading through the desert by a cloud and fire; providing food and water, the earth swallowing up Korah and the rebels, etc. Further, God is not only sovereign over nature, but also over people. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he would not let the people go (Ex 10:27).
• God is faithful. He promised to be with Moses (Ex 3:12) and he fulfilled that promise. God is patient with his people and is willing to forgive them. God fulfilled his plan–the people left slavery in Egypt, crossed the desert, and eventually entered the Promised Land.
• God hates sin and judges sinners (Ex 32:1-6). While Moses was on the mountain receiving the Law, the people corrupted themselves with immorality and false worship. The Lord was angry with the people and about three thousand men died that day. Because of their unbelief, God made them wander around in the desert for forty years while most of them died before the entered Canaan.

Practical Applications from the Life of Moses

• Trust in God. When the spies returned from checking out the land, the majority reported that they were unable to conquer it. All they could see was destruction and defeat ahead. They did not believe the promises of God, nor did they consider God’s presence and power with them. Only Joshua and Caleb believed the Lord would empower them to conquer the land. Read Numbers 14:7-9.
• Be humble. Moses was a meek man who never sought greatness for himself.
• Seek to cooperate with others. Moses followed Jethro’s advice in delegating authority to a group of godly men instead of doing everything himself.
• Serve God. The example of Moses teaches us that we can do many things in God’s service that we previously thought were beyond our ability. We do not adequately take into consideration the power and strength that God would use to support us in the work. We are quick to discount our ability to serve God. We cite our age, our poverty, our poor skills, our lack of knowledge, etc., and we simply dismiss the possibility that we can do anything great for the Lord. But we shouldn’t think this way. When the Lord presents us with opportunities for service that we feel inadequate to perform, we should put our trust in God and step up to the challenge.
• Honor God. Throughout this account, we find expressions of God’s great holiness. We must give due respect and honor to God. “The LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible” (Deut 7:21).
• Don’t compromise. Moses rejected Pharaoh’s offer to compromise on who would be able to leave Egypt (Ex 10:24f). It’s interesting to note that the worship of the golden calf was somehow mixed with the worship of Yahweh (Ex 32:5). You can’t mix truth with error.
• Depend upon God. When Moses made his various excuses, God promised to be with Moses and provide all the things he would need (Ex 4). When the people went up to attack the Canaanites without the Lord’s approval, they suffered a humiliating defeat (Num 14:39-45).
• Worship God properly. God gave Moses a very detailed plan regarding how the Israelites were to worship him. Sincerity was not enough to satisfy God’s requirements. We must worship God in the way that he has specified in the Bible and in no other way.
• Recognize God’s presence in your life. The Lord spoke to Moses as a friend talks to a friend. He repeatedly promised “I will be with you.” Although we don’t enjoy direct revelation from God as Moses did, we do experience the presence of God in our lives via the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. God has promised to never leave us or forsake us (Heb 13:5-6). Regardless of circumstances, feelings or the opinions of others, rely on the fact that God is personally present in your life and is working all things for your good.
• Pray. We find Moses praying frequently to God. Sometimes he complains about things and sometimes he asks for help. He at times seems almost too bold in his interactions with God (e.g., Ex 32:11-14; Num 14:13-20). Moses was a man of prayer and we should follow his example in praying much.
• Love people. Even though they were a huge source of trouble and heartache for Moses, he genuinely loved the people of Israel. He taught them, protected them, rebuked them, prayed for them and encouraged them. Ask God to give you a compassionate heart that cares for others.
• Take heed lest you fall. Moses shows us that we are never so strong or faithful that we can not stumble. In Numbers 20:8-12 we see how, late in his life, Moses succumbed to a moment of anger and sinned against God. This occurred just prior to entry into the Promised Land. Had Moses controlled himself a little bit longer, he could have finished his great task by leading the people into Canaan. We should never presume that our years of faithful service make us immune to sin. This incident also teaches us that God can be very exact and demanding when it comes to following His instructions.

Conclusion:  Moses was no doubt one of the greatest men who ever lived. Deuteronomy closes with these words: “There arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, in all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, and in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel.” He loved God, served God, believed God, and obeyed God. He was by no means perfect, but he is a wonderful example for us to follow.

Discussion:

• What are the three main segments in Moses’ life?  In Pharaoh’s household for 40 years, a shepherd in Midian for 40 years, leading Israel for 40 years.
• Why didn’t God allow Moses to enter the Promised Land?  Disobedience–he struck the rock instead of speaking to it.
• List some of Moses’ good characteristics.  Faith, leadership, obedience, zeal, love for his people, meekness, faithfulness, spirituality, right priorities
• What are some things we learn about the character of God from the life of Moses?  That God is self-existent and eternal, that God is sovereign and omnipotent, that God is faithful to his promises, that God hates sin and judges sinners.
• What are some practical applications from the life of Moses?  Trust in God, be humble, work with others, serve God, honor God, don’t compromise, depend on God, worship God correctly, recognize God’s presence in your life, pray, love people.
• How is Moses’ walk with God different from ours?  He had a direct line to God–direct revelation and the physical presence of God to guide him. He knew exactly what God wanted him to do because God told him. We have the Bible, but that’s not the same as personal direct revelation.