Moses (LHCOC)
The Man Moses
Exodus 2
Introduction:
1. Tonight we are going to talk about a very popular person in the Bible – Moses.
2. 3 Christian Dispensations Chart
3. Let’s notice some highlights and lessons from the life of Moses.
Discussion:
I. SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LIFE OF MOSES
A. Moses accomplished many things in his 120 years on this earth.
1. He went down in history known as a prophet, priest, lawgiver, judge, intercessor, shepherd, miracle worker, and founder of a nation.
2. These accomplishments did not happen overnight, rather, they happened throughout his life.
[Moses’ life can be divided up into three periods, each representing a time frame of about 40 years…
B. The early years – Egypt (Ex.2:1-10)
1. Moses was born into a world of diversity (Ex.1).
a. When Moses’ forefathers came to Egypt they were in good standing with the rulers. Joseph was welcomed by Pharaoh, and his family settled down in northeast Egypt in an area known as Goshen, where they remained for 430 years (Ex 12:40).
b. With the passing of time, the Hebrew family grew rapidly, so that the land was filled with them (1:7). A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph.
c. Out of fear that their growing numbers might become a threat to the security of his nation, Pharaoh determined to take measures to reduce their number.
d. He made them work under extreme circumstances, but the severity of the work did not diminish them. He next tried to enlist the cooperation of the midwives to destroy the male babies, but they would not carry out his orders. He then ordered his own people to drown the male infants in the Nile River. Against the background of this first-known Jewish persecution, the baby Moses was born.
2. Moses was born at the risk of death (2:1-2).
a. Moses was given birth to a Levite couple and upon his birth he was hidden to spare his life from this awful decree.
b. Through God’s providence Moses would survive.
3. Moses’ parents made a risky attempt to save his life (2:3-10).
a. When his parent could not hide him any longer, his mother made a basket for him, placed him in it and hid him in some reads in the Nile where she knew Moses would be found.
b. Soon the daughter of Pharaoh came to the river to bathe, as was her custom. She discovered the baby, recognized it as one of the Hebrew children, and determined that she would raise the child as her own.
c. Miriam emerged from her hiding place and offered to secure a Hebrew woman to nurse the child, an arrangement that was agreeable to the princess. Miriam took the baby to his own mother, who kept him for perhaps two or three years. Nothing is recorded of those formative years.
4. Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians (Acts 7:22).
a. In the NT we are informed that Moses was “was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.”
b. Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, as would befit a member of the royal household, and he became mighty in his words and deeds (Acts 7:22).
C. The middle years – Midian (Ex.2:11-25)
1. Moses identifies himself with his own people (2:1).
a. Just when Moses became aware that he was a Hebrew rather than Egyptian cannot be known, but it is clear that he knew it by the time he was 40 years old.
b. Moses did not make a good impression.
2. Moses murders an Egyptian and flees to Midian (2:12-15a).
a. One day Moses went out to visit his people and to observe their treatment, for the cruel measures taken against them by Pharaoh at the time of Moses’ birth had not been lifted.
b. Seeing an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, Moses in great anger killed the Egyptian and buried him. When the Pharaoh sought Moses’ life, Moses fled to Midian.
3. Moses gets married (2:15b-22).
a. Soon after arriving in Midian, Moses sat down by a well, where he observed the seven daughters of the priest of Midian who had come to the well to draw water for their father’s flock. Shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses intervened and helped them water their animals.
b. When Jethro learned what had happened, he invited Moses to stay with his family and gave him Zipporah as his wife. Two children, Gershom (Ex 2:22) and Eliezer (18:4), were born to Moses and Zipporah during the years in Midian.
4. Moses is commissioned by God to deliver the Hebrews from Egyptian bondage (2:23-12:33).
a. One day, while Moses was taking care of the flocks of his father-in-law, he led them to Mt Horeb (known also as Sinai), where God appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush that burned but was not consumed.
b. Through the burning bush, God assured Moses that he was aware of the cruel afflictions of his people and had heard their cries. Then he told of his plan to send Moses to Egypt to deliver his people from their bondage.
c. Faced with a challenge that seemed beyond his capabilities, the aged Moses began making excuses for not accepting the task.
i. Who am I? (3:11)
ii. Who will I tell them sent me? (3:13)
iii. What if they do not believe me? (4:1)
iv. I am not a good speaker? (4:10)
v. Please send someone else. (4:13)
d. Without any more excuses, Moses his wife, sons, and brother Aaron went and delivered the Hebrew nation from Egyptian bondage.
D. The later years – Egypt to Canaan (Ex.3-Deut.34)
1. Moses and Aaron deliver the Hebrews from Egyptian bondage (3-18).
a. The Encounter with Pharaoh – 10 plagues (Ex.3-11)
b. The First Passover (12:1-28)
c. The Exodus from Egypt (12:29-18:27)
2. Giving of the Law at Sinai (19-20).
3. The Tabernacle and Establishment of the Priesthood (Leviticus).
4. Forty Years in the Wilderness (Numbers).
5. Moses’ Death (Deuteronomy).
II. SOME LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF MOSES
A. Moses teaches us to avoid sin (Heb.11:24-26).
1. Moses refused what likely would have been a lifetime of luxury, and chose to suffer affliction with the people of God.
2. Many times Children of God today want to mess around with sin, and before they know it, they are in over their heads in sin.
3. People just do not fall away overnight, it takes a starting point.
B. Moses teaches us to be patient (Acts 7:25-28).
1. Moses wanted to be the deliverer for the people of Israel, but not in God's time, he was about 40 years too soon.
2. Many times we want to take matters into our own hand without being patient and speaking to God about it in prayer.
C. Moses teaches us not to make excuses (Ex.3:11, 12; 3:13; 4:1, 2; 4:10, 11; 4:13, 14).
1. Moses made excuses for not wanting to do God's will, but God did not take kindly to these excuses.
2. When we make excuses for the things we are fully capable to do, God says “I can help.”
D. Moses teaches us to be meek (Num.12:3).
1. Moses was meek, but he was not weak!
a. Instead we see Moses as the man who was in Mt. Sinai 40 days and nights.
b. We see him as a bold and courageous leader of God's people.
c. We see him as someone who defied the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abijah.
2. We must have a gentle and quiet spirit as did Moses. Humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift us up.
III. SOME COMPARISONS FROM THE LIFE OF MOSES
A. Preserved in infancy. Ex. 2:2; Mt. 2.
B. Found safety in Egypt. Ex.2:l‑l0; Mt.3:l1
C. Renounced riches. Heb.11:24‑26; IICor.8:9
D. Fasted forty days. Ex.34:28; Matt.4:2
E. Worked miracles. Ex. 7,12; John 2:1
F. Controlled the sea. Ex.14:21; Matt.8:26
G. Both deliverers.
H. Fed multitudes. Ex.16:15; Matt.14:20,21
I. Radiant faces. Ex. 34:35; Matt.17:2
J. Endured murmurings. Ex.15:24; Mark 7:5
K. Discredited in own homes. Num.12:1; I Jn‑7:5
L. Had 70 helpers. Num.11:16,17; Luke 10:1
M. Established memorials. Ex.12:14; lCor.11:23
N. Each heard voice of God. Ex.19:19; Matt.17:5
O. Established great institutions.
P. Offered themselves. Ex.32:32; Heb.9:14
Q. Died before followers entered.
R. Reappeared after death. Mt‑17:3; Acts 1:3
Conclusion:
1. So we see Moses was a great leader. Through Moses…
2. We learn that God does His greatest work through frail people.
3. We learn that God prepares us, and then uses us.
4. We learn that Gods timetable is life-sized.