Moses (Dawn Out) born about 1520bc
Moses was the son of Amram and Jochebed of the tribe of Levi (Ex 6:20)
(Moses authored the Torah. The Torah is the first of three parts of the Tanakh (Hebrew
Bible), the founding religious document of Judaism, Messianic, and Hebrew belief, and is
divided into five books, whose names in English are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
Numbers, and Deuteronomy.)
At the time of Moses birth, the decree commanding the slaying of all male Hebrew
children was in force, but his mother was able to conceal him and hid him away for three
months. (Hebrews 11:23 describes the faith of Moses’ parents). When concealment was
no longer possible, Jochebed, Moses’ mother, placed him in a basket of papyrus and
placed him among the reeds of the Nile River.
Part I
Rescue
Pharaoh’s daughter finds Moses
The daughter of Pharaoh came to the river to bath, saw the basket and had it brought to
her. In God’s providence, Pharaoh‘s daughter hires Moses’ mother to nurse and care for
him. (Ex 2:8-9) In some ways, Moses’ ministry foreshadows the ministry of Jesus.
 An attempt was made to kill both Moses and Jesus as infants
 Both Moses and Jesus ministered as Prophet, (Dt 18:15; Acts 3:22; 7:37) Priest
(Psalm 99:6; Heb 7:24) King (Dt 33:4-5) and shepherd (Ex 3:1; Jn 10:11-14)
 They both suffered with God’s people, (Tit 2:14; Heb 11:25-26) delivered the
people from slavery (Acts 7:35) and brought in a covenant (Heb 8:5-13)
Adoption
The child was adopted by the king’s daughter and from this time for many years Moses
must be considered as an Egyptian. (Ex 2:10) (Adoption was a common practice among
the Egyptians) Being the adopted son of Pharaoh, Moses was in the royal family. As a
result, Moses received an excellent education. (Acts 7:22) Moses was learned in all the
wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.
(The first five books of the Bible were authored by Moses. Known as the Torah or the
Law, they were the main stay of Judaism.)
Moses’ birth, his threat of death, as well as the events of his youth were under God’s
direction that he may deliver Israel from bondage.
What would Pharaoh have thought if he knew that Israel’s future liberator was living in
his home? Although Moses grew under the umbrella of an unbelieving society, he never
abandoned his love and faith in God. Eventually, his willingness to identify with God’s
people and to defend those being oppressed demonstrated his faith in God. Like Jesus:
Moses rejected sin’s pleasures for the honor of suffering for God and His people.
“He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Glancing this way and
that and seeing no one he killed the Egyptian…” (Ex 2:11)
The next day he endeavored to act as peacemaker, but his offices were refused and he
became aware that the act of the preceding day was known. To escape the wrath of
Pharaoh, Moses fed to Midian. Moses was forty years old at the time. (Acts 7:23-29)
(Moses’ return to Egypt would be as a prophet of God.)
It would be during this time of exile that God carved out Moses’ life’s mission: to free his
people, to lead them back to Canaan, their promised land, and to establish the Ten
Commandments on the way.
Moses escapes to Midian
Midian (Strife) the fourth named of the six sons of Abraham by Keturah (Gen 25:2; 1
Chr 1:32).In scripture, Midian appears in connection with Abraham, Joseph, Moses,
Balaam and Gideon.
(Midian is located east of Palestine, in the desert north of the Arabian pennsiula)
Upon entering Midian, Moses rested himself by a well, where he helped some young
women water their sheep. Because of this they returned to their home earlier than usual
and when they told their father, Jethro, the reason, he called Moses in and Moses
consented to live with him. Moses took his daughter Zipporah as his wife and assumed
charge of his father-in-laws flock (Ex 2:16-21). [It is said in Exodus 2:18 that the girl’s
father was Reuel, but in 3:1 he is called Jethro, as in 4:18. Jethro and Reuel were
probably different names of Moses’ father-in-law; the former being either a title or a
surname showing the rank of Reuel in his tribe] “Zipporah gave birth to a son, and Moses
named him Gershom, saying, “I have become an alien in a former land”
Part II
Relationship
God removes Israel (Ex 2:24)
After many years of oppression, the people of Israel began to cry to God for help. It was
during this time that the king of Egypt, who had exiled Moses, died.
God did not turn His attention to Israel because they were such good people, but because
of the covenant he made with them. He gives His love and attention to us on the same
basis – the covenant relationship we have with God through Jesus.
Moses is called
In the seclusion of this shepherd life Moses received his call as a prophet.
