LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF MOSES CROSSROADS CHURCH CROSSROADS CHURCH
CROSSROADS CHURCH
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK The world is loud. We are constantly surrounded by comments, opinions, and words of advice. The volume of it all can often make it difficult to hear God. This book is designed to offer you a different experience. Rather than fill it with ideas from others, it is filled with God s word. Each day features Scripture verses that focus on the life of Moses. You will also find blank space to write your own thoughts, to take notes, to wrestle with questions, or simply to write out your prayers. Every day may look different. And sometimes you may need the weekend to play catch up. Your only goal is to set aside time to be with God and lean into what He is saying to you. Inside, you will also find resources designed to enhance your understanding of the text. The purpose of the charts and diagrams is to bring clarity while creating a visually interesting look at Scripture. Spend time looking at each one. Use them to dig deeper into the life of Moses, as well as your own. My hope is this book will provide an opportunity to quiet the noise, and that it will give you a chance to connect with God. When we are still and listen, God can do amazing things in and through us. May you be inspired and transformed through the lessons learned from the life of Moses. Kelly Bosch Director of Adult Ministries 2
ON THIS NIGHT THE LORD KEPT HIS PROMISE TO BRING HIS PEOPLE OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT. EXODUS 12:42 The symbol for Lessons From The Life of Moses consists of a night sky looking over Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea, symbolizing the Lord opening up a path and keeping His promise. 3
AN INTRODUCTION TO MOSES Redemption. It s one of the main themes of the Bible. While Jesus played the biggest role, God used others to bring restoration to His people. One in particular had the purpose of fulfilling a promise made to Abraham. That man was Moses. God used Moses to deliver His people out of 400 years of slavery and into the Promised Land. God delivered them Moses led them. As you read the Bible, it becomes evident that Moses role in redemption is far larger than freeing slaves. You hear about him in the Gospels, you see his impact as the early church begins in Acts, and he is grouped with kings and prophets throughout the Old Testament. Even as you read of his prominence, you realize he was just a man. Faithful, yet flawed. Chosen, yet uncertain. In spite of who Moses was, God selected him for an extraordinary purpose. In addition to delivering God s people, Moses delivered God s Law. The Law itself was designed to show us the problem Jesus would one day come to solve our sin. Moses life was big and epic and filled with wondrous signs. But Moses wasn t special because he was used to do great things for God. Moses was special because his entire life pointed to the need for a Savior. We can learn from Moses because he points us to Jesus. As we dig deep into the life of Moses, there are many lessons to learn. The Moses story has the power to change our lives in many ways. It also has the ability to teach us about God. The life of Moses is about restoration, grace, and mercy. It s another narrative of God s love for us. And it s a very, very good story. 5
THE LIFE OF MOSES MOUNT HOREB BURNING BUSH Moses receives his assignment from God and is sent to deliver Israel from their slavery in Egypt. Exodus 3 EGYPT MOSES RETURNS TO EGYPT Moses and Aaron appeal to Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery. Pharaoh refuses and forces the oppressed Israelites to make bricks without straw. Exodus 4-5 BANKS OF THE NILE PHARAOH THREATENS HEBREW BABY BOYS Baby Moses discovered in the Nile by Pharaoh s daughter. Exodus 2:1-10 MIDIAN MOSES FLEES FOR HIS LIFE Moses kills Egyptian guard, and escapes to the land of Midian where he marries Zipporah. Exodus 2:11-22 TEN PLAGUES & PASSOVER Pharaoh continually refuses to let Israel go; God sends ten plagues on the land and introduces the first Passover. Exodus 7:1-12:30 3 MOS. OLD 1 AGE 40
THE RED SEA THE EXODUS & CROSSING THE RED SEA After the tenth plague, the death of the firstborn sons, Pharaoh demands that Israel leave the land of Egypt. Moses leads the Israelites through the Red Sea. Exodus 12:31-15:21 WESTERN SINAI PENINSULA WILDERNESS WANDERING God gives the people manna and water from a rock. Exodus 15:22-17:16 MOUNT SINAI TEN COMMANDMENTS On Mount Sinai, God delivers His law to Moses and provides him with two stone tablets bearing the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:1-17 AARON AND ISRAEL MAKE A GOLDEN CALF When Moses sees the golden calf and the Israelites' extreme idolatry, he throws down the stone tablets bearing the Ten Commandments. Exodus 32 COVENANT RENEWAL Moses sees God, and his face glows from the experience. Moses intercedes on behalf of the rebellious Israelites. God permits Moses to see his back. Exodus 33-34 EASTERN SINAI PENINSULA WILDERNESS WANDERINGS As the consequence for refusing to enter the Promised Land, God has Israel wander in the wilderness for 40 years. This nomadic journey continues until the last individual from that disobedient generation has died. Numbers 14:20-35 MOAB JOSHUA IS NAMED AS MOSES SUCCESSOR After surviving the wilderness wanderings, Edom, and Moab, the people of Israel stand at the edge of the Jordan, now ready to take possession of the Promised Land. Deuteronomy 31:1-8 MOUNT NEBO MOSES DIES As Joshua is preparing to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River, God takes Moses up to Mount Nebo so that he can look over the Promised Land. Moses dies on the mountain and God buries him in a secret place. Deuteronomy 34 AGE 80-81 AGE 81-120 2 AGE 120
