Tag: moses

Moses grew to be exceptionally strong in his mediations with the Lord, between God and the Israelites. Moses identified with the people as his own family and kept in mind all the miracles the Lord had performed. Unlike the people, Moses did not forget the mighty hand of God and the miracles He performed against the Egyptians. He knew their God was capable of amazing things! And terrible things!

Moses fell down before the Lord and worshiped. And he said, “If it is true that I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, then please go with us to the Promised Land; yes, it is an unruly, stubborn people, but pardon our iniquity and our sins, and accept us as Your own.” (Exodus 34:8-9)

“Oh please, show the great power of Your patience by forgiving our sins and showing us Your steadfast love. Forgive us, even though You have said that You don’t let sin go unpunished, and that You punish the father’s fault in the children to the third and fourth generation. Oh, I plead with You, pardon the sins of this people because of Your magnificent, steadfast love, just as You have forgiven them all the time from when we left Egypt until now.” Then the Lord said, “All right, I will pardon them as you have requested…” (Numbers 14:17-20)

But Moses begged … “Lord,” he pleaded, “Why is Your anger so hot against Your own people whom You brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and mighty miracles? … Turn back from Your fierce wrath. Turn away from this terrible evil You are planning against Your people! Remember Your promise to Your servants – to Abraham, Isaac and Israel. For You swore by Your own self, ‘I will multiply your posterity as the stars of heaven, and I will give them all of this land I have promised to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever’.” So, the Lord changed His mind and spared them. (Exodus 32:11-14)

Then, for another forty days and nights I lay before the Lord, neither eating bread nor drinking water, for you had done what the Lord hated most, thus provoking Him to great anger. How I feared for you – for the Lord was ready to destroy you. But that time, too, He listened to me… Yes, you have been rebellious against the Lord from the first day I knew you. That is why I fell down before Him for forty days and nights when the Lord was ready to destroy you. I prayed to Him, “O Lord God, don’t destroy Your own people. They are Your inheritance saved from Egypt by Your mighty power and glorious strength. Don’t notice the rebellion and stubbornness of these people, but remember instead Your promises to Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Oh, please overlook the awful wickedness and sin of these people… They are Your people and Your inheritance which You brought from Egypt by Your great power and Your mighty arm.”(Deuteronomy 9:18-29)

Even to the end, Moses stood as a warrior for the people praying for their safety and protection.

Then Moses said to the Lord, “O Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all mankind, before I am taken away, please appoint a new leader for the people, a man who will lead them into battle and care for them, so that the people of the Lord will not be as sheep without a shepherd.”(Numbers 27:15)

We need to learn how to stand with our fellow countrymen, to have compassion for them as Moses demonstrated. Because we too have been called to lead others to the New Promised Land.

Between Moses’ low self-esteem and the people’s response to his efforts, it was not easy for Moses to continue in his task.

Now the Lord spoke to Moses again and told him, “Go back again to Pharaoh and tell him that he must let the people of Israel go.” “But look,” Moses objected, “my own people won’t even listen to me anymore; how can I expect Pharaoh to? I’m no orator!” (Exodus 6:10-12)

But Moses had seen God’s mighty strong hand and knew God was capable of amazing things. He found the courage somehow to go back to Pharaoh again and again, delivering God’s messages as he was instructed to do.

“Be so kind as to tell me when you want them to go” Moses said, “and I will pray that the frogs will die at the time you specify; everywhere except in the river.” … After Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, Moses cried out to the Lord for help … the Lord did as Moses had said: the frogs in the house, courtyards, and fields died. (Exodus 8:9)

So Moses went out from Pharaoh and asked the Lord to get rid of the flies. And the Lord did as Moses asked… (Exodus 8:30)

“All right,” Moses replied, “As soon as I have left the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord, and the thunder and hail will stop. This will prove to you that the earth is controlled by Jehovah. (Exodus 9:29)

When Pharaoh finally let the Israelites go from Egypt, the multitude of people marched away with great riches and possessions. None were feeble, none without treasures, but also none without fear that God would stay with them and protect them. Yet, Moses knew.

Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch, and you will see the wonderful way the Lord will rescue you today. The Egyptians you are looking at – you will never see them again. The Lord will fight for you, and you won’t need to lift a finger!” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Quit praying and get the people moving! Forward March!” (Exodus 14:13-15)

Moses had such faith in God that even a mighty sea before him would not cause doubt! We too serve this same God. When you are in a tight place, look to heaven and worship the only God that can cause waters to divide and light to shine in darkness.

One book I read states that we should study these passages until our hearts are filled with the part that prayer must play in the lives of people who want to be God’s servant to their fellow men.

When Moses was first called, he was very reluctant. Beyond reluctant even. He felt totally unworthy and ill-equipped for any task relating to being God’s spokesperson. But I have come to learn that the majority of us feel unworthy, and that is what keeps most of us from following the Lord even half-heartedly. We must remember that “if God made me, I am worthy [and God did make me].”

“But I am not the person for a job like that!” Moses exclaimed. Then God told him, “I will certainly be with you, and this is the proof that I am the One who is sending you: When you have led the people out of Egypt, you shall worship Me here upon this mountain!” But Moses asked, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them that their fathers’ God has sent me, they will ask, ‘Which God are you talking about?’ What shall I tell them?” (Exodus 3:11-13)

But Moses said, “They won’t believe me! They won’t do what I tell them to. They will say, ‘Jehovah never appeared to you’!” … Moses pleaded, “O Lord, I’m just not a good speaker, I never have been, and I’m not now, even after You have spoken to me, for my speech is slow and halting.” “Who makes mouths?” Jehovah asked him. “Isn’t it I, the Lord? Who makes a man so that he can speak or not speak, see or not see, hear or not hear? Now go ahead and do as I tell you, for I will help you to speak well, and I will tell you what to say.” But Moses said, “Lord, please! Send someone else.” Then the Lord became angry… (Exodus 4:1-14)

Then, after finally deciding God’s way was the only way and that God would help him do what God wanted him to do, Moses goes to the people and to Pharaoh to deliver the messages God instructs him to deliver. But even before the miracles are displayed and the plagues start, Moses feels compassion for the people of God, that they be relieved of their oppression.

Then Moses went back to the Lord, “Lord,” he protested, “How can You mistreat Your own people like this? Why did You ever send me, if You were going to do this to them? Ever since I gave Pharaoh Your message, he has only been more and more brutal to them, and You have not delivered them at all!” (Exodus 5:22-23)

Compassion will consume us once we give our lives to God and His purposes.