After forty years of solitude in the desert, Moses was prepared for his future task of
delivering Israel from Eqypt. “The angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire
from within a bush.” (Ex 3:2)
[“The angel of the Lord” is the Lord himself. God also appeared to Abraham as the
“Angel of the Lord” (Gen. 22:11)]
God’s initial revelation to Moses was of his holiness. “Take off your sandals for the place
where you are standing is holy ground.” (Ex 3:5)
A twofold revelation was made to Moses of the eternal self-existence of the one God and
his mission to deliver his own people. (The Lord gave himself the personal name “I am
who I am” From this is derived the Hebrew name Yahweh)
It is significant that Jesus also called himself by the name “I am” (John 8:58)
Two signs attested to Moses divine mission.
 The staff that turned into a serpent and
 The hand of Moses made leprous and afterward cleansed.
Should these be disbelieved by the people a third was promised, that the waters of the
Nile would be turned into blood.
The objection of Moses, “I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” Was answered by the
promise of God’s assistance.
When God calls us to a task, he will furnish the means and ability to fulfill that task. (For
God does not need our ability. He desires our availability) (2 Cor. 3:5-6; 4:11-12) God
elected Aaron to be Moses’ spokesperson.
Moses returns to Egypt
The Lord said to Moses, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who wanted to kill you are
dead.” (Ex 4:19)
(God’s election of an individual continues only as long as he or she remains obedient.
When that fails, God has ways of getting our attention.) Moses had neglected to perform
the covenant sign of circumcision in the case of his own son and until he did so, God
afflicted Moses with a potentially fatal illness.
The exodus is basically a conflict between Yahweh, the God of Israel, and Pharaoh, who
in Egyptian religion was believed to be an incarnation of the sun god Ra.
God made himself known to Moses by the name “Lord” (Ex 6:3). God did not make
himself known to Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob by that name. They had known him more as
“God Almighty”
God will deliver Israel by grace through faith
Through the ten plagues, by which God revealed himself and his power and concern for
Israel, he built up their faith until they were able to trust him in obedience.
Pharaoh refuses to release Israel
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Ten Plagues
Blood (Ex. 7:19-25) The waters of Egypt and all the water that was in the Nile
was turned to blood
Frogs (Ex. 8:10-15) The second plague also proceeded from the Nile. The
frogs not only penetrated into the houses and crept into the domestic utensils
the beds, the ovens and the kneading troughs; they also got upon the people
themselves. (This plague must have been aggravating to the Egyptians for
frogs were included among their sacred animals)
Gnats (Ex 8:16-19) The third plague was caused by Aaron’s smiting the dust
of the ground with his staff; all the dust throughout the land of Egypt
thereupon turned into gnats.
Insects (Ex 8:20-32) The fourth plague was foretold to Pharaoh in the morning
as he came out to the water, doubtless for worship. It consisted of swarms of
insects, probably dog flies. They are more numerous and annoying than gnats,
and when enraged they fasten themselves upon the body especially the edges
of the eye lids.
Pestilence (Ex. 9:1-7) This plague consisted of a severe disease that killed the
cattle of Egypt. Those of the Israelites were spared. Again this plague was an
insult to the gods of Egypt, for the cow, the calf, and the bull were all
worshiped there.
Boils (Ex. 9:8-12) In response to the continued hardness of Pharaoh, God
determined to send such hail that had not been known to Egypt. Terrified by
the fierceness of the storm, Pharaoh admits he has sinned; “The Lord is the
righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones.”
Locusts (Ex 10:1-20) Pharaoh continued to resist the command of God. Moses
lifted up his staff, and the Lord brought an east wind which the next day
brought locusts. The eighth plague proved to the Egyptians that the
omnipotence of God reached far beyond the borders of Egypt and ruled over
every land.
Darkness (Ex 10:21-29) A continued darkness came over all Egypt, with the
exception of Goshen.
Death of the Firstborn (Ex. 11:1-12:30) “There shall be a great cry in all the
land of Egypt,” God himself would bring the final judgment on the Egyptians:
the firstborn son of every family would die.
Archaeological evidence confirms
God’s judgment was his just recompense because of their cruelty to the Hebrews and the
drowning of the male babies were in themselves a persecution of God’s “first born”
Moses commanded the Israelites to ask the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold, and
the Egyptians readily let them have their request. The Passover was instituted and the
houses of the Israelites sprinkled with blood. The firstborn of the Egyptians were struck
at midnight, as Moses had foretold. The angel of death passed over the houses of the
Israelites that had sprinkled the blood of the lamb on their doorpost.
