Title: The Tale of Two Men: Moses
Series: Getting to the Promised Land
Theme: Overcoming Insecurity
Text: Exodus & Numbers
Review
How did we get here?
Genesis 4:1-7 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, "I have acquired a man from the Lord." (2) Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. (3) And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. (4) Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, (5) but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. (6) So the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? (7) If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." 8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; [5] and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
This looks like just a story of murder and deceit but it is more. It is control. Control of sin. The ruler ship of sin. Sin - an offence,
Sin
Hebrew - H2398 - Seperation
- Original: חטא - Transliteration: Chata' - Phonetic: khaw-taw'
- Definition: 1. to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness a. (Qal)
1. to miss 2. to sin, miss the goal or path of right and duty 3. to incur guilt, incur penalty by sin, forfeit
b. (Piel) 1. to bear loss 2. to make a sin-offering 3. to purify from sin 4. to purify from uncleanness
c. (Hiphil) 1. to miss the mark 2. to induce to sin, cause to sin 3. to bring into guilt or condemnation or punishment
d. (Hithpael) 1. to miss oneself, lose oneself, wander from the way 2. to purify oneself from uncleanness
- Origin: a primitive root - TWOT entry: 638 - Part(s) of speech: Verb
H2403 - Temptation
- Original: חטּאת חטּאה
- Transliteration: Chatta'ah
- Phonetic: khat-taw-aw'
- Definition:
1. sin, sinful 2. sin, sin offering a. sin b. condition of sin, guilt of sin c. punishment for sin d. sin-offering
e. purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness
- Origin: from H2398 - TWOT entry: 638e - Part(s) of speech: Noun Feminine
- Strong's: From H2398; an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness) and its penalty occasion sacrifice or expiation; also (concretely) an offender: - punishment (of sin) purifying (-fication for sin) sin (-ner offering).
- Strong's: A primitive root; properly to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference to forfeit lack expiate repent (causatively) lead astray condemn: - bear the blame cleanse commit [sin] by fault harm he hath done loss miss (make) offend (-er) offer for sin purge purify (self) make reconciliation (cause make) sin (-ful -ness) trespassive
Abraham – The Father of Promise
From Ur to Haran
Struggled with trust in God: Egypt, constant reminder, the test, Gerar deception,
Lessons learned:
“Often times God will tell us what to do but only reveal the plan as we go” – enjoy the journey
“Not everyone will go (stay) with us” – stay focused no matter who falls
“Be careful of our flesh fulfilled plans”
“The blessing should never become greater that the blesser”
From Isaac
- Repeated his father’s mistake
To Jacob
- The deceiver to Israel – blessed of God
To Joseph and the 12
- Back to Egypt
“Sometimes God will used Egypt to get Egypt out of us”
Introduction
Israel’s condition
Israel was brought into Egypt by Joseph. They were given the lay of the land, some of the best land in all of Egypt (Goshen). They had jobs, shepherds which was despised by the Egyptians.
Table 1: Timeline showing dates from God’s promise to Abraham to the exodus from Egypt.
For a while this was a land of comfort. They had everything they needed, until. There rose up a king who did not know Joseph. This was between 60 and 100 years later.
After this became persecution. They had become comfortable. Yet this was not the Promised Land. The Lord had sent them to the Land of Canaan. This was actually around 250 miles away or about a month’s journey.
Exodus 1:6-22 And Joseph died, all his brothers, and all that generation. (7) But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them. (8) Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. (9) And he said to his people, "Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; (10) come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land." (11) Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses. (12) But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel. (13) So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. (14) And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage--in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor. (15) Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; (16) and he said, "When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live." (17) But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. (18) So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this thing, and saved the male children alive?" (19) And the midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them." (20) Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty. (21) And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them. (22) So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, "Every son who is born [3] you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive."
