Moses

“Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:10)

Date

1526 BC – 1406 BC

Bible Reference

Exodus 2:1 – Deuteronomy 34:7

Summary

Moses was born to a Hebrew slave family in Egypt. The Pharaoh issued a decree to kill all the Hebrew boys. Moses’ mother put him in a basket and placed it in the Nile. He was rescued by an Egyptian princess and was raised in the palace.

When Moses was 40, he went out to his people. He murdered an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. Fearing Pharaoh, Moses escaped to Midian.

When Moses was 80, God called to him from a burning bush and commanded him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses felt inadequate, so God revealed to Moses His divine name and provided him with the ability to perform several miracles to prove his authority. Moses reluctantly obeyed, and after calling down ten plagues on Egypt, he led the people from Egypt to Canaan for 40 years.

Important events: Parting of the Red Sea, receiving the Ten Commandments, selecting judges, building the Tabernacle. He died on Mount Nebo, within sight of the Promised Land. (Exodus 1-Deuteronomy 34)

Character

• Reluctant and complaining. (Exodus 3:6-13; 4:10-17; Numbers 11:15)

• Courageous, yet humble. (Exodus 2:15-17; 5:1-3; 33:12-23; Numbers 12:3)

• Moral and upright. (Exodus 32; Numbers 12:6-8)

• Trustworthy and faithful. (Hebrews 3:5; 11:24-29)

Symbolism

• The tenth plague was the death of the oldest son. The Israelites put the blood of a perfect lamb on their doorframes, so the angel of the LORD would “pass over” their homes. (Exodus 12:1-13)

• Jesus is the perfect “Lamb of God” and God “passes over” our sins, because of His blood. (John 1:29)

Challenges

• Choosing his people over the benefits of Egyptian life. (Exodus 2:11-13)

• Escaping the wrath of the king after murdering the Egyptian. (Exodus 2:15)

• Speaking poorly. (Exodus 4:10)

• Leading the Israelites from Egypt, through the desert, to the Promised Land. (Exodus 1-Deuteronomy 34)

• Being the “middle man’ between a complaining people and a just God. (Exodus 11:4-20)

Lessons

• God may call someone who feels inadequate in order to accomplish a task. (Exodus 3-4)

• God is faithful and just. He faithfully remembers His people and justly deals with their disobedience. (Exodus 3:7-10; Numbers 14:20-24)

• One cannot effectively do ministry alone. It is necessary to delegate responsibilities to other leaders. (Exodus 18:13-26)