Relationship
God claimed Israel as his son – his firstborn. Later, God claimed the Davidic dynasty as
his son, (2 Sa. 7:14; Ps 2:7). In a further narrowing, He claimed Jesus as his Son, (Lk
1:35; 3:22; Heb 1:5-13)
The Exodus – Pharaoh demands Moses and Aaron to leave Egypt. The Lord made the
Egyptians favorably disposed toward the Israelites.
God commanded Moses to consecrate every first born male among the Israelites.
Part III
Rebellion
Under divine direction Moses did not lead the people by the nearest way to the Promised
Land, i.e., through the country of the Philistines, lest, being opposed to this warlike
people. Hence God led the people around by way of the wilderness to the Red Sea (Ex
13:17-18).
(With increased archaeological knowledge, the bible’s itinerary is more and more
credible.)
The change in Pharaoh’s heart was only temporary. Pharaoh believed “they were
bewildered by the land” and confused, so he decides to bring the children of Israel back.
(This demonstrates how we are often quick to forget what God has done)
“He pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness.”
The idea behind the words “with boldness”, (Heb. Ruwn yad) include the idea of
rebellion against authority. Psalm 106 recounts Israel’s recurring rebellion and apostasy
with respect to God’s Word and ways.
Feeling trapped and with no where to turn, the Israelites accuse Moses of leading them
into a trap. Moses assures the people, “The Lord will fight for you.” (Ex 14:14) “Stand
firm and you will see deliverance” This is often the Lord’s direction in a time of crisis;
o Despair will cast you down
o Fear will tell you to retreat
o Impatience will tell you to do something now
o Presumption will tell you to jump
A time to pray and a time to do.
The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me?” Moses had to show confidence before
the nation to encourage their faith. God called Moses to get off his knees and start doing.
The glory of God stood between Moses and Pharaoh, God’s pillar of fire provided light
so that the Israelites could cross the Red Sea (Sea of Reeds) while keeping the Egyptians
in the dark. (Gen 14:19-20) (Notice how the glory of God can be light to one person yet
seem dark to another?)
“Moses stretched out his hand over the sea - and the Israelites went through the sea on
dry ground.” (Ex. 14:21-22)
Moses sings songs of the redeemed.
Moses sings praise and thanksgiving to God for his majesty, military might, and
faithfulness to his people [this foreshadows and prophesies the victory of God’s people
over Satan and the antichrist.] (Rev 15:3)
Free and provided for by God, the people began to grumble once again. For the third time
Moses was accused of leading them into despair and hunger (Ex 16:2) In spite of all that
God had done for them, they were quick to lose faith in His goodness and will for their
lives.
The Lord rained down bread from heaven for them. This “bread from heaven” is called
“Manna’ (Heb. Mān, “what”; Greek Manna) It tasted like fresh oil, like wafers made with
honey, equally agreeable to all palates. (Nu 11:7-9; Deut 8:3, 16; John5:12; Ps 78:24)
As Christians we have Jesus as the true bread from heaven, (Jn 6:32; Rev 2:17) who
gives eternal life (Jn 6:33, 51, 58)
By now Moses probably felt that he would have been better off never getting involved
with this bunch of ungrateful whiners. “The people were thirsty and they grumbled
against Moses.” (Ex 17:3)
Moses did as the Lord commanded and struck the rock with his staff and a spring of
living water came forth (Ex 17:6 ; 1 Co 10:4) and as the rock was struck so was Christ
smitten by death on the cross (Is 53:5)
Part IV
Redemption
Coming to the Mountain
It took them three months of trusting God to get to this place, but they finally arrived.
They saw God's deliverance from Egypt, received His guidance on the way to go, they
saw His glorious victory at the Red Sea, they saw God provide food and water
miraculously, and they saw a prayerful victory won over the Amalekites.
God declares His great plan for the nation of Israel.
God gave a message to Israel through Moses, a message regarding His purpose and
destiny for Israel. This destiny was based on what God already did for them in the great
deliverance from Egypt.
“And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain,
saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of
Israel: 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on
eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed
obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to
Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a
kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall
speak to the children of Israel.” (Ex. 19:3-6) (KJV)
Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD: Moses is acting as a true
priest, as an intermediary between God and the people; yet, God spoke audibly to
Moses (“that the people may hear when I speak with you”) so everyone would know
that it was really God speaking to Moses.
