Life Lessons from Hebrews: Moses
HEBREWS 11:23 – MOSES
Most important books about Moses’s life
- Exodus – The core of Moses’s story
- Leviticus – Moses as leader and mediator
- Numbers – The wilderness journey
- Deuteronomy – The end of Moses’s life
Other important passages:
- Genesis – Background to Moses. Stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. Explains how Israel ended up in Egypt
- Psalm 90 – Prayer of Moses
- Matthew, Acts, and Hebrews – Refer back to Moses’s role and significance
Background: Slavery and God’s hidden plan
The Israelites lived in Egypt.
“And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens.” – Exodus 1:7–11, KJV (1611)
- They had to perform hard labour with bricks and clay
- They had no freedom
“But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.” – Exodus 1:12, KJV (1611)
God often works long before we notice Him
Pharaoh’s cruel command
Pharaoh became afraid of Israel’s growth and commanded that the midwives kill every boy child that was born.
“And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.” – Exodus 1:22, KJV (1611)
Moses’s life begins under a death sentence
Birth and family
A man of the house of Levi was married to a Levite woman (Exodus 2:1). Amram married Jochebed, an aunt of his (Exodus 6:20).
“And the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.” – Numbers 26:59, KJV (1611)
- They were ordinary people
- But they were people of faith
- They saw their child as a gift from God
“And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.” – Exodus 2:2, KJV (1611)
Faith sees what God sees
Protection and God’s provision
“And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.” – Exodus 2:3, KJV (1611)
God’s provision unfolds remarkably:
- Pharaoh’s daughter discovers him
- She has compassion: “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” (Exodus 2:6)
- Moses’s own mother becomes his nurse
“And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it. And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.” – Exodus 2:9–10, KJV (1611)
God protects and positions long before your calling
Palace life – Identity struggle
Moses grew up in the Egyptian palace:
- He was educated as a prince
- But he was also a Hebrew
- Inwardly he began to realise who he really was
“And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.” – Exodus 2:11, KJV (1611)
God uses your background as preparation
First mistake: Murder and flight
“And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.” – Exodus 2:12, KJV (1611)
- Acting from his own strength
- Not God’s time or way
When Pharaoh heard about it, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled to the land of Midian (Exodus 2:15). Midian was a son of Abraham and Keturah (Genesis 25:1–2). The Midianites were therefore related to Israel, but not part of the covenant people.
God’s plan does not work through impulse and personal strength
Midian – Formation time
Moses changed from a prince in Egypt to a humble shepherd. Moses’s flight to Midian meant:
- He had to flee from his past
- He had to go through a waiting time and preparation
- He had to meet God personally
- He had to be changed before he could be used
Midian was not the end of Moses’s calling; it was the beginning of God’s real work in him. God uses Midian to:
- Shape Moses’s character
- Teach him humility
- Teach him dependence on God
The 40 years in Midian were not wasted time – they were God’s training time.
God shapes you in the invisible years
From self-confidence to God-confidence
- Before Midian: Moses tries to save Israel himself (Exod. 2:12)
- After Midian: He feels unfit and says: “Who am I?” (Exod. 3:11)
God first breaks human self-confidence before He can use someone powerfully
The burning bush – Calling
“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.” – Exodus 3:2, KJV (1611)
“And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey…” – Exodus 3:7–8, KJV (1611)
“Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.” – Exodus 3:10, KJV (1611)
“And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” – Exodus 3:11, KJV (1611)
Moses doubts, but God answers: “Certainly I will be with thee.” – Exodus 3:12
God does not call the qualified – He qualifies people
Confrontation with Pharaoh
Moses obeys God:
“And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.” – Exodus 5:1, KJV (1611)
“And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.” – Exodus 5:2, KJV (1611)
Ten plagues strike Egypt (Exodus 7–12). God displays His power:
“For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.” – Exodus 9:14, KJV (1611)
God works powerfully through obedience
Red Sea – Deliverance
God makes the impossible possible:
“And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.” – Exodus 14:21–22, KJV (1611)
“And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.” – Exodus 14:28, KJV (1611)
God makes a way where there is no way
Wilderness – Growth and relationship
Forty years of guidance:
- “Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day…” – Exodus 16:4, KJV (1611) (cf. Matt. 6:11 – Give us this day our daily bread)
- Water from the rock (Exodus 17:6)
“And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” – Exodus 33:11, KJV (1611)
Relational growth in difficult times
Sinai – Law and intimacy
God gives the law (Exodus 20:2–17). The Ten Commandments give direction for the people and intimacy with God. Therefore we must live by them daily:
- Serve only the LORD your God – no other gods
- Do not make or worship idols
- Use God’s Name with respect
- Keep the Sabbath day holy and rest
- Honour your father and mother
- Do not commit murder
- Do not commit adultery
- Do not steal
- Do not lie or give false testimony
- Do not covet what belongs to others
God reveals Himself to those who live close to Him
Second mistake: The rock
“And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.” – Numbers 20:11–12, KJV (1611)
Even leaders must remain obedient
End and grace
“And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land… And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.” – Deuteronomy 34:1–4, KJV (1611)
Moses died there as the LORD commanded (Deuteronomy 34:5). He ends with a strong relationship with God.
Restoration and honour
“And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.” – Matthew 17:3, KJV (1611)
This verse describes the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain:
- Moses represents the Law
- Elijah represents the Prophets
- Together they show that Jesus is the fulfilment of everything promised in the Old Testament
God’s grace is greater than our failures
Moses points to Christ
| Moses | Jesus |
|---|---|
| Delivers from slavery | Delivers from sin |
| Mediator of law (intercedes for his people before God) | Mediator of grace |
| Leads Israel | Leads believers |
Jesus is the final Deliverer
Summary
Moses’s weaknesses:
- Murder
- Fear and doubt
- Disobedience
God’s work:
- Protection from birth
- Patience and second chances
- Miracles and provision
- Discipline with grace
Relationship with God:
- Growth from fear → intimacy
- Like a friend
- Life in dependence
Moses’s life shows: An imperfect person + a living relationship with God = a powerful instrument in God’s hand. God uses broken people who are willing to trust and follow Him.