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THE LIFE OF MOSES #1

To make this study only a series of events in the life of Moses is not our purpose. While events are important we are
also interested in Moses as a man. Our study will focus not only on events but His character. We will be looking for
such things as his responsibilities, his leadership, and his manner of life. We will be looking at the makeup of one of the
greatest men to ever live on this earth. It is said, “Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else
on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). How did this fit into his ability to be a strong leader? Outside of the Lord
Jesus Christ no one has ever had as much responsibility placed on his shoulders as Moses had. He is a remarkable man.
This did not begin until he was 80 years old. However, those first eighty years were used by God to prepare him for the
monumental task of delivering the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and bringing them to the land God had promised
Abraham many years before Moses was born. We will also see how God dealt with a rebellious nation. We will
observe the great patience and longsuffering of God throughout the life of Moses as well as Moses’ patience. Moses is
the author so we will be getting the story straight from Moses himself and eye witness of all the miraculous events.

After Abraham had settled in the land of Canaan the Lord told Abraham “Life up your eyes from where you are and look
north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your
offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go,
walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” It would be many years before this would
take place but God has His own time table. With the birth of Moses, we will see the beginning of this promise unfold.

The Pharaoh (king) of Egypt, who is not named, became fearful of the growth of the Hebrew people. He was fearful
they might become so large they might join with some enemy of Egypt and overthrow the Egyptians. A Hebrew man
named Amran and his wife Jochebed who were both of the tribe of Levi had a son born to them. It is said he was a “fine
child.” She determined she would attempt to hide him. What do you think being a “fine child” meant? One translation
says, “She saw there was something special about him.” Another translation says she “saw the baby was unusually
beautiful.” When he reached 3 months she could no longer hide him thus she made a papyrus basket for him coating it
with tar and pitch and put him at the edge of the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. His sister Miriam who was 7
years older was placed nearby to keep watch over Moses. Think about the responsibility that was placed on this little 7-
year-old girl. Moses also had a brother named Aaron who was three years older.

By the providence of God, the basket lodged in some reeds in a place where Pharaoh’s daughter and her maids came to
bathe. Seeing the basket, she had one of them to bring it to her. She immediately recognizes that the child was a male
Hebrew. Knowing the command of her father to drown all male Hebrew babies why didn’t she do this or else turn him
over to someone who may have been assign the responsibility to drown Hebrew babies? The baby was crying. We are
told she “was sorry for him.” Such an act of drowning a baby violates the conscience to no end. She could not bring
herself to do such a thing. Miriam immediately reacted by running to Pharaoh’s daughter suggesting she get a Hebrew
woman to nurse the child. Can you imagine the feelings this little seven year old child had when she saw what had
happened? It would have taken great courage on her part to do this.

The mother of Moses was immediately brought to Pharaoh’s daughter. She told Jocobed she would pay her for keeping
the baby. When Moses grew older at the time children were weaned he was taken to his new mother and became her
adopted son. He was given the name Moses by his new mother. Moses is from the root Hebrew word which means
“drawn.” She said, “I drew him out of the water.” So, it was the daughter of Pharaoh who gave him his name. You
wonder how Pharaoh reacted when he discovered what his daughter had done

This whole episode shows the providence of God. An unknown baby ends up being the son of an Egyptian princess
which will give him access to the royal household of Pharaoh. Certainly, He would receive the finest education. He will
have the finest clothing and the finest place to live in all of Egypt. He has every advantage to grow in knowledge and
wisdom. He would also attain skills in leadership by just observing how Pharaoh executed the laws of the land. Later
he would need this ability as he led the Israelites to the “promised land.”
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Everything was against the way things turned out for Moses. Since he was under the orders of Pharaoh for all male
Hebrew babies to be drowned in the Nile he could have easily been detected then drowned.

DISCUSSION

Did Moses just happen to be in the right place at the right time? Was this just sheer luck?

What part did providence play in this beautiful story of Moses being hid in the bulrushes?

Do we see God setting into action His promise He had made to Abraham many years before?

What is the difference between good luck and providence?

Does the providence of God work in our lives today?

Can you think of a specific incidence where it has worked in your life?

