Hall of Faith: Moses, was flawed

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last week, we ended the book of Genesis with a look at Joseph. The next person listed in the Hall of Faith is Moses, who picks up the story of the Israelite’s several hundred years later, in the book of Exodus.

Pharoah’s daughter finding baby Moses

In the Hall of Faith, Moses story is summed up as “ By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;  accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward.  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.  By faith he [n]kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up.”  {Hebrews 11:25-29}

Moses was placed in a basket on the Nile River and raised by Pharaoh’s daughter

We are told that by this time Joseph “was not known” to the Pharaoh of the time and the Israelites were “made to serve with rigor…and they made their lives bitter with hard service”. {Exodus 1:13-14}

During this time Moses was born. However, before Moses birth the Pharaoh ordered all of the Hebrew midwives to kill all the sons born. But, we’re told that the “midwives feared God” and did not what the Pharaoh commanded. He became angry and commanded that all of the male children be thrown in to the river, but the girls allowed to live. {Exodus 1”15-22}

Moses killed an Egyptian

This was the circumstances of which Moses was born. The name Moses means “son” and “deliverer”.

So, when Moses was born his mother kept him hidden as long as possible until he was three months old. She placed him in an ark and concealed it before placing it in the river. Pharaoh’s daughter, finds the ark and child, adopts him and raises him as her own. However, she needs a nursemaid for the child, and his mother, Jochebed, served as his nursemaid. {Exodus 2: 1-10}

So, Moses grew up in a palace with the best of the best.

In Midian, God appeared to him in a burning bush

When Moses grew into his maturity, he killed an Egyptian who was “smiting” or striking a Hebrew. Moses then ran and fled to Midian, because Pharaoh wanted to kill him. {Exodus 2: 11-15}

Moses dwells in Midian and takes a wife, while the Hebrew people cried out to God for deliverance.

While Moses was tending to the flock, the Lord appeared to him “ in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.” {Exodus 3:2} God called out to Moses and said “And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” {Exodus 3:5}. God revealed himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He declares that he has come to “deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians” {Exodus 3:8}.

Moses questioned his ability and the Lord turned his staff into a serpent

God tells him to return to Egypt and appear to Pharaoh.

Moses ask “Who am I to go before Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out”? But God promises to be with him. {Exodus 3:11-12}

God warns Moses that Pharaoh will not let the Hebrew people go, but promises “And I will put forth my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.” {Exodus 3:20}

Moses brother Aaron was appointed to help him speak

Moses however worried that he was not “eloquent” of speech, for “I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue” {Exodus 4:10}. And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Moses {Exodus 4:14}. The Lord appointed Moses brother, Aaron, to help him speak. So, Moses returns to Egypt {everyone that wanted Moses dead are no longer} and he is met by Aaron when he returns. {Exodus 4}

Moses and Aaron appear before Pharaoh to convince him to let the Hebrews go, but Pharaoh refuses. God reveals himself in one wonder after another. He even turns Moses walking staff into a snake. However, Pharaoh continues to refuse and the Lord sends ten plagues upon the Egyptians {water into blood, frogs, lice, wild animals, diseased livestock, boils, hail and fire, locusts, darkness that covers for three days, and death of firstborn sons}. {Exodus 5-13}

God sent 10 plagues, the last was the death of the first born

With the death of the first born sons, the Pharaoh finally allows the Israelite’s to go. The Red Sea parts for the Israelite’s to pass through, but when Pharaoh and his army pursue them, the Red Sea swallows them up. {Exodus 13}

Moses tried to govern over all of the people but it became too much. At the suggestion of his father-in-law, Jethro, he appointed leaders over the group. {Exodus 18}

Moses led the Israelite’s to Mount Sinai where the Lord gives him the Ten Commandments. Moses remained so long the people began to make golden idols and in his anger, Moses broke the tablets. He went back upon Mount Sinai where the Lord provided another set of tablets with the Ten Commandments and entered into a covenant that the Israelite’s would be the people of Yahweh. The Lord provided additional laws for the Hebrews to follow. {Exodus 20-24}

Before Moses led the Israelite’s across the Red Sea

The Lord also provided directions to built the Tabernacle and had Moses build the Ark of the Covenant, which carried the Ten Commandments. {Exodus 25-31}

The Lord told the Israelites they would wonder in the dessert for 40 years because they were not worthy to inherit the land, and the next generation would enter. He also told Moses that because he destroyed the Ten Commandments, he would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land. {Exodus 33, Numbers 27, Numbers 31}

On the banks of the Jordan River, Moses assembled the tribes, pronounced a blessing, sang a song of praise and passed his authority on to Joshua.

He went to the top of Mount Nebo and looked over the promised land. He died at 120 years old and “his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated”. The Lord “buried him in the valley in the land of Moab over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his

God provided Moses with the Ten Commandments

sepulchre unto this day.” {Deuteronomy 34}

The people mourned for Moses for 30 days when he died.

What can we learn from Moses?

1. God protected him from infancy

2. Moses had to wait for his destiny to be fulfilled

3. God revealed himself to Moses

4. God spoke to Moses

5. Moses questions God and ask why him

6. Moses doesn’t believe God can use him because of his flaws

7. God used Moses as his vessel to reveal himself

Moses worshiped God on Mount Sinai

8. Moses saw God face to face

9. God provided for his people

10. Moses was not allowed to see the promised land because he broke the tablets with the Ten Commandments

11. Moses found favor in the Lord’s sight {Exodus 33:17}

12. He was “more humble than any other man” {Numbers 12:3}

13. He saw the Promised Land from a distance

14. God used Moses because of his flaws

15. Moses became a great leader

Moses saw the promised land before his death

The story of Moses and the Israelites a considerable amount of scripture in the Old Testament. Their journey and the laws God set forth for them are in the books of Exodus, Leviticus {this is mainly the laws}, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

From the beginning, God watched over Moses and protected him.

We watch Moses grow from an impetuous and hot tempered young man into a great ruler. However, Moses was unsure of his own capability to rule due to his flaws. But, God proved through Moses that he can even use our flaws.

Only God knows the exact place where Moses is buried

Moses walked with God and knew him intimately, which is why he made the Hall of Faith.

Moses walked with God, spoke with God and saw God face to face.

“And there hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom Jehovah knew face to face, in all the signs and the wonders, which Jehovah sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, and in all the mighty hand, and in all the great terror, which Moses wrought in the sight of all Israel.” {Deuteronomy 34:10-12}

How has God used your flaws for his glory?

 

Pictures from FreeBibleImages.org

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