(Psalm 90, Title)
Moses was born in troubled times to a God-fearing couple of the tribe of Levi. Pharaoh feared that the increasing numbers of Israelites might join Egypt’s enemies in time of war and thus escape from their bondage. He decreed that the boy babies be thrown into the river, but “by faith” his mother hid him “because they saw he was a proper child” (fair to God). He was nourished up in his father’s house three months (Ex. 2:2; Acts 7:20; Heb. 11:23).
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. 2:3-4). 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. 22:6).
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 7:22). But “by faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” (Heb. 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 7:23). 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 7:26-27).
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. 11:25-26). 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. 3:5). “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. 3:10). 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; 4:10). 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. 4:11-16).
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. 4:24-26). 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. 1:17-18).
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. 5:2). 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. 32:30-33).
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. 34:10). Even though called “Moses the man of God” six times in Scripture, he was not allowed to see His glory face to face (Ex. 33:20). 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 9:31).
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. 20:10-12). 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. 34:8,10).
Neither can the body of Jesus be worshipped. “He is not here: for He is risen, as He said” (Matt. 28:6). We worship a living and ascended Lord! He will occupy our wondering hearts, minds and sight eternally. Hallelujah!
T. A. Roach