Dear Family,
Today is Thursday, May 2, 2024. It is Day 5 of Week 1 in our Count to Pentecost.
God‛s great wisdom, purpose, and power are manifested in His preparation of Moses to confront Pharaoh, lead Israel out of Egypt, and work with them for forty years during the wilderness journey. There are great lessons for God‛s people in this intriguing story.
The birth of Moses occurred at a time when all Israelite (or Hebrew) newborn boy babies in Egypt were under a death sentence pronounced by Pharaoh. Moses‛ parents, Amram and Jochebed, were both of the tribe of Levi. Moses‛ parents hid him for three months after his birth. When he could no longer be safely hidden, they used pitch to coat a basket made of bulrushes and floated the newborn into an area of reeds that were growing in shallow water near the bank of the Nile river, positioning Moses‛ older sister, Miriam, to carefully watch the events.
God‛s timing is always perfect, as evidenced by Pharaoh‛s daughter going to the Nile to bathe, just in time for her to discover the floating ark with its precious contents inside. So captivated by finding this vulnerable baby and being filled with compassion, she decided to adopt the Hebrew baby as her own. Pulling him from the water, she named him Moses. Then she called for a Hebrew nurse to feed the child temporarily. And, through a continuation of what can only be called a miraculous set of events, God returned Moses into the care of his own birth mother to feed and sustain him for a time.
Historical sources outside of the Bible tell us that Moses grew up in the royal court as an honored prince and eventually led Egypt‛s mighty armies into victories against the Ethiopians. Scripture indicates Moses was also educated in “all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22).
When Moses was forty years old, he attempted to “deliver” one of his Hebrew “brethren” his way, by his own power and human reasoning. But, it was not yet time for Moses to come to such a responsible position. Because of this incident, killing an Egyptian in the process, Moses lost favor with Pharaoh and was forced into exile. More training and preparation was needed to become the leader God was fashioning by circumstances.
Although, by human standards, Moses seemed well able to lead or rule a vast group of people because of his royal experiences, God continued Moses‛ preparation by moving him south into a wilderness area of Midian to humbly tend sheep for forty years, and to wait upon God to deliver Israel by doing things completely His way! Sometime during this training process, Moses became the person God later described as “meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.”
Numbers 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
It was in the wilderness area where Moses met the true God and was finally ready for God‛s work of deliverance. After forty years in the wilderness and meeting God on the mountain, Moses was a changed man. He was finally ready to listen to God‛s voice and to do things His way.
Hebrews 11:23-27 (23) By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king‛s commandment. (24) By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh‛s daughter; (25) Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; (26) Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. (27) By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.
All of the events of Moses‛ preparation for the job God gave him are astounding, miraculous, and extraordinary. They are witnesses of God‛s power to design, to prepare, and to execute His plans perfectly.
As we experience the Holy Day season and continue on in our days of Counting to Pentecost, let us take courage, knowing that God is surely preparing each of us for a very special place in His own, eternal future. God knows what He is doing. By faith we can know that the events of our life are in God‛s capable hands. Let us be sure we trust Him, submit to His will, and cooperate fully and wholeheartedly.
Ben Faulkner, Pastor
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