THE LIFE OF MOSES #2

Moses is now a grown man forty years old. No information is given to us what happened in those first forty years of his
life. Certainly, he must have lived a comfortable life having lived in the household of Pharaoh. He no doubt knew who
his real mother was. He knew he was a Hebrew. Compared to the life of the Hebrews in Egypt he must have had it
easy. He also would have observed the cruelty of the Egyptians toward the Hebrews. This No doubt would have been
very painful for him. He would have learned many things that would equip him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt forty
years later. It might seem strange to us that he had not married by now. He certainly could have had his pick of one or
even more beautiful women. What did he know about God at this stage of his life? Had this been instilled in him while
under his mother’s care? Would this have caused problems with Pharaoh if he outwardly worshipped God while Pharaoh
worshiped idols? Pharaoh had to know he was a Hebrew.

One day he went out to where his own people were and watched them involved in hard labor. We are told, “He saw an
Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the
Egyptian and hid him in the sand. Next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong,
“Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?” Two things are evident. Moses’ heart was with the Hebrews and he was
even willing to fight, even kill for them. He was also concerned how they treated one another He was greatly disturbed
to see them fighting one another. He is rebuked by one of them who reminded him of his killing the Egyptian. News
travels fast. It was already out. Moses had killed an Egyptian! The news got to Pharaoh fast and he proceeded to have
Moses killed. Moses immediately fled from Egypt. There was no way he could stay and live.

Mosses fled to the land of Midian, far enough away that Pharaoh could not reach him. He sat down by a well to rest. A
priest of that area had seven daughters. This would indicate he worshipped the one true God. The daughters came to
draw water for their father’s sheep. Some shepherds drove them away from the well but Moses stopped them and drew
water for the daughters and watered the sheep. This shows us about the fairness and justice of the Moses. They reported
this to their father Reuel. Moses was invited to stay with Reuel the priest. Hear is another case where it seems God had
priests outside of the Hebrews. Reuel gave Zipporah his daughter to Moses to be his wife.

Moses now takes on the task of being a shepherd which was quite a contrast from living in the household of Pharaoh.
Being a shepherd was a dirty and difficult job. Did he long to return to Egypt and live in the luxury he had known so
well? Did he long to see his family he had left behind? He seems to be perfectly content. He will over the next forty
years become well acquainted with the land, its watering places, and its mountains. He would have learned the best
routes for traveling in the land. He would have become acquainted with the various tribes and people who lived in this
wilderness land. God was still preparing him for leading the Hebrews out of Egypt.
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One day is he was leading the flock of Jethro out to the edge of the desert to the mountain of Horeb. Suddenly an angel
appears as a flame of fire in a bush but the bush did not burn up. God called out to him, “Do not come any
closer……take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Moses was very fearful hiding
his face. He was afraid to look at God. God tells him he has heard the cry of the Hebrews in Egypt. He wants Moses to
go to Egypt and bring His people out of Egypt. Moses begins to make excuses that he was not qualified to accomplish
this. God promises to be with Moses. Moses says they will want to know the name of God who is sending him. God
said to tell them, “I am who I am.” Moses still protested by saying he was not a good speaker. The Lord told him he
would give him his brother Aaron who was a good speaker. God’s anger burns against Moses. It would appear at this
stage Moses did not appear to be the right man to lead Israel out of Egypt. What an awesome experience this must have
been. However, Exodus 33:1 tells us “So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” Moses is
one of the very few men to have such an encounter with God. God knew more about Moses’ character and ability than
Moses did thus He insisted that Moses take on this great responsibility.

With assurance from God that those who had wanted to kill him were dead Moses decides to return to Egypt. He took
his wife and sons and the “staff of God” (the one that had turned into a snake) and returned to Egypt. On the way, the
Lord almost killed him for not having circumcised his sons. God instructs Aaron to meet Moses. Moses then told him
everything God had said to him. This was then reported to all the elders accompanied by the signs God would use to
force Pharaoh to let them go.

DISCUSSION

God allowed the sufferings of the Hebrews to continue for many years before freeing them. Why?

Would Moses have sought out the princess who adopted him if she were still alive? Had it not been for her he might not
be alive.

