Born in Egypt, Moses is beautiful in God’s eyes. He experiences the best of worldly knowledge, power and riches as well as spiritual power and riches yet remains most humble in all the earth.
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In this journey...
We understand God’s preparation ground for Moses:
- In his family
- In the palace
- In the wilderness
We understand the power of humility
Snapshot
Moses undergoes three kinds of training:
- Palacial Training – (first forty years of Moses’ life)
- Providential Training – (next forty)
- Purposeful Living – (last forty)
Recap
Discussion
Beautiful in God’s sight
Acts 7:20 At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful in the sight of God.
Exodus 2:2
The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months.
Palacial Training
Heb 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
Acts 7:22 And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.
Point to Ponder
Why does Moses tell God he cannot speak when Acts 7 records that he is “mighty in words and deeds”?
Historically he had a speech impediment, but people viewed him as “mighty in words and deeds”. In God’s hands every weakness can be made into strength.
Palacial Training – The Choice
Moses’ heart remained true to his people and his God and he desired to serve them. It was a choice.
Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
Palacial Training
On the flip side, his people rejected his leadership. Acts reports that this “retort” caused him to leave Egypt.
Acts 7:27 But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 At this retort Moses fled, and became an exile in the land of Midian..
Palacial Training – The Choice
He chose to follow His God and face the consequences of it.
Hebrews 11:26 He considered abuse suffered for the Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked to the reward.27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king; for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
Palacial Training
Moses was chosen to be trained in the cradle of the most powerful nation – as prince. He was:
- Chosen by God
- Chosen by the King’s daughter
Yet he:
- Chose God over the King
Providential Training
Though rejected by his people, he is chosen by God to go back to deliver those same people who repeatedly continued to reject and oppose him.
Acts 7:35 “This Moses whom they refused, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ God sent as both ruler and deliverer by the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush
Providential Training – A Shepherd’s heart
Interestingly similar to David, Moses also goes through the experience of being a shepherd.
Ps 78:70-73 “He chose David, his servant
Handpicked him from his work in the sheep pens
One day he was caring for the ewes and their lambs,
The next day God had him shepherding Jacob
His people Israel his prize possession
His good heart made him a good shepherd
He guided the people wisely and well”
Providential Training
At the end of God’s training Moses learnt:
- How to care like a shepherd
- Humility – he became “the most humble person on earth” (Num 12:3)
- Unconditional Obedience
- Unconditional Faith
Providential Training
These 40 years may appear uneventful in his life, but these too were years of training in God’s hands.
After that, Moses was ready to:
- Successfully deliver a nation in the most dramatic exodus the world has ever known through circumstances the world has never seen.
- Be the voice of God to a rebellious nation.
“With great power comes great responsibility”
Purposeful Living
The last phase of his life was when God used him powerfully to fulfil His purpose to lead Israel to the promised land.
Acts 7:36 He led them out, having performed wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea…39 Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods to go before us….
Purposeful Living
Moses Held the miracle rod
He wielded the greatest power and yet he remained….
- Most humble before God
- Inspite of greatest wealth of the world (Egypt was the world power in those days. When the Israelites left, they took a lot of the wealth of Egypt with them)
- Inspite of greatest power of God
Purposeful Living
- Till the end, he had all faculties intact.
- God himself buried him..
- He appeared with Elijah at the transfiguration on the promised land.
Recap
Moses was succesful as a leader in Egypt. He gained success in leading God’s nation.
Despite facing constant opposition, he remained true to his purpose and calling.
He maintained a truly humble spirit throughout. He made mistakes but responded to God’s correction.
He may not have made it himself to the promised land as he longed to while he was alive. But when Jesus came to earth, Moses joined him with Elijah on the mount of transfiguration on the promised land – what an honour
Discussion
- What is true humility? Define it in your own words.
- Humility is tied to your identity. Discuss/ Enact scenario/s of how even when humiliated you can react in confident manner, and maintain humility. You may contrast it with pride.
- Did Moses’s punishment of not being able to enter the promised land strengthen his humility? Discuss.
- Reflect on Miriam’s journey from proactive sister to ambitious leader. What can we learn?