This devotional is a hard one. It is never easy to see the mistakes or shortfalls of another person. But I want you to see two very important things about Moses, and to see that, we need to take an honest look. Great man of God? Certainly! Is he in the Hebrews 11 hall of faith? Yes. So, track with me and read through to the end.
Moses was born into a Hebrew home, grew up under Pharaoh, and after committing murder, fled to Midian. There he became a shepherd, married and had children. At the age of 80 God showed up in a burning bush and commissioned Moses to lead His people out of Egypt.
There were many things Moses didn’t have at the beginning of this mission:
- He didn’t have youth. He lived to be 1201 and at this point is 802, so 2/3 of his life has passed.
- He didn’t have the gift of speaking or preaching. In Exodus 3 & 4 Moses literally argues with God. Moses had a stammer or speech impediment causing him to stutter. He debates back and forth asking God to speak through someone else.
- He didn’t have confidence. Even after Moses presents all his arguments and God answers them patiently, he concludes with ‘O Lord, please send someone else to do it.’ (Exodus 4:13)
- He didn’t follow God’s initial plan. God asked to speak through Moses, and when Moses resists, he incites the anger of God. “The LORD’s anger burned against Moses and he said, ‘What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it.’” (Exodus 4:14-17)
- He didn’t know it all. God tells Moses, “I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.” (Exodus 4:15)
- He didn’t hold the staff. This one always surprises me, and I have to check that I am correct. Too many movies have Moses stretching out his staff over the Red Sea at the parting. But we are told, ‘Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake3…But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.’4 The LORD said to Moses, ‘Tell Aaron, Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt…and they will turn to blood…’5
As we get further into the plagues it appears Moses is growing bolder and more confident. God has Moses throw soot in the air from a furnace. It becomes festering boils on men and animals6. And after the last terrible plague of the death of all the firstborn, God tells Moses to extend his very hand over the waters of the Red Sea, and the Sea parts, allowing the Israelites to cross and then again, swallowing up the Egyptians.1
Moses grows in his faith of God so much so that we are told this:
Hebrews 11
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
This old man with a stammering tongue, low self-confidence and much to learn had two great things that outshone all his shortcomings:
- He had a faith in God and in the promise to come (redemption through Jesus Christ). ‘He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.’ And ‘he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.’
The first great thing about Moses is he learned who God is, and never lost sight of that. He didn’t start out at that point, but he got there.
The second great thing about Moses is he loved his people and desired them to know God as well.
- He had such a great love for his people (had the heart of God for them) that he was willing to stand in the gap. “So Moses went back to the LORD and said, ‘Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” (Exodus 32:31, 32)
Wow! What a love. What a commitment. By the time the Israelites had crossed the Sea and received the 10 commandments, Moses was willing to stand in the gap and die in their place. Eternally. His heart was the very heart of God.
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
Moses loved his people and was willing to stand in the gap. Today, Jesus Christ stands in the gap for us.2 Praise be to God for His plan of redemption and His weaving of this truth through all of Scripture. And praise God for His patience, not wanting anyone to perish, but all to enjoy eternal life in heaven with Him.
1 John 5:11.12 “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”