The use of elders goes back far beyond the time of the church among the Hebrews. Why were they so important?

How do you think Moses felt as he approached Egypt? There was no doubt many memories.

Would there have been any communication between Moses and his family after he fled?

THE LIFE OF MOSES #3

The term “Higher Criticism,” applies to supposedly Bible scholars who are highly skeptical about the Bible. They are
opposed to its authors, dates, and sources for its material. They maintain that Exodus and even the entire Pentateuch
were not written by Moses. They insist that more than one person contributed stories and fiction which in time was
accumulated to make it appear there was but one author. It is interesting that Moses himself declares that he is the
author. “Moses wrote all the words of the Lord” (Exodus 24:4).

First Interview. Can you imagine how Moses and Aaron felt going before Pharaoh one of the most powerful rulers in the
world? The former Pharaoh who ruled when Moses killed the Egyptian no longer lives. Slavery was now at its highest
point. The Hebrews suffered much. Moses and Aaron go before Pharaoh for their first interview. They say, “This is
what the Lord, the God Israel says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the desert.” They make
it plain they are only asking for only 3 days to offer these sacrifices to their God. One sees the arrogance and ignorance
of Pharaoh as he claims no knowledge of their God. Flaunting his authority, He says the people will have to provide
their own hay for their bricks.

Second Interview. This time Moses will not have the voice of a humble slave. He is God’s representative. He will
speak as if God was speaking. Aaron cast down his rod which became a snake. The magicians did the same with their
rods. However, Aaron’s snake swallowed their snakes. This did not seem to have any effect on Pharaoh.
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Plague of Blood. God instructs them to go to the river. It could be they were denied access to the palace. Pharaoh
would have considered the water of the Nile to be sacred. Aaron smote the sacred waters and they became red like
blood. This was a severe calamity. Some think the water changed color but was too foul to drink. God could do it either
way. It affected everything including the animals. No one could stand to drink it. Nothing could have hurt their pride
more than to have their national god, the Nile River to become obnoxious.

Plague of Frogs. These creatures were miraculously multiplied. They were everywhere even in their houses and in their
food. Pharaoh asked for them to entreat the Lord and take away the frogs. The stench was terrible. Frogs were
superstitious in some way to the Egyptians. The Egyptian god Pith was represented as having a frog’s head.

Plague of Lice. The word “lice” can apply to both gnats and mosquitoes. The magicians made no attempt to reproduce
them. They were constrained to say it was the finger of the gods

Plague of Flies. Moses is again instructed to meet Pharaoh again at the river. This time he was threatened with swarms
of flies in all the households of the Egyptians. The employment of these winged deities must have been humiliating for
the Egyptians. Also, they could inflict severe bites. Pharaoh concedes a little by saying the Israelites could offer their
sacrifice within the borders of Egypt. But as soon as the flies were removed Pharaoh was again his old stubborn self
with his hardened heart.

Plague on the Livestock. Then the Lord told Moses to go again to Pharaoh and demand that he release the people so they
could go and worship God. If he refuses, tell him the lord will release a terrible plague on the livestock in the field. The
next day the Lord kept his pledge as all the livestock died. Still Pharaoh was not willing to do what the Lord required of
him.

Plague of Boils. Next God caused a fine dust to cover the land of Egypt. Festering boils broke out on both men and the
animals. The magicians were unable to stand before Moses and could not produce boils as they were full of them like
everyone else. These boils even effected all the animals.

The Plague of Hail. Again, Moses appears before Pharaoh and says, “Let my people go, so that they may worship me,
for this time I will send the full force of my plague against you and against your officials and your people, so you may
know that there is no one like me in all the earth.” He further adds he will send the worst hailstorm that had ever fallen
on Egypt. It came the next day. No one escaped who was out in the fields, not their animals, trees, the barley and the
flax. It was a storm with lightning and thunder, the worst storm ever to hit Egypt. Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron.
He even confessed he had sinned. Moses said he would pray for the storm to end but he told Pharaoh he knew that
Pharaoh and his officials still did not fear the Lord God. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened again.