WEEK 1 DAY 1 IN A LAND FAR, FAR AWAY Exodus 1 EXODUS 1 The Israelites in Egypt 1 These are the names of the sons of Israel (that is, Jacob) who moved to Egypt with their father, each with his family: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, 4 Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5 In all, Jacob had seventy descendants in Egypt, including Joseph, who was already there. 6 In time, Joseph and all of his brothers died, ending that entire generation. 7 But their descendants, the Israelites, had many children and grandchildren. In fact, they multiplied so greatly that they became extremely powerful and filled the land. 8 Eventually, a new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done. 9 He said to his people, Look, the people of Israel now outnumber us and are stronger than we are. 10 We must make a plan to keep them from growing even more. If we don t, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies and fight against us. Then they will escape from the country. 11 So the Egyptians made the Israelites their slaves. They appointed brutal slave drivers over them, hoping to wear them down with crushing labor. They forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Rameses as supply centers for the king. 12 But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more the Israelites multiplied and spread, and the more alarmed the 8
Egyptians became. 13 So the Egyptians worked the people of Israel without mercy. 14 They made their lives bitter, forcing them to mix mortar and make bricks and do all the work in the fields. They were ruthless in all their demands. 15 Then Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave this order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah: 16 When you help the Hebrew women as they give birth, watch as they deliver. If the baby is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live. 17 But because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king s orders. They allowed the boys to live, too. 18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives. Why have you done this? he demanded. Why have you allowed the boys to live? 19 The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, the midwives replied. They are more vigorous and have their babies so quickly that we cannot get there in time. 20 So God was good to the midwives, and the Israelites continued to multiply, growing more and more powerful. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own. 22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: Throw every newborn Hebrew boy into the Nile River. But you may let the girls live. 9
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WEEK 1 DAY 2 A MIRACLE BIRTH Exodus 2:1-10 EXODUS 2:1-10 The Birth of Moses 2 About this time, a man and woman from the tribe of Levi got married. 2 The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. 4 The baby s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him. 5 Soon Pharaoh s daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her. 6 When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. This must be one of the Hebrew children, she said. 7 Then the baby s sister approached the princess. Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you? she asked. 8 Yes, do! the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby s mother. 9 Take this baby and nurse him for me, the princess told the baby s mother. I will pay you for your help. So the woman took her baby home and nursed him. 12
10 Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, I lifted him out of the water. 13
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WEEK 1 DAY 3 GOD RAISES UP A DELIVERER Exodus 2:11-25; Acts 7:23-29 EXODUS 2:11-25 Moses Escapes to Midian 11 Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews. 12 After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand. 13 The next day, when Moses went out to visit his people again, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. Why are you beating up your friend? Moses said to the one who had started the fight. 14 The man replied, Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday? Then Moses was afraid, thinking, Everyone knows what I did. 15 And sure enough, Pharaoh heard what had happened, and he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian. When Moses arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well. 16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters who came as usual to draw water and fill the water troughs for their father s flocks. 17 But some other shepherds came and chased them away. So Moses jumped up and rescued the girls from the shepherds. Then he drew water for their flocks. 16
18 When the girls returned to Reuel, their father, he asked, Why are you back so soon today? 19 An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds, they answered. And then he drew water for us and watered our flocks. 20 Then where is he? their father asked. Why did you leave him there? Invite him to come and eat with us. 21 Moses accepted the invitation, and he settled there with him. In time, Reuel gave Moses his daughter Zipporah to be his wife. 22 Later she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, for he explained, I have been a foreigner in a foreign land. 23 Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God. 24 God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25 He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act. ACTS 7:23-29 Stephen Addresses the Council 23 One day when Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his relatives, the people of Israel. 24 He saw an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite. So Moses came to the man s defense and avenged him, killing the Egyptian. 25 Moses assumed his fellow Israelites would realize that God had sent him to rescue them, but they didn t. 26 The next day he visited them again and saw two men of Israel fighting. He tried to be a peacemaker. Men, he said, you are brothers. Why are you fighting each other? 27 But the man in the wrong pushed Moses aside. Who made you a ruler and judge over us? he asked. 28 Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday? 29 When Moses heard that, he fled the country and lived as a foreigner in the land of Midian. There his two sons were born. 17
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WEEK 1 DAY 4 MOSES AND THE BURNING BUSH Exodus 2:23-25; Exodus 3; Mark 12:18-27 EXODUS 2:23-25 Moses Escapes to Midian 23 Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God. 24 God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25 He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act. EXODUS 3 The Burning Bush 3 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn t burn up. 3 This is amazing, Moses said to himself. Why isn t that bush burning up? I must go see it. 4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, Moses! Moses! 20
