Moses - Servant of God - The Meekest Man in All the Earth
8 - The Journey Begins
As we continue this discovery of Moses' life we have reached a key point in the purpose of God to have Pharaoh, king of Egypt, release the Hebrew people from their slavery and let them leave the country. Nine times Pharaoh has hardened his heart against God, although this had brought disaster on his people and his country in the form of dreadful plagues.
The final judgement, in which, in one awful night, the first born child of every Egyptian family died, caused great sorrow and mourning throughout the land. The Hebrews had been saved from this awful judgement because they had obeyed God's instructions that each family was to sacrifice a lamb as atonement for their sins and sprinkle its blood on the sides and tops of the door frames of their houses. During that night, Pharaoh summoned Moses and his brother Aaron and said to them, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites. Go, worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go, and also bless me." The ordinary Egyptians urged the people to leave because they were afraid that they would all die. They were so afraid that they were happy to help the Israelites on their way with gifts of silver and gold and clothing and whatever they asked for. And so began what is known to this day as "The Exodus", when God delivered his people from the slavery they had experienced for so long, just as He had promised He would. On that momentous day Israel began a journey towards the land that God had promised them long ago through their ancestor Abraham. It was a journey that would, because of their unbelief and rebellion, take almost forty years.
This was a day and a deliverance they must never forget. In Exodus chapter 13 verse 3 we are told that Moses said to the people: "Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand." So began the memorial feast called "Passover" because the Lord had said, "When I see the blood I will pass over you." It was because God loved them that He delivered them by his mighty power and through the sacrifice of the Passover lamb. Here is a graphic picture of the great work of salvation made possible by the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Because of his great love God gave up his only begotten Son to die for us so that we might be delivered from the slavery of our sin and be released from the fear of death. Many years later Paul in writing to Christians could say, "Christ our Passover Lamb has been slain for us." The people of Israel had good cause to remember and celebrate their great deliverance. How much more should we who are God's people today be grateful for so wonderful a salvation and regularly come to the Lord's Table to remember these things as He asked us to.
As they set out on their epic journey, God promised through Moses that He would constantly go ahead of them to guide them on their way. In the day-time He would lead them in a pillar of cloud, and by night in a pillar of fire. Having brought them out of Egypt and delivered them from slavery God was going to be with them on all their journey to the land of the promise. It is just the same for God's people today, those who are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have his promise recorded in John chapter 8 verse 12, "I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Having saved us, God does not leave us alone to find our own way along the Christian pathway, but promises to be with us and by his Holy Spirit within us to be our constant companion and guide.
In Exodus chapter 13 verse 17 we read that when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the country of the Philistines, though that was a shorter route, for God said that if they face war, they may change their minds and return to Egypt. Instead he instructed Moses to lead them in the direction of the Red Sea. It was here that they were to face the first test of their trust in God. It was a traumatic experience because soon they realised that they were now being pursued by Pharaoh and his army. Pharaoh had again changed his mind about allowing the people to leave. The Israelites were terrified and cried out to the Lord. At the same time they began to blame Moses saying, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'?" How that must have tested Moses' patience! But he said to them, displaying his own absolute trust in God, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." What a word that is for us today when faced with overwhelming circumstances. "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord!"
Too often we try to get ourselves out of situations instead of standing still as it were and trusting the Lord to deliver us in his own time and in his own way. As Christians we may face seemingly impossible situations or determined enemies, but we need to remind ourselves of the statement made by the apostle Paul in the New Testament, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" And, of course, the answer is "no one!"
With the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh's army behind them, God instructed Moses to tell the people to move forward. The pillar of cloud that was in front of them moved behind them hiding them from the pursuing army. Ahead of them Moses, at God's command, raised his staff and the waters of the sea parted and by this miracle the Israelites crossed through unharmed on dry land. Moses and the people obeyed God's instructions. This resulted in deliverance for them once again. In Hebrews chapter 11 verse 29 we have a summary of what happened: "By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land: but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned."
I referred just now to Moses' own faith and we surely see it here as he leads the people forward as God told him to. Someone has said that "Moses' faith laid a firm hand on his God's mighty power and God vindicated that faith in a miraculous way. Moses was here giving proof of his leadership qualities. We read in Exodus chapter 14 verse 31, "And when the Israelites saw the great power of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in Him and in Moses his servant."
At the beginning of chapter 15 we have the great song of praise that the people, led by Moses, brought to the Lord. There was a time of rejoicing and dancing as they worshipped and gave thanks for their great deliverance. But soon there was to be another test of their faith and their obedience. Moses led the people from the Red Sea into the desert. They travelled for three days without finding water. Finally they arrived at a place called Marah where there was water, but it was so bitter that they could not drink it. Once again they grumbled against Moses. Once again he turns to his God for help and with a piece of wood thrown into the water it is made sweet for the people to drink. On their epic journey the people of Israel were to discover that the bitter and the sweet are strangely joined in the experiences of every individual.
It is a common mistake to imagine that a life of faith in God must necessarily be one of unclouded brightness and unmixed sweetness. In reality Marah is a halting place on every Christian pilgrim's journey to which all come sooner or later. Grief and sorrow, disappointment and loss, sadness and suffering are part of everyone's experience. However, for our spiritual enrichment, it is in such Marah-like circumstances that new revelations of God's power become realised. As Moses cried out to the Lord, so the Lord heard him and turned the situation around for the good of his people. After this they journeyed on and came to an oasis called Elim with palm trees and twelve springs of water and there they enjoyed more of the Lord's bountiful provision.