Plague of Locust. This species of insect resembles a large spotted, red and black, double winged grasshopper, about 3
inches or less in length. This may have been the worst scourge to be brought on the land. They could strip a crop in a
few hours, to a complete degree of desolation. This could result in a fatal disaster to the Egyptians as this was vital for
their food. Pharaoh relented to the point he was willing for the men to leave but not the women. The rod of Moses was
raised and an east wind brought them in. Pharaoh out of fear called for Moses even confessing his sin.

The Plague of Darkness. Moses stretched his hand toward the sky and total darkness covered the sky and over all the
land of Egypt for a period of three days. Pharaoh called for Moses saying that both men and women and even their
children could go worship God but they must leave their flocks and herds behind them. Again, his hardened heart would
not let them go.

DISCUSSION

What is the meaning that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart? Does this mean Pharaoh was not responsible for his
rejections? What was so obvious about all the plagues?
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THE LIFE OF MOSES #4

Plague of the Death of the First-Born. God now prepares to bring His final plague on the Egyptians. It will be the most
severe of all the plagues. The hardness of Pharaoh heart will melt and he will agree for the Israelites to leave Egypt with
their animals. Moses informs the people what God has revealed to him. About midnight God would bring about this
destructive plague. All of the first-born in the land will die including the animals. Seemingly it took such a severe
plague to change the hardened heart of Pharaoh. The Israelites would all escape unharmed. There would be such a
wailing by the Egyptians it would pierce the air. It would greatly affect Pharaoh since the plague would cause him to
lose his first-born.

The present month would now become the first month on their Hebrew calendar. Henceforth this specific event would
be remembered on the same date each year. Each household must take a lamb from their flock that was without
blemish. It was to be a male in its first year. It would be separated from the flock until the fourteenth day. It was to be
killed in the evening corresponding to three o’clock in the afternoon our time.

They were to take the blood of the animal and sprinkle it on the door frames of their houses. It would serve as a notice
that Hebrews lived there and the plague would pass over them. The first-born of the Jews would not die. A lamb was to
be roasted by fire with nothing remaining. Raw meat was forbidden. They must be sure there was no blood remaining in
the lamb before roasting it. It was to be eaten with bitter herbs. They were to eat only unleavened bread for seven days
during this period. They were to eat the Passover with loose clothing girded tightly around them. This would free their
knees and legs to travel at a faster rate as they left Egypt. Their escape from Egypt was to be as swift as possible. They
were also to put on their sandals. Pharaoh’s heart will soon harden again. His army will pursue them with horses and
chariots. People at that time did not wear sandals or any other foot ware in their houses. Foot ware would make their
escape swifter. This meal would be remembered as the “Lord’s Passover.” If the lamb was too much for a family then
they were to share it with another family. Josephus says that it took ten people to eat the “Passover Supper.”

Moses called for the elders giving specific instructions. No stranger could partake; no one was to go outside their house
until morning. At midnight God smote the first-born in the land of Egypt. God’s divine retribution was such that not an
Egyptian house escaped. Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and ordered the people with their animals to leave Egypt.
The Israelites asked the Egyptians to give them some of their gold and silver jewelry which seemingly they were quite
willing to do anything to get the Israelites out of Egypt and get rid of any plagues.

The Israelites left. There were 600,000 men. By adding their wives and children it is estimated they numbered
2,400.000. They had been in Egypt for 430 years. Think for moment. Moses has the responsibility of leading this
massive number of people (over two million) along with their animals across mostly desert land. Because of the
people’s rebellion it will take another 38 years. They had already been in the desert 2 years when they reached Kadesh-
barnea which was at the southern end of the “Promise Land. In all it will be 40 years Moses took the bones of Joseph
with him. Joseph had made them take an oath to take his bones with them when they left Egypt.

The exact location of Rameses and Succoth is difficult to establish. We know there were two routes before them. Many
have assumed that they took the usual caravan route across the northern Arabian Desert. The Lord evaded the most
direct route which was due north along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The land of the Philistines would be
bypassed removing them of any immediate hostilities. They needed time to prepare themselves for an invasion into the
Promised Land. It would be two years before God would lead them to the southern borders of the Promise Land. At
present, they were trying to put as much distance between them and Pharaoh’s army as they could.

