"MOSES"

Moses is perhaps one of the most important and best known characters from the Old Testament. Used by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, bring down the ten plagues, record the law and Ten Commandments, and the prophet and intercessor for the people, are just some of things Moses is remembered for. But Moses’ faith in God did not come easily. As an Israelite growing up in an Egyptian court, he would have seen his people suffer under the yoke of slavery, and he probably would have had mixed feelings about his identity. By the time he murders an Egyptian and runs away, Moses was already 40 years old (Acts 7:23). He hides out in the Midian desert for another 40 years (Acts 7:30) before God calls him out. By the time he appears as the ‘hero’ in the exodus story, he was already 80 years old. At that age, most of us would probably be ready for retirement…and so was Moses! When God spoke to him through the burning bush and commissioned the difficult task ahead, Moses didn’t want the job and tried to get out of it, five times!

 

Over the course of the plagues, however, Moses sees God’s patience and mercy towards His beloved people, and most of all, sees God’s love in His relentless pursuit of them. By the time he has led the Israelites to the edge of the Red Sea, with the full force of Pharaoh’s army and chariots descending down on them, we do not see the same Moses we encountered in front of the burning bush. Instead of cowering in fear and panicking with doubts, he had complete trust that the God who brought down the judgment of plagues on Pharaoh, the same God who saved him as a baby and who spoke to him from a burning bush, would deliver him and His people to safety. Moses says to the people, ’Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD…the LORD will fight for you, and you need only to be still.’ (Exodus 14:13). He then stood back and watched as God parted the Red Sea for them and sent down pillars of fire to destroy the Egyptians.

 

When the troubles and difficulties of life find you, are you overwhelmed by the size of the Egyptian army descending upon you? Or do you lift your eyes up to God? As hard as it may be, will you be still and trust God like He asked you to and wait for Him to deliver you from your present struggles?

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