Exodus 2 – The Birth of Moses
Moses – “drawing out”
Born of Hebrew parents. They hid him until he got old enough then they left him to God. His sister Miriam put him in a basket and floated him down the river. Maybe the intention was to let Pharaoh’s daughter get him. Either way she gets him and puts him in her home. He is raised there for 40 years. First nursed by his mother and then in Pharaoh’s house. Yet he never lost his heritage. After 40 years he saw one of the fellow Hebrews being beaten by a task master and Moses killed him. Next day after breaking up a fight he finds out that everyone knows.
It is interesting that Pharaoh sends out orders for Moses to be killed.
I assume all this helped develop Moses’ personality. He is very insecure. Maybe as adopted or being second a child.
As we follow his history we see that he struggles letting go of the past. You could imagine that for forty years he dealt with what he had done. Maybe his failure or maybe the murder. If you live in the past you will never be able to accomplish the things God has called you to do.
Exodus 3 – Moses meets God
Exodus 3:1-15 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. (2) And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. (3) Then Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn." (4) So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." (5) Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." (6) Moreover He said, "I am the God of your father--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. (7) And the Lord said: "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. (8) So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. (9) Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. (10) Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt."
After forty years Moses meets God. Forty years of wandering. Forty years of regret. Forty years of dealing with what he had done, over and over again.
(11) But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" (12) So He said, "I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain." (13) Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?" (14) And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' " (15) Moreover God said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.'
Exodus 4 – God’s mouth piece
Exodus 4:1-17 Then Moses answered and said, "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, 'The Lord has not appeared to you.' " (2) So the Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod." (3) And He said, "Cast it on the ground." So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. (4) Then the Lord said to Moses, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail" (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), (5) "that they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you." (6) Furthermore the Lord said to him, "Now put your hand in your bosom." And he put his hand in his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, like snow. (7) And He said, "Put your hand in your bosom again." So he put his hand in his bosom again, and drew it out of his bosom, and behold, it was restored like his other flesh. (8) "Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign. (9) And it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs, or listen to your voice, that you shall take water from the river [6] and pour it on the dry land. And the water which you take from the river will become blood on the dry land." (10) Then Moses said to the Lord, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." (11) So the Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? (12) Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say." (13) But he said, "O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send." (14) So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and He said: "Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. (15) Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do. (16) So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God. (17) And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs."
God overcomes all his excuses.
Two main lessons.
1) God has given us everything we need to accomplish His will. To get to the Promised Land.
2) God made us. He created us. He knows us.
Exodus 5 – 11 Plagues and deliverance
Moses and Complaints – Ch 16 – Manna from Heaven, Water,
“Not everyone will get it at one time”
Moses and Rebellion –Numbers 12 Aaron & Miriam, Korah – Numbers 16, The Golden Calf –
Exodus 34”
“Not everyone believes in you”
Moses and Leadership – ch 18 Lead the People - Jethro
“’Don’t be afraid to trust and share”
Moses and the Mountain – ch 19 – Thick Cloud
“There is nothing more important that those times with God which become more difficult as time goes on, must protect these moments”
Exodus 33:13-15 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people." (14) And He said, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." (15) Then he said to Him, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.
Moses and Anger – Edge of Promise
“Learn how to be angry and sin not”
Nummbers 20:1-13 Then the children of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there and was buried there. (2) Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. (3) And the people contended with Moses and spoke, saying: "If only we had died when our brethren died before the Lord! (4) Why have you brought up the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here? (5) And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink." (6) So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and they fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them. (7) Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, (8) "Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals." (9) So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him. (10) And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" (11) Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. (12) Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them." (13) This was the water of Meribah, [22] because the children of Israel contended with the Lord, and He was hallowed among them.
Deuteronomy 34:1-7 Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is across from Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead as far as Dan, (2) all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, [31] (3) the South, and the plain of the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. (4) Then the Lord said to him, "This is the land of which I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there." (5) So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. (6) And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day. (7) Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.
Moses biggest sin was that he lost God’s purpose. He was not God nor provided the water. This was not a one time instance but had been building in his heart.
Conclusion
Moses man of insecurity whom God raised up. It is the very man whom God is looking for to deliver his people and take them to the Promised Land.
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Matthew 5:1-11 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. (2) Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: (3) "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (4) Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. (5) Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. (6) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. (7) Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. (8) Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. (9) Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. (10) Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (11) "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