After leaving Succoth they camped at Etham. Again, we are not certain where this was. We learn that “By day the Lord
went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way. At night, they had a pillar of light.” This would
completely confuse the Egyptian army from making contact with them.
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DISCUSSION

Why do you think it took ten plagues to change Pharaoh hardened heart?

Why is God so severe with Pharaoh and the Egyptians?

Why would God allow his people to suffer for such a long period of time as slaves in Egypt?

Can we understand better now why Moses did not want to get involved when God appeared to him from the burning
bush?

Did Moses’ 40 years of experience in the palace better prepare him for leading over two million people out of Egypt to
the land of Canaan?

LIFE OF MOSES #5

When Pharaoh heard that the Israelites had fled into the desert his heart was again hardened. Realizing he was losing all
of his slaves (600,000 able bodied men plus thousands of women who served in different capacities) he could not afford
to lose them because of their valuable work of serving the Egyptians. So, he calls for an army of horses, chariots and
men to pursue them. It evidently did not take long for them to catch up with the Israelites since the Israelites were on
foot and driving their cattle. The Egyptians were being pulled in their chariots by horses. When the Israelites became
aware the Egyptians were close behind they began to complain. They blamed Moses for bringing them out into the
desert. They said, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have
you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?” This is just the beginning of the many complains Moses will hear over the
next forty years during their wandering in the desert.

Moses calls for the people to “stand firm” and see how the Lord will deliver them from the Egyptians. He assures them
that the “Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” God instructs Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea. He
does and suddenly the waters are parted and the angel of the Lord led them across the sea on dry ground. When the
waters partied, it could have left a slippery muddy bottom in which they would have mired down in the silt, but the
bottom was dry. We often overlook this important condition for crossing the gulf. There was a strong east wind which
no doubt played a part in drying out the bottom of the gulf. There was a wall of water on each side of them. The hearts
of the Egyptians were hardened and they proceeded to follow them driving their army down to the bottom of the sea.
The angel of the Lord withdrew to the rear coming between the armies of Egypt and the Israelites. The cloud also
moved between them so there was light on the side of the Israelites and darkness on the side of the Egyptians. The
Egyptians followed the Israelites into the bottom but became mired in the mud which was no longer hard causing their
chariot wheels to come off. The Lord instructs Moses to stretch out his hand again and the water flowed back in place
drowning the Egyptians. This ended any more conflict with Egypt. They were no longer slaves. Getting the Israelites
across the sea has to be one of the great miracles of all time. After this it is difficult to see why they would later rebel
against God many times not trusting his protection.

Looking at the Red Sea you will notice it has two arms extending north. The arm on the right is the Gulf of Aqaba and
the arm on the left is the Gulf of Suez. For many years men have assumed that the Israelites crossed the Gulf of Suez
(called the Red Sea in the Bible) because it was closest to the area where the Israelites had lived in Egypt. In more
recent years there has appeared archeological evidence which suggests that it was the Gulf of Aqaba (the right arm)
where the crossing took place. The Red Sea actually empties into the Indian Ocean. For many years divers have
searched the Gulf of Suez in vain for artifacts to verify the Biblical account of the miraculous crossing of the “Red Sea.”
In 1978 by carefully following the Biblical and historical records of the Exodus has brought searchers to Nuweiba, a
large beach on the Gulf of Aqaba located on the western shore of the Gulf in 1978. It is about eleven miles directly
across this gulf to the country that is now Saudi Arabia. It was discovered the water is not as deep in this area as in other
parts of the Gulf.
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Repeated dives of 60 to 200 feet deep over this stretch of eleven miles has shown that chariot parts are scattered across
the gulf bed. Artifacts found include wheels, chariot bodies as well as human and horse bones. Many of these artifacts
are covered with coral. The beginning at the beach reveals it has a gentle slope leading down to the deepest part of the
gulf.

After the crossing was completed Moses breaks forth in a song of triumph. Miriam and the women also join the singing.
She takes a tambourine in her hand, followed by the women with their tambourines. There was dancing and rejoicing.
This miraculous crossing of the Red Sea finds no equal in history. They had much to rejoice over. Surely no one
wanted to return to Egypt now. Moses not doubt wrote this song by Divine inspiration and gave it to the people. It was
written to give praise to God for what he had done providing an escape and a total destruction to the Egyptian army.

