Moses - Servant of God - The Meekest Man in All the Earth
5 - Moses is Commissioned
Moses is about to enter what we might call the third phase of his life. For the first forty years he lived in the court of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and was educated as a prince, the adopted son of Pharaoh's daughter. During that time he remained in touch with his own family who as Hebrews remained faithful to the true and living God. The second forty years of his life were spent in the land of Midian where he married, had a son, and worked as a shepherd for his father-in-law Jethro. Towards the end of that period he had his first direct encounter with God who spoke to him from a burning bush. It was then that God told Moses that he was being sent back to Egypt because God was going to set His people free from their slavery and take them to a land of their own.
Last time we noted that Moses was instructed to inform the elders of Israel of God's plans. He was assured by God that the elders would listen to him. God's further instruction was that Moses, accompanied by the elders, would go to Pharaoh to inform him directly of God's intentions. However, God also told Moses that Pharaoh would not be prepared to comply with his command to let the people go unless a mighty hand would compel him. God said further, "I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders I will perform among them. After that Pharaoh will let you go."
Thinking about the seriousness of this, we are reminded of the statement found in the New Testament, in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 31, where we read, "It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God in judgement". This was something the Egyptians were about to experience.
We discover next that Moses reacted in a disappointing way by saying to the Lord, "What if they do not believe me or listen to my voice"? God answered, "What is that in your hand?" - speaking of the rod or shepherd's crook he was carrying. This was a symbol of Moses' shepherd calling, and at best but a poor weapon, either of offence or defence. However, Moses was to learn that even a rod was quite enough for God if it was put at his disposal. He, the Almighty, could so transform it into a living thing of power and action that it would bring about His divine purpose. The lesson for us all to learn from this is that God's appointments and God's apportionment's are always equal. God is always prepared to take what a man or woman has and use it for His own witness and work. The challenge to us in our day is that we have all that is necessary within us to make a contribution to the witness and work of the Lord.
There are many examples in scripture of seemingly insignificant things being used by God to bring about His purposes. For example, in Judges chapter 7 verse 16, we read of empty jars being used by Gideon to win a great victory, and in 1 Kings chapter 17 verse 13, one cake of barley meal used to feed many hungry people. 1 Samuel chapter 17 verse 49, a shepherd's sling and five smooth stones in the hand of David, brought down a giant warrior, and as a result Israel prevailed in battle.
Someone has said "little is much if God is in it". Moses was instructed by God to throw his shepherd's rod on the ground, and in an instant it became a snake that Moses shrank from. So the Lord told him to take it by the tail, he did this and it turned back into his rod. This said the Lord is so that Pharaoh will believe that the Lord has appeared to you.
The second sign was that Moses' hand became leprous when he put it inside his cloak. On returning this hand inside his cloak it was restored as it was before. The Lord then said, "If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first miraculous sign, they may believe the second. But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground." The river Nile was the life stream of Egypt, which would become a judgement against them. This underlined the danger in refusing to bow to God's demands and the evidences of His power.
Sadly, all this failed to satisfy Moses, and he started to make excuses to the Lord, saying, "0 Lord, I have never been eloquent, I am slow of speech and tongue". God answered, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him his sight or makes him blind? Is it not I the Lord? Now go, I will help you speak, and will teach you what to say". Moses still resisted saying, "0 Lord, please send someone else to do it". Moses, great man though he was, greatly tried God's patience, but God was gracious towards him and said, "What about your brother Aaron, he can speak well, he is already on his way to meet you. I will help both of you to speak and will teach you what to do. He will speak to the people for you."
Throughout the Old Testament we have other examples of men who were called by God to do some service for Him, but who were reluctant to commit themselves or were unsure of themselves. We can think of men like Gideon who needed a sign from the Lord before going out to battle Israel's enemies. Then there was Jonah who ran away when God called him to preach to the evil city of Nineveh. And then there was Jeremiah who, on being called to become the Lord's prophet to the people of Judah, said :'Ah, sovereign Lord, I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." But the Lord replied, "Do not say I am only a child. You must go to everyone I send you and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of anyone for I am with you and will rescue you." Then we read that the Lord touched the lips of Jeremiah.
This was a lesson that Moses also learned, that no unclean lips can carry the message of the Lord. This is a lesson for us today, that all who would witness for the Lord, whether by preaching or personal testimony, must do so with clean lips; lips that are cleansed from all dishonesty or unseemly talk. God deals graciously but firmly with those whom He calls, just as He did with Moses. The lesson he had to learn was to trust completely in God and not in his own abilities. Those whom God calls, He enables and supports.