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The Preparation of Moses For The Exodus - Part
3 |
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Introduction
In the previous Front Page, there
were some leading thoughts on the
preparation of Moses. It finished
with the third objection of Moses
and this paper will consider the
third and fourth objections.
The Objections
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1) |
The fourth objection was, “I am not
eloquent . . . I am slow of speech”
(Ex. 4:10). I perceive that God was
getting somewhat annoyed with
Moses. Had Moses limited God’s
knowledge intimating God did not
know he had an impediment? God
answered, “Who had
made man’s mouth?” Moses
had to learn two truths; when God
chooses an individual to do a work,
He knows their natural physical
inabilities, but in grace He will
tolerate man’s objections. |
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a) |
Many have heard of Mr. Eternity from
Sydney Australia. This child of God
could not write but believed God
wanted him to bring eternity before
the people of Sydney and wherever he
went in Australia. Over many years
he wrote the word “Eternity” on
thousands of streets. When there
was the celebration for the year
2000, across the Sydney Harbour
Bridge, in the perfect script of Mr.
Eternity was the word “Eternity”.
Also, downtown close to the City
Hall there was a little restaurant
and on the floor is a plaque with
the word “Eternity” written on it.
God used a man with little education
to spread the gospel across the
world. It is a very foolish thing
to limit God in what He wants the
individual to do. When I think of
Joni and her disability, yet she has
been able to do so much for God. My
friend Mike McFadyen in Boise had
West Nile Virus and was so near
death, yet he survived and was in a
wheelchair for
the next 14 years before
the Lord called him home. What a
magnificent example to all who knew
him. He continued
shepherding the sheep,
helping in the ministry and in
hospitality, yet completely bound by
a wheelchair and unable to move any
part of his body except for one
hand. The lesson is physical
limitations does not necessarily
prevent us from the work of God. |
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2) |
The fifth objection, “Send, I pray
thee, by the hand of him whom thou
wilt send” (Ex. 4:13). God had had
enough of Moses’ objections and,
while some might think it very noble
and showed great humility about
Moses, I do not see it as such. God
had called him to do a special work
he had in the school of God had been
trained for and he was belittling
and questioning the known will,
power, love and purposes of God. No
wonder God was angry (Ex. 4:14). It
seems to me that the sternness of
God is very sharp here for He says,
“Is not Aaron the Levite thy
brother? I know that he can speak
well. And also, behold, he cometh
forth to meet thee: and when he
seeth thee, he will be glad in his
heart. And thou shalt speak unto
him, and put words in his mouth: and
I will be with thy mouth, and with
his mouth, and will teach you what
ye shall do. And he shall be thy
spokesman unto the people: and he
shall be, even he shall be to thee
instead of a mouth, and thou shalt
be to him instead of God. And thou
shalt take this rod in thine hand,
wherewith thou shalt do signs (Ex.
4:14-17). |
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Summary
Moses was educated by God in the
palace, therefore he knew the
etiquette for meeting and speaking
to royalty. He learnt what it was
to shepherd. With these experiences
he was able to approach Pharaoh and
in leading of the children of Israel
in the wilderness how to shepherd
them. However, Moses could never be
a priest as Aaron was because he had
never suffered with the people and
was consequently able to sympathize
with the people.
Moses in Midian and going to Pharaoh
When God had had enough of Moses’
excuses, He told Moses, “All the men
are dead which sought thy life” (Ex.
4:19). This is the same message as
the angel told Joseph (Matt. 2:20).
Then given the message, a clear
unmistakable command, “Thus saith
the LORD, Israel is my son, even my
firstborn: And I say unto thee, Let
my son go, that he may serve me: and
if thou refuse to let him go,
behold, I will slay thy son, even
thy firstborn” (Ex. 4:22-23). This
was a declaration of war, an either
or situation. Let my son go or I
will take your son. You are
withholding my son from honouring
his father, Let him go!
Moses went into Pharaoh’s Palace
knowing that Pharaoh would not let
them go (Ex. 4:21). Facing Pharaoh
he
said, “Let my people go,
that they may hold a feast unto me
in the wilderness” (Ex. 5:1).
Pharaoh had no idea of who he was
dealing with and God started to send
the plagues. |
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a) |
Observation: The purposes of
the plagues were at least fourfold: |
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i) |
The Egyptians shall know that I am
the LORD (Ex. 7:5). |
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Against all the gods of Egypt. |
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iii) |
To demonstrate to his people the
superiority of God above all earthy
idols. |
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iv) |
God to show forth His power (Ex.
9:16). |
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b) |
One observation is Moses told
Pharaoh when a plague would begin
(Ex. 7:16-17; 8:2; 21, 23; Ex.
9:3-5; 9:13-15), and when it would
end (Ex. 8:10; 9:29). |
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The ninth plague was one of darkness
(Ex. 10:21-24). |
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a) |
From Ex. 10:24 to11:8; Moses
is before Pharaoh and Pharaoh is
furious and says, “Get thee from me,
take heed to thyself, see my face no
more; for in that day thou seest my
face thou shalt die”. Then Moses
answers, “Thou hast spoken well, I
will see thy face again no more”,
and Moses went out from Pharaoh in
anger (Ex. 10:28; 11:8). I then see
chapter 11:9 -10 are a repeat of
that which God had already told
Moses. |
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b) |
In between the time when Moses
went out from Pharaoh until the
Passover, God told Moses words of
encouragement (Ex. 11:1), what to
say to the people and what they did
(Ex. 11:2-3 ). |
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