Show Me Your Glory. Lessons from the Life of Moses Inductive Discovery Lesson 2

Transcription

1 Show Me Your Glory Lessons from the Life of Moses Inductive Discovery Lesson 2 S hepherding is physically demanding work. Moses morning started early, he had a grueling commute and the company was monotonous. Imagine having to roust a dusty, smelly horde of sheep bleating and bumping against each other in habitual chaos as you lead them out into open land. They are hungry and it s your job to find them food. This had been Moses routine for forty years and the only variety in his day was choosing where to pasture the flocks. On this particular day, he herded the sheep over sun-scorched rocks and dry brush up to a remote patch of wilderness. Why are you going this way, Moses? All he was looking for was a suitable place where sheep could forage the desert grasses, then lie down in the shade of a rock. He never expected to happen upon a burning bush or hear God speak to him! A. W. Tozer said, To the child of God, there is no such thing as accident. He travels an appointed way. The path he treads was chosen for him when as yet he was not, when as yet he had existence only in the mind of God. What a fitting description for the day Moses life was forever changed. A.W. Tozer, We Travel An Appointed Way (Christian Publications, 1988) p. 3 Background Our Life of Moses study will take us through portions of Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These are three of the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch, also known as the Books of Moses. Exodus is Moses firsthand account of Israel s escape from Egypt, their early journey through the wilderness and their encounter with God at Mt. Sinai. Moses records how God gave him the Ten Commandments and detailed instructions for the Tabernacle. Moses concludes the book with a beautiful description of God s glory filling the Tabernacle. In a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, the Lord graciously hovered over His children, leading them to the Promised Land. Numbers describes events during the wilderness journey. Moses tells how God instructed him to take a census of the people according to each tribe, and form armies in anticipation of entering Canaan. The story takes a sorry turn when Israel balks in fear and refuses to go forward (just like sheep). God decrees that the rebellious first generation will not inherit the Promised Land but live out their days in the wilderness. After forty years, a second census numbers the men of the next generation and their preparation to finally enter land of Canaan. The Book of Deuteronomy is a series of speeches sometimes called the last will of Moses. It was probably written in the last year of Moses life. In his will Moses challenges the people to remain faithful to the Lord, exhorting them to remember all God has done for them. The final chapter, possibly written by Joshua, records Moses death and pays tribute to his life and legacy. 1

2 Exodus Ch. 3-4 Read the entire passage in one sitting. If possible, read it again from a different Bible translation. Briefly describe in your own words what is happening Write down your OBSERVATIONS Read the section and record what you see. Use the first column to keep track of what you find in the Bible passage. (Who? What? When? Where?) Look for clues that tell you when and where the story is taking place. What events are recorded? Who is mentioned and what role do they play? What choices do they make? Do they succeed or fail? How do they respond to circumstances? What attitudes or motives do they display? Use the second column to record information you gather from other sources. Are more details of the story recorded somewhere else in the Bible? What else can you discover about the people and places mentioned? You may want to look up names and places in a Bible dictionary, map or encyclopedia. You can also use this section to jot down your own thoughts and impressions about people and events. Imagine the people, places and events you read about. Don t use your imagination to produce facts, but use it to bring those biblical facts to life. Exodus 3:1-12 Facts from the passage: My Research and Personal Observations:

3 Exodus 3:13-22 Facts from the passage: My Research and Personal Observations: Exodus 4:1-17 Facts from the passage: My Research and Personal Observations: (continued next page) 3

4 Exodus 4:1-17 (continued) Facts from the passage: My Research and Personal Observations: Exodus 4:18-31 Facts from the passage: My Research and Personal Observations: 4

5 Moses Character Profile This section is provided so that you can get to know Moses, the man. Use the suggested areas on the chart below to track what you have observed about Moses this week. Characteristics/Personality Traits: Training/Growth: Obstacles/Challenges: Accomplishments/Failures: Attitudes/Motives: Relationship with God/With Others: 5

6 INTERPRETATION What does it mean? Look for a spiritual lesson. Be careful not to read into the Bible an idea that is not there. Examine each verse in light of the verses around it. To help you find a spiritual lesson, ask questions such as, Is there a command to obey? A promise to claim? A condition to that promise? Is there a warning to heed? An example to follow or avoid? Looking at a character, ask questions such as, How did God deal with this person? How did they respond to their circumstances? What strengths or talents are revealed? What faults are exposed? Did they learn from their failures? Who did they depend on? How did they influence others? What did they accomplish? State the lesson in one simple sentence. APPLICATION How does it apply to me? We don t study the Bible just to gather information we want to spiritually grow. Our heart needs to be open to change. The only way to move truth off the pages of your Bible and into your life is to put it into action. To apply a spiritual lesson, we must examine ourselves and take deliberate steps to do something with what we have learned. Ask yourself: Is this a new lesson, or does it reinforce what I already know? What does it challenge me to do? Does it point out error in my attitude or actions? What changes does it require? Think of how the lesson relates to you and what specific course of action you will take. Write your application in the form of a question to make it personal. Exodus 3:1-12 Lesson: Application: Exodus 3:13-22 Lesson: Application: Exodus 4:1-17 Lesson: Application: 6

