Who was Moses?
Moses is among the most prominent biblical figures in both the New and Old Testament. He grew up to be one of the spiritual giants of the Bible. His name means “drawn out”, signifying how Moses will later “draw out” God’s people from the land of Egypt.
After the death of Joseph, there arose a new Egyptian Pharaoh who made the Israelites the slaves in Egypt. The Israelites remained in slavery for about 430 years.
The 2 greatest achievements of Moses
- Moses was the man chosen by God to deliver them (Israelites) out from bondage.
- God used Moses to write and compile the first five fundamental books of the Bible known as the Pentateuch.
Moses’ life shows us how to live a godly and righteous life.
Lesson no. 1: God uses the humble, not the proud
Numbers chapter 12:3 tells us, “Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth”. How would you like that to be said about you? The Bible records that Moses is the meekest man on Earth. Because of this, God chose Moses to be the physical leader of the Israelites.
What is a true Humility?
“True humility is finding your confidence in God, rather than in yourself”.
But how did Moses develop this kind of humility? What are the circumstances that had led him to be humble?
We know that Moses belongs to the tribe of Levi. He was born during the slavery of the Israelite people. When the Israelites grew in number, the Pharaoh commanded that every newly born male child shall be cast into the river and drown (Exodus 1:22). Jochebed, the mother of Moses, put everything in the hands of God rather than letting his son die a certain death. Moses’ mother laid him in a small, woven, and waterproof basket and set adrift in the Nile River.
Little did Jochebed, the mother of Moses know her son will change the course of history. God spared the life of Moses and was found by the Pharaoh’s daughter. Moses was then raised as a prince of Egypt.
During the first 40 years of his life, Moses enjoyed the life and benefits of being part of the royal family – the same family that ruled the world’s greatest empire at that time. God blessed Moses with good looks (Acts 7:20) and the natural charisma to find favor in the sight of men.
Moses has grown to be very popular among his people and according to Josephus, a Jewish historian, he could have been a general who have led the Egyptian army. Not only that, “Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and deeds” (Acts 7:22).
With all these attributes, it is very easy for Moses to gain the illusion of greatness and become proud in his own eyes. Certainly, God cannot use him in this state. God needs to humble Moses before He can use him.
Moses, at some point, would have even thought that he is the chosen one who will deliver the Hebrew people out from the bondage by the Egyptians (Acts 7:35). As this might be true, he acted rashly and took things into his hands. This led him to kill an Egyptian and became a fugitive. (a person who has escaped from a place or is in hiding, especially to avoid arrest or persecution).
This is when God started working with Moses. He fled in the land of Midian where he became a shepherd, a lowly job that even the Egyptian despised (Genesis 46:31-34). From being a might general of the Egyptian army, he was reduced to a mere shepherd. Instead of leading an army, he is now leading a flock of sheep. Instead of speaking to a great audience, he is now talking to sheep.
As days turns to weeks, weeks turn to months, and months turn to years, his confidence in himself started to fade away. Little by little, the proud and mighty Moses become a humble and meek shepherd.
Moses learned a lot during the 40 years he spent in the land of Midian. He learned to be loving, caring, and most importantly, humble before the sight of God. Though he became a fugitive, God used this circumstance to turn his life around. Instead of finding confidence in himself, Moses found confidence in God. Now, Moses is ready to be used by God.
Lessons no. 2: God will fight our battles for us
Maybe the most dramatic and famous scene in the life of Moses and the Israelites is the parting of the Red Sea. Movies have been produced to depict this most stunning and awesome act of God.
The story is found in Exodus 14. The Israelites have fled from the land of Egypt. However, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart and pursued the Israelites (Exodus 14:8). When the Egyptian army drew near, the Israelites “were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD” (verse 10).
The joyous deliverance of the Israelites quickly turned into complaining and murmuring. They have lost their sight from the goodness and power of the Almighty God. Instead of trusting God, they blamed Moses for bringing them in the wilderness to die.
How many times in our lives have we found ourselves in the same situation? After the many miracles and proofs of God’s power in our lives, we still come to the point that we doubt God.
With this in mind, we really can’t blame the Israelites. They are all humans just like any of us.
How did Moses, the leader and deliverer respond to Israelite’s complaints?
After Moses listened to their complaints and discontentment, he powerfully responded and said in Exodus 14:13-14:
“DO NOT BE AFRAID. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
Imagine, you have God, the All-Powerful, Almighty, Supreme Ruler of the vast universe, as your personal protector! He has promised that He will fight our battles for us.
The Israelites forgot that it is not a battle of the Israelites versus the Egyptians, but rather, it is a battle of God versus the Egyptians!
Therefore, as long as we are standing on the side of God, all we need is to just stand still, do what is right, follow God’s commandments, and surrender everything into His hands. You can always count on the FACT that God never loses a battle. He always wins and we will also reign victorious as long as we are on His side.
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