God commands that His holy presence on Sinai be respected.
“Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God”: Then, Moses led the
people right up to the barrier at the very foot of Mount Sinai, where they could see,
smell, hear, and virtually taste the fire which engulfed the mountain - as well as feel
the earth shake under their feet when “the whole mountain quaked greatly”.
(Ex.19:16-19)
Moses goes up on Mount Sinai to the presence of God.
God came in a special presence to Mount Sinai, ready to meet with Moses as a
representative of the whole nation of Israel. As the people trembled in terror at the
foot of the mountain, Moses needed courage to go to the top and meet with God. It
took courage for Moses to go up in the midst of all the thunder, lightning, earthquakes,
fire, and smoke. Moses not only knew God in terms of His awesome power, but also
in terms of His gracious kindness. God tells Moses to go back down and warn the
people again about respecting the holiness of His presence on Sinai.
(Hebrews 12:18-24 tells us loud and clear that under the New Covenant we come to a
different mountain, that our salvation and relationship with God is centered at Mount
Zion, not Mount Sinai.)
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Sinai speaks of fear and terror, but Zion speaks of love and forgiveness.
Sinai is in a dry desert, but Zion is the city of the Living God.
Sinai, with all its fear and power is earthly; but the Mount Zion we come to
is heavenly and spiritual.
At Sinai, only Moses could come and meet God; at Zion, there is an
innumerable company, a general assembly.
Sinai had guilty men in fear, but Zion has just men made perfect.
At Sinai, Moses is the mediator, but at Zion, Jesus the mediator.
Sinai put forth an Old covenant, ratified by the blood of animals; Zion has a
New Covenant, ratified by the blood of God's precious Son.
Sinai was all about barriers and exclusion; Zion is all about invitation.
Sinai is all about Law, Zion is all about grace.
God gives Moses the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:)
God spoke to Moses alone in Exodus chapters 20:22 through 23:33. Moses was
allowed special access to God, so God would speak to Moses and Moses could
speak to the nation. (Today our Mediator and High priest is Jesus Christ.) Moses
wrote all the words of the LORD. Israel verbally agreed to a covenant-relationship
with God; but there is a sense in which this is simply not good enough. They must
do specific things to confirm their covenant with God. First, the word of God must
be written: “Moses wrote all the words of the LORD.” God's word was important
enough that it was not be left up to human recollection and the creative nature of
memory. It had to be written down. The nation received the 4th covenant and it was
sealed with the application of blood.
Moses takes the elders of Israel to meet with God. (Ex. 24: 9-11)
God tells Moses to ask for an offering. (Ex. 25:1-2)
“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: "Speak to the children of Israel, that they
bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall
take My offering.” (KJV)
[God only wanted contributions from those who gave willingly. God is not
interested in coerced or manipulated giving.]
Moses is given instructions for the Tabernacle (Ex. 25 - 26)
Moses is commanded to make garments for the priest. (Ex. 28)
Redemption ~ The ransom money for a census. (Ex. 30: 11-12)
“When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the
Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on
them when you number them.” A census put Israel at risk of plague because a
census (a numbering) signified ownership.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, 'You must observe my
Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so
you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.” (Ex. 31:13)
God gives Moses the tablets of stone, written with His finger. (Ex. 31: 18) (We often
say that something can be changed because "it's not written in stone.") The Ten
Commandments were written in stone, meant to be everlasting.
Moses was gone for forty days (Ex. 24: 18.)This probably seemed like a long time
to the people, but a short time to Moses. (Forty signifies a time of trial and testing.
Jesus went into the desert after His baptism and was tested for forty days. Moses
was sustained supernaturally by God during his forty days of fasting upon the
mountain.) Certainly it was a short time related to the outworking of God's plan for
Israel. Meanwhile, God tells Moses what is happening at the camp of Israel. Then
the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out
of Egypt, have become corrupt. They have been quick to turn away from what I
commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf.
They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, 'These are your
gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” (Ex. 32:7-8)
God called Israel “your people”, in the sense that they belonged to Moses, not to
God. In this God suggested to Moses that He was disowning Israel.
“I have seen these people," the Lord said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked
people. Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may
destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.” (Ex.32: 9-10) God spoke
as if He had seen enough, and He made a remarkable offer to Moses. If Moses
would only agree, God would consume Israel and start over again with Moses (“I
will make of you a great nation”).
Moses intercedes for Israel
Moses pleaded with the LORD, according to what he believed to be God's heart.