7 Exodus 4:18-31 Lesson: Application: Summary Write a simple sentence that summarizes what the passage is about. Give a title to the chapter that will help you personally to remember it. Take a Closer Look Then Moses said, What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? Exodus 4:1 Moses was comforted to hear God say, I have surely seen the affliction of My people. He was thrilled to hear God say, I have come down to deliver them. But he was stunned when God said, Come now, I will send you! What s that again? Imagine how astonishing it would be to hear the voice of God call to you from a burning bush. If that isn t marvelous enough, He gives you a daunting assignment. Would you be eager to get going or would you feel like Moses? Dazed. Fazed. Amazed that God would choose you. Let s look at Moses response to God s call and store up a few lessons for the next time we find ourselves in a who, me? situation. I need a hero. Moses had been in the desert, tending sheep for forty years. He had plenty of time to think and to forget. Do you imagine Moses spent long evenings by the fire, telling his sons how as a baby, he d been drawn from the waters of the Nile? Or what it was like to grow up as a prince in Egypt? No, probably not. Such thrilling bedtime stories he could have told! In all likelihood, his children knew little of their father s early years and nothing of how he came to live in Midian. Why dwell on the past, he may have thought. That was a different place, a different time, a different man. 7

8 Past failures have a way of stirring up strong reactions. Stinging disappointments, long buried, rush the corridors of our mind shouting fire and instinctively we run for cover. Do you detect this in Moses response to God s call? At first glance, we see humility in Moses words. Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt? But his continued reluctance, in spite of God s assurances, hints at something more. Did Moses think God was looking for a hero? We can almost hear him reminding God what a failure he was in the rescuing department. Been there, tried that, failed. Can you relate? Truth be told, God isn t looking for heroes. When the need for a hero comes up, He makes one out of ordinary stuff. Have you ever resisted or refused to answer the Lord s call because of your own expectations? What do we need to remember that God never forgets? Consider the following Scriptures; then answer in your own words. Psalm 103:14 2 Chronicles 16:9a Excuse me Moses had a list of reasons why he wasn t the man for the job. But for every excuse he gave, God had an answer. You can picture the scene. I don t have what it takes. I won t know what to say. But what if I m just not good at Moses expressed his fears and God patiently reassured him. He promised to go with Moses and gave him power to accomplish the work. Then Moses said something that made God angry. Please Lord, send someone else. Do you detect a shift in his attitude? He asked to be excused, and then he refused. I can t became I won t. Notice it wasn t Moses feelings of inadequacy that made God angry it was his refusal to take God at His word. Our limitations don t provoke the Lord, but our stubborn unbelief will. So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses A little word study goes a long way in bringing that phrase to life. The word anger is a picture of nostrils flaring and rapid breathing. Kindled means to blaze up and grow hot. How patient is God in getting us to obey? He graciously permitted Moses the comfort of having Aaron by his side. He proved to be a thorn but that s a lesson for another day. 8

9 Have you ever had a burning bush conversation with the Lord? You may even be engaged in one now. God says, I want to use you but like Moses, you see obstacles instead of opportunity. Face your limitations but don t carry it too far. For every weakness you can name, God s answer remains the same. My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9) It all boils down to taking God at His Word. Reflect on the scriptures and let the truth of God s Word burn away any fears or misgivings. What does He say? John 15:16 Psalm 32:8-9 Isaiah 41:10 2 Corinthians 9:8 Philippians 4:13 Has God called you to do something that s outside your comfort zone? Briefly share how you will respond. 9

10 Something to Think About... In God s calling, He has a plan; but He never expects you to carry out that plan. He s going to pull it off. He simply wants you to be the instrument of action. 1 -Charles Swindoll- God s Word Bearing Fruit For you, personally, what has been the most important lesson from this study? How will you put what you have discovered into practice? 1 Charles Swindoll, Moses: A Man of Selfless Dedication, (Word Publishing, Nashville, 1999) p

11 Message Notes: Prayer Requests: 11

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