The story of Moses

The Hebrew children were living in the land of Egypt.  There were many families.  The king was afraid that the people were too strong and too many.  The king was mean to the Hebrew children.  He forced them to work as slaves.  God blessed the Hebrew people so that the harder they worked the stronger they became. Until the Pharaoh was very upset with them and decided to have all the baby boys killed as soon as they were born. Moses mother hid her baby until he was three months old. Then when the baby was three months old she and her daughter Miriam prepare a basket out of papyrus and made it waterproof so that it would float.  Miriam took the basket and the baby to the river when the Pharaoh’s daughter, the princess, came each day to bathe.  

When the princess saw the baby, she had her friends bring him out of the water. She saw that the baby was so healthy and cute that she wanted to take him home. She named him Moses because that meant “drawn from the water”.
Miriam was nearby and ask the princess if she would like to have a mother to nurse the baby. She went home and brought Moses’ mother back to take care of Moses until he grew older.

Moses was very loyal to his friends the Hebrews. One day when he was older he saw an Egyptian beating one of the Hebrew slaves. Moses became angry and killed the Egyptian master. He thought no one saw him but one man did. Moses became fearful for his life because he knew the Pharaoh would not be happy. So Moses ran away to the desert to live.

While he was in the desert one day, taking care of his sheep. God spoke to him from a burning bush and told him to return to Egypt and bring the Hebrew people out of the land where they were treated so badly. Moses did not want to go but he knew God had called him to a special mission.   Moses returned and brought his people out of the land where they were enslaved. Lots of things happened to get the Pharaoh to let the people go.

Moses led the Israelite children through the wilderness and desert for 40 years. God met with Moses many, many times. God gave Moses two tablets of stone with 10 commands on them. These were the laws of God.  The people were to live by these laws.

As we know, there are many many stories and adventures in Moses’ life. Moses is one of the greatest leaders in the history of the Hebrew nation. There are so many treasures to unpack in his life story. Moses’ story is a story of redemption. Moses is a shadow of Jesus “the Redeemer” of all mankind.

What can we learn from Moses’ life story?
#1. Moses was chosen from birth by God to be Israel’s deliverer.
#2. Moses was the author of the first 5 books of the Bible. It is amazing to me that he had the time to write down anything.
#3. Moses talked to God face to face. His relationship with God was one on one. He was so close with Him that on several occasions he was bold enough to argue and wrestle with what God asked him to do. In the book of Hebrews, we are told to come boldly to the throne to receive grace and mercy. Moses actually did it daily. In Exodus 33, we learn that Moses wants to know for sure that he has found favor with God. Moses tells Him “If your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.” ( Exodus 33:14 NAS) Moses had met with God face to face in the tabernacle many times.  Now, Moses asks, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” (Exodus 33:18 NAS) “But He (God) said, you cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live! Then the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.” (Exodus 33:20-23 NAS)
Moses was hidden in the cleft of the rock and covered by the hand of God. God allowed Moses to see the reflection of His glory. God covers us as His children from what might destroy us also. Nothing can come to us except that which is filtered through His loving hands.
Moses was covered by the bulrushes in a basket covered with pitch in order to save him so he might bring God’s people out of bondage.
Moses was covered by the hand of God to protect him from being struck down by the pure essence of God.
Moses even at His death is hidden. “The LORD buried him in a valley near Beth-peor in Moab, but to this day no one knows the exact place” (Deuteronomy 34:6 NLT)
Moses once hidden is revealed at the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus and Elijah. Matthew 17:1-4, “And He (Jesus) was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.” (NAS)
The lessons of Moses life are numerous. Deuteronomy 34:8-11 says, “Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.

Thought for the day
What might our lives be like if we had that burning desire to walk in such communion with the Lord that our faces would shine when we come from being in His presence?
Fanny Crosby songs, reminds us that the Lord covers us. #lovethoseoldhymns

Thou hidest my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land.
Thou hidest my life in the depths of Thy love
And covers me there with Your hand.
[Fanny Crosby, “He Hideth My Soul”]

From today’s thoughts, I pray you will listen for the call of God. What is your “burning bush”?
I challenge you to take the time to go to the mountain of God just to spend time and get to know God.

I am sure that for Moses there were times when it was very hard. This video says that even though the journey is long and the road is hard we must go through the valley to stand on the mountain of God.

Treadin’ on

Freda Reynolds