(Psalm 90, Title)
The First Years Preservation
When she could no longer hide him, she (again by faith) put him in an ark of bulrushes, hiding it in the flags by the river’s brink. Moses’ sister, Miriam, watched to see what would be done to him (Ex. 2:3-43And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink. 4And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. (Exodus 2:3‑4)). When the daughter of Pharaoh came to wash in the river, God arranged that the babe cried and her heart was touched. She named him Moses, meaning “drawn out.” Miriam asked permission to call a Hebrew woman to nurse the child. Permission was granted and Miriam called Moses’ own mother to care for him; she was also given wages. She trained “up [the] child in the way he should go” (Prov. 22:66Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)).
The First Years Training
Moses’ life was divided into three forty-year periods. In those first years he was trained in the court of Pharaoh to be “somebody.” The time came when he was taken to Pharaoh’s daughter and became her son. He was taught “all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds” (Acts 7:2222And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. (Acts 7:22)). But “by faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” (Heb. 11:2424By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; (Hebrews 11:24)). He knew that he was not an Egyptian.
The second period began. “When he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel” (Acts 7:2323And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. (Acts 7:23)). Moses used his own strength to deal with matters of his countrymen. His first recorded words were, “Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?” He was rebuked with, “Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?” (Acts 7:26-2726And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? 27But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? (Acts 7:26‑27)).
The Second Forty Years Learning
But such a man was not yet serviceable to God. He must spend another forty years in the desert learning to be “nobody” suitable lessons for us! Though meaning well, Moses had to flee for his life.
He had done right in “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” (Heb. 11:25-2625Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. (Hebrews 11:25‑26)). After forty years in the desert, Moses’ self-confidence was gone. But he had yet to learn that God is “everything.”
Jehovah appeared to him in a burning bush that was not consumed: a picture of Israel persecuted, but not consumed. When he turned aside to see this sight, God called to him and told him, “Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground” (Ex. 3:55And 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)). “Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth My people the children of Israel out of Egypt” (Ex. 3:1010Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. (Exodus 3:10)). Moses was quite reluctant to obey, saying to God, “Who am I that I should go unto Pharaoh.... I am not eloquent... but... slow of speech and of a slow tongue” (Ex. 3:11; 4:1011And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? (Exodus 3:11)
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. (Exodus 4:10)). God graciously answered, “Who hath made man’s mouth?... Have not I the Lord? Now therefore go and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say” (Ex. 4:11-1611And 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 4:11‑16)).
The Spirit of God has recorded Moses’ conversation with the Lord. Moses objected still and the anger of the Lord was kindled against him. He made Aaron his spokesman Moses had no more power but gained twice the flesh.
Jehovah patiently worked with him, giving him signs to show the people that God had truly spoken to him, and “the people believed” Moses (vs. 31). But Moses had a domestic problem which had to be dealt with before God could use him. His wife opposed the rite of circumcision, but the Lord held him responsible (Ex. 4:24-2624And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, and sought to kill him. 25Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. 26So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. (Exodus 4:24‑26)). Moses obeyed and the Lord sent Aaron his brother to meet him. They met in “the mount of God, and [Aaron] kissed him” (vs. 27). All serving the Lord must learn these lessons. The well-educated Apostle Paul “went into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem” (Gal. 1:17-1817Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. (Galatians 1:17‑18)).
The Last Forty Years Serving
Though God chose these men and used their abilities, they had to learn to serve in humility and dependence on Him. We must not rely on human efforts in service for God. “If human efforts are in vain, in Christ it is we stand” (Little Flock Hymnbook, #156).
Serving as an Intercessor
Moses was given seven promises seven “I will” promises and all were fulfilled (Ex. 5-6). Yet, the work of an intercessor is not easy. Moses went to Pharaoh on behalf of God’s people. Pharaoh declared plainly that he did not know the Lord (Ex. 5:22And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. (Exodus 5:2)). Moses’ intercession made matters worse; the burdens increased, causing the people to complain against him. But he took the complaint to the Lord.
After God had brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, they sinned by making and worshipping a golden calf. Moses again interceded, willing to have his name blotted out of God’s book if He would spare the people (Ex. 32:30-3330And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the Lord; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. 31And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. 32Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. 33And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. (Exodus 32:30‑33)).
Five times in the book of Numbers Moses fell on his face, expressing the humility necessary for one who would intercede for a failing people. When they refused to enter the land of promise, the Lord offered to destroy the people and make of Moses a mightier nation than they. Moses declined. It would have exalted him but dishonored the name of the Lord in the sight of the world.
Serving in the Presence of God
God appeared to Moses in human form (Deut. 34:1010And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, (Deuteronomy 34:10)). Even though called “Moses the man of God” six times in Scripture, he was not allowed to see His glory face to face (Ex. 33:2020And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. (Exodus 33:20)). He communed with God in the darkness at the mercy-seat in the tabernacle. Finally Moses is seen with Elijah in company with the Lord Jesus on the mount of God, where they “spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:3131Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:31)).
Service Completed
Moses forfeited his entry into the land because he struck the rock twice, spoiling the type of Christ dying only once. He lost his temper with the children of Israel at Meribah (Num. 20:10-1210And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? 11And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. 12And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. (Numbers 20:10‑12)). Law and the lawgiver could not bring the people into blessing. Only One could and did stand in the place of “whosoever hath sinned.” Yet, what a heart of love Moses had for the erring people of God!
When Moses died, God hid his body so that no one, not even Satan, knows where he was buried. Israel would have worshipped it as an idol. “The children of Israel wept for Moses... thirty days.... And there arose not a prophet since... like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face” (Deut. 34:8,108And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. (Deuteronomy 34:8)
10And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, (Deuteronomy 34:10)).
Neither can the body of Jesus be worshipped. “He is not here: for He is risen, as He said” (Matt. 28:66He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (Matthew 28:6)). We worship a living and ascended Lord! He will occupy our wondering hearts, minds and sight eternally. Hallelujah!
T. A. Roach