DISCUSSION

When the sea opened up do you think the Israelites were afraid to walk across the silted bottom of the gulf with a wall of
water on each side?

What would make you think there was no silt there?

When they found they could safely cross the sea how should this have effective their faith?

Why then did they murmur so much after they entered the wilderness?

Had they forgotten how God rescued them from the Egyptians?

Do you think Pharaoh perished in the sea with his army?

LIFE OF MOSES #6

The Israelites now proceed on into the desert area of Shur. After three days of travel they have not found water to
drink. The grumbling begins. Arriving at a place called Marah they found water but it was to bitter to drink. The
grumbling probably became worse. It was against Moses because he is the one who has led them into this desert area.
Moses seems at a loss of what to do so he “cried out to the Lord.” The Lord showed him a piece of wood so that when
he threw it into the water the water suddenly became sweet. The grumbling seems to subside. Did they learn any lesson
from this event? Evidently not!

It was here that the Lord tested them. God begins to train them in dealing with hardships. He made a decree that if they
would listen carefully to his voice and do right things which no doubt included stopping their grumbling. They were
really against the Lord in that was the one who instructed Moses where they should go. He would not allow them to
suffer any of the diseases (plagues) that He had brought upon the Egyptians. They are on their own now. They are far
removed from the Egyptians. They must learn to be obedient to His voice. This was also a specific promise that God
would be with them and would not let them be harmed. What more could they ask for that God would keep them from
harm? He expects them to return His goodness with obedience to His will. Immediately after this they came to a place
called Elim where they found seventy palm trees and plenty of water (a spring for each tribe) and their animals. Why
mention the palm trees? They provided shade so they and their animals could rest from the head of the sun. This is only
temporary relief. They must face many hardships yet to come while at the same time trusting in God to take care of
them during their hardships.

They now set out for another desert, the desert of Sin which was between Elim and Sinai. Now the whole community
began to grumble against Moses and also Aaron. “Oh, if we had only been left in Egypt to die instead of being brought
out here to starve to death in this desert. At least in Egypt we had meat and ate all the food we wanted. Now we are out
here in this desert with no food to eat.” How quickly they had forgotten God’s promise to be with them. This show
great distrust in God.
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God speaks to Moses. He tells him that he will “rain down bread from heaven for you.” They are to go out each day
and gather to eat for that particular day. Again, he is providing a teaching lesson to see how well they are willing to
follow His instructions. On the sixth day however, they are to provide twice as much so as to have enough for the
seventh day which will be a day of rest when no work is to be done.

Moses and Aaron now speak to the people. “In the evening, you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of
Egypt, and in the morning, you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who
are we, that you should grumble against us?” Their grumbling had been against Moses and Aaron as if they were the
ones who brought them into the desert. It wasn’t them, it was God. Thus, their grumbling was really against the Lord.
As they listened to Aaron speak to them they looked toward the desert and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in a
cloud. Surely such a sight should have shocked them into realizing God was the one that was leading them but they
were slow to accept that which was so obvious. That evening quail came and covered the complete camp. Quail would
provide them with an abundance of good meat to eat. Then the next morning there was a layer of dew and as it began to
evaporate there appeared in its place flakes that looked like frost on the ground. They asked with amazement what was
it. They had never seen anything like it before. Moses informs them it was bread that the Lord was giving them to eat.
They called it “manna” because it tasted like wafers made with honey. Each one was to take what was needed.

What kind of message was the Lord sending them? Simply that he was the one leading them, not Moses and Aaron and
furthermore he was also the provider of their food. So, no one is going to starve and die in the desert as they claimed
they would. The message God had sent to them was slow in taking root in their thinking. They will remain a rebellious
people for many years yet to come. We can already begin to see the patience of Moses. Most leaders would have giving
up by now. There was nothing less than treason in the Israelite camp but Moses stayed the course and did not give up.

There were certain restrictions regarding their gathering and eating of the manna. They were to gather only what they
needed. They were to gather twice as much on the sixth day as they were not to work on the seventh day (Sabbath day).
There would be no manna on the Sabbath day. Neither were