God's Touchpoints - An Old Testament JourneySample

MOSES - HUMBLED FAITH Born in Egypt, the cradle of the most powerful nation, Moses experiences the best of worldly knowledge, power and riches as well as spiritual power and riches. He excels as a leader in both situations. From training in the palace for the first forty years of his life, he is then trained in the wilderness by God to fulfill his purpose in the final forty years of his life – to lead Egypt in the glorious exodus to the promised land. Palacial Training At birth, his parents hide him by faith “and they were not afraid of the king’s edict” (Heb 11:23). Pharaoh orders a mass massacre of Hebrew baby boys, probably knowing that a deliverer would rise. Among a few, Moses is not only protected but inadvertently picked up by Pharaoh's daughter to be raised in the palace. Though he later claims before God to be weak in speech, in Egypt “he was mighty in his words and deeds” (Acts 7:22). In spite of his royal status and accomplishments, he identifies and participates in the sufferings of the Israelites. In the process of trying to reconcile two fighting Israelites – one ‘thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?”’.(Acts 7:27). Contrary to popular belief, his act of leaving Egypt was an act of faith, not a result of the King’s anger (Hebrews 11:26). Providential Training The harsh retort from his own people hits Moses hard (Acts 7:29). God is developing in him a shepherd’s heart required to shepherd his people. King David faces a similar situation (Ps 78:70-72). Moses is ready to successfully deliver a nation in the most dramatic exodus the world has ever known, and be the voice of God to a rebellious nation. Purposeful Living God chooses him at the burning bush to deliver and lead Israel. They continue to rebel and thrust him aside (Acts 7:36,39). While rebellion is rampant he is most humble before God (Numbers 12:3): • In spite of greatest wealth of the world. • In spite of greatest power of God. Till the end, he has all faculties intact. God himself buries him and does not allow him to enter the promised land. In a grand finale however, he appears with Elijah with Jesus on the promised land. Do we persevere through repeated rejection, to serve God’s people? Are we humble enough for God to use us for His purposes?