Here I am! Moses replied. 5 Do not come any closer, the Lord warned. Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 6 I am the God of your father the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God. 7 Then the Lord told him, I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. 9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt. 11 But Moses protested to God, Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt? 12 God answered, I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain. 13 But Moses protested, If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, The God of your ancestors has sent me to you, they will ask me, What is his name? Then what should I tell them? 14 God replied to Moses, I am who I am. Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you. 15 God also said to Moses, Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob has sent me to you. 21
This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations. 16 Now go and call together all the elders of Israel. Tell them, Yahweh, the God of your ancestors the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has appeared to me. He told me, I have been watching closely, and I see how the Egyptians are treating you. 17 I have promised to rescue you from your oppression in Egypt. I will lead you to a land flowing with milk and honey the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. 18 The elders of Israel will accept your message. Then you and the elders must go to the king of Egypt and tell him, The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So please let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord, our God. 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand forces him. 20 So I will raise my hand and strike the Egyptians, performing all kinds of miracles among them. Then at last he will let you go. 21 And I will cause the Egyptians to look favorably on you. They will give you gifts when you go so you will not leave emptyhanded. 22 Every Israelite woman will ask for articles of silver and gold and fine clothing from her Egyptian neighbors and from the foreign women in their houses. You will dress your sons and daughters with these, stripping the Egyptians of their wealth. MARK 12:18-27 Discussion about Resurrection 18 Then Jesus was approached by some Sadducees religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question: 19 Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother s name. 20 Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children. 21 So the second brother married the widow, but he also died without children. Then the third brother married 22
her. 22 This continued with all seven of them, and still there were no children. Last of all, the woman also died. 23 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her. 24 Jesus replied, Your mistake is that you don t know the Scriptures, and you don t know the power of God. 25 For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven. 26 But now, as to whether the dead will be raised haven t you ever read about this in the writings of Moses, in the story of the burning bush? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said to Moses, I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 27 So he is the God of the living, not the dead. You have made a serious error. 23
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WEEK 1 DAY 5 GOD EQUIPS MOSES Exodus 4:1-17; Hebrews 5:1-6 EXODUS 4:1-17 Signs of the LORD s Power 4 But Moses protested again, What if they won t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, The Lord never appeared to you? 2 Then the Lord asked him, What is that in your hand? A shepherd s staff, Moses replied. 3 Throw it down on the ground, the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back. 4 Then the Lord told him, Reach out and grab its tail. So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a shepherd s staff in his hand. 5 Perform this sign, the Lord told him. Then they will believe that the Lord, the God of their ancestors the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob really has appeared to you. 6 Then the Lord said to Moses, Now put your hand inside your cloak. So Moses put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out again, his hand was white as snow with a severe skin disease. 7 Now put your hand back into your cloak, the Lord said. So Moses put his hand back in, and when he took it out again, it was as healthy as the rest of his body. 26
8 The Lord said to Moses, If they do not believe you and are not convinced by the first miraculous sign, they will be convinced by the second sign. 9 And if they don t believe you or listen to you even after these two signs, then take some water from the Nile River and pour it out on the dry ground. When you do, the water from the Nile will turn to blood on the ground. 10 But Moses pleaded with the Lord, O Lord, I m not very good with words. I never have been, and I m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled. 11 Then the Lord asked Moses, Who makes a person s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say. 13 But Moses again pleaded, Lord, please! Send anyone else. 14 Then the Lord became angry with Moses. All right, he said. What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. He will be delighted to see you. 15 Talk to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do. 16 Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say. 17 And take your shepherd s staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you. HEBREWS 5:1-6 Christ is Our High Priest 5 Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins. 2 And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses. 3 That is why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as theirs. 27
4 And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was. 5 That is why Christ did not honor himself by assuming he could become High Priest. No, he was chosen by God, who said to him, You are my Son. Today I have become your Father. 6 And in another passage God said to him, You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. 28
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