Moses' prayer was not long but it was strong. (It is not the length, but the strength
of prayer that appeals to our Father.) In his prayer, Moses first gave the people
back to God. "LORD, they belong to You, not to me. I don't want to be god over
these people, only You can do that." (Ex.32: 11-13) God answered Moses' prayer.
God was going to destroy the nation - all Moses had to do was leave God alone and
let Him do it. But Moses did not leave God alone; he labored in intercession
according to what He knew of the heart of God. (Just as God calls us to intercede
for the lost.)
Moses had to deal with anger through much of his life. In anger he killed an
Egyptian (Ex.2:11-12). In anger he broke the tablets written by the finger of God. In
anger he beat the rock God commanded him to speak to (Nu.20:10-11). This last
display of anger kept Moses out of the Promised Land.
“When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger
burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot
of the mountain. And he took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire; then
he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it.”
(Ex.32:19-20)
Moses ground up the calf and made the people drink it for three reasons:
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To show that this "god" was nothing and could be destroyed easily
To completely obliterate this idol
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To make the people pay an immediate consequence of their sin
Aaron essentially tells Moses, to settle down! Aaron's sin was so great that only the
intercession of Moses saved his life. Moses already interceded for the people in
Ex.32:11-14, but he prayed again for them because now he saw the sin with his own
eyes, and was struck with the depths of the people's sin. Moses knew the enormity
of the people's sin, yet he still asked for forgiveness. This was an appeal to the
mercy and grace of God.
Moses sought God, radically and spontaneously. When Moses did that, God
touched the hearts of the people.
Moses ascends the Mountain a second time.
“The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.
Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did
not leave the tent.” (Ex.33: 11) (The phrase face to face is a figurative expression,
meaning free and open fellowship. Moses had not - and could not - see the actual
face of God the Father in His glory.) God considered Moses to be a close friend
with whom He could talk to face to face.
The Tablets of the Law were renewed, (34:1-4). After a second stay of forty days
upon the mountain, Moses returned to the people his shining face covered with a
veil. Moses then superintended the erection of the Tabernacle and its preparation for
worship. Aaron and his sons are then consecrated for the priesthood.
Moses desired to draw closer to God.
“Show me Your glory”: This was an interesting request. Moses already saw
something of the glory of God, yet he wanted more. He sensed that he had not seen
anything yet. (Ex.33:18) And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass
in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have
mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have
compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and
live.” (Ex33:19-20) (God rewarded the desire of Moses to see His glory as much as
humanly possible. This demonstrates that God rewards the seeking heart. And as
marvelous as this experience was for Moses, it still cannot compare to the
revelation of God given to us in Jesus Christ.) His close communion with God
physically affected Moses. Moses’ face had a shining appearance that was so
noticeable that people were afraid to come near him.
The Lord commanded and Moses obeyed. Moses’ life was lived in obedience to the
Lord. (Obe –die – nce ~ for to live for the Lord we must allow the desires of the
flesh to die.)
Moses numbered the people, arranged the Levites according to their special calling,
gave directions regarding unclean persons, trespasses, Nazirites, etc. received the
dedicatory gifts from the princes of the tribes, consecrated the Levites and prepared
for the onward journey. (Nu. 1)
The Vision of the Promised Land
“Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah,
across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land--from Gilead to
Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as
far as the western sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho,
the City of Palms, as far as Zoar.” (Deut.1:1-3) This was God’s sweet grace to
Moses. Though he could not set foot in the Promised Land, God allowed him to see
it.
God’s last words to Moses:
Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with
your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” (Deut.34:4)
The death and burial of Moses:
“And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He
buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows
where his grave is. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his
eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.” (Deut.34:5-8)
“He buried him in Moab”: Notably, the LORD buried Moses.
Moses’ epitaph:
At the end of it all, the title was simple: Moses servant of the LORD.
This should be enough for us. We often say it, and it sounds so humble to say it, but
it is much higher to really live it. To be satisfied with simply being the servant of
the LORD is a precious place indeed. It is the happiest of all stations in life, for when
the Master is glorified, the servants are satisfied. Moses died just as God promised.
(Moses’ life was neatly divided into thirds. He spent 40 years as the crown prince of
Egypt, 40 years as a humble shepherd in the wilderness, and 40 years leading the
children of Israel to their destiny in the Promised Land. The first two-thirds were in
preparation for the last one third. Moses was willing to let God prepare him for 80
years.)