The Life of Moses (5)

Moses was called by the Lord at the burning bush. The Lord told him, “And I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth My people the children of Israel out of Egypt.” It was a clear calling for the eighty-year-old Moses. He did have objections: what must he say to the Israelites when he would tell them that the God of their fathers had sent him, and they would say unto him, what is His name? The Lord had answered him that he could say that the unchangeable Jehovah, the covenant Lord, was the one who had given him his task. Tell the children of Israel, “I AM hath sent me unto you.” The Lord had taken away his objections. He had also shown what the results would be of his mission. He promised very positively, “I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt.”

The Lord had given him the encouragement in Exodus 3:18, “And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, the LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.”

Moses dares not

God’s servant had first responded in humility and unworthiness. “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh?” The Lord had assured Moses that He would be with him, and after Moses inquired into whose name he should address Israel, He had revealed Himself as the great I AM, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Lord had promised that He would deliver His people from the affliction of Egypt and bring them into Canaan. That would take place in spite of the enmity and resistance from Pharaoh. No, Moses could not say that the Lord had not spoken to him.

He continued to raise objections. “And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee” (Exodus 4:1). Moses dared not do what the Lord had so clearly commanded him. Then the Lord endued his recalcitrant servant with three wonders or signs.

1) The rod—The rod had to be cast on the ground, and it became a serpent, but when Moses put forth his hand and took it by the tail it became a rod again in his hand. Moses, that rod is mightier than the scepter of Pharaoh. It is a picture of God’s Word, of the almighty power of God over against the golden scepter of Pharaoh.

2) He had to put his hand into his bosom, and when he did so and took it out, “Behold, his hand was leprous as snow.” This sign showed who Moses himself was, the corruption of his own heart, his unbelief. When he put his hand again into his bosom and took it out, “behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.” This showed God’s recreating power to take away sin.

3) Water—The water had to be taken out of the river. The Nile was a goddess for the Egyptians. Without the Nile there would be a life of barrenness. From the Nile the Egyptians expected blessings and prosperity. However, God will change their blessings into a curse. He is mightier than the idols of the Egyptians.

Moses cannot

Moses still had objections. He said that he was not eloquent: “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since Thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue” (verse 10). Was that true? Stephen said in Acts 7:22, “And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.” Both were true—Moses was well educated but not an eloquent speaker. However, some people can say much with few words while others use many words and say very little. The Lord used the simple language of Bunyan far more than the polished writings of thousands of learned men without grace. Moses was deeply convinced of the highness of his office but also of his own feebleness; yet, what he said was the reasoning of unbelief. The Lord said, “I know who you are, Moses, and I will use you as you are.” Other examples of this in Scripture are: Ehud was left-handed but used by God, David was still young and the least of his brethren but used against the Philistines and later as a king, and Paul had a thorn in his flesh but was mightily used in the Lord’s service.

The Lord gave Moses a promise: “Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.” What an encouraging promise, also for God’s servants in our days. We read in Isaiah 41:13, “For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”

Moses will not

We would say, is this not enough which the Lord has spoken to him? Does He need to take away his fear and his objections even more? We read in Exodus 4:13, “And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom Thou wilt send.” Moses was unwilling to act as the Lord’s ambassador. How truthful Scripture is in describing how even the most holy ones remain sinners. Scripture recorded not only Moses’ faithfulness but also his foolishness. It is a proof of the divine veracity of the Scriptures.

We read in verse 14a that the “anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses.” Nevertheless, the Lord did not send Moses away but Aaron the Levite, his brother, would go with him. Aaron may be the spokesman, and Moses would tell him what to say: “And I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.” What a wonder! We would expect that the Lord would have said, “It is enough; I cannot use you.” Moses received part of his request; Aaron went with him, but it was not to his honor. It can be in God’s disfavor when the Lord gives us what we keep asking. Moses would also experience some bitter fruits. Did not Aaron make the golden calf, although he was pressured by the people? Therefore, God’s wrath was kindled upon Israel.

However, the Lord is long suffering, and Moses was not dismissed. The Lord would give him still another sign that He would give him success. As Moses returned to Egypt, he would find Aaron coming forth to meet him.

Christ greater than Moses

God’s servant Moses could indeed be a type of Christ. He was called to Pharaoh, a tyrant, and Christ was called to go to Beelzebub and say, “Let My people go.” Moses would lead them out of the house of bondage, safe behind the Blood of the Lamb. Christ would lead captives out of the house of bondage and sin. He had to pay with His own blood. Moses was part of the deliverance of Israel—he was delivered himself. Christ would perish under the wrath of God.

Moses received Aaron with him; Christ must say, “I am a stranger to My brethren.” Moses received the promise of the Lord, “I will be with you and will not forsake you.” The Lord said to Christ, His Son, “When Thou art going to do that work, I will forsake Thee; Thou hast to do it alone.” Moses was received graciously by the people, and they believed him. Christ came to His own, and His own received Him not. Moses did not dare, was unable, but also unwilling. Christ was ready, able, qualified, willing. “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me” (Psalm 40:7).

Oh, how suitable this Deliverer is. Did we already learn our need of Him? Has He become our only Hope and Refuge? How faithful He is even for His unfaithful servants and people. Therefore, their hope and expectation can be from Him only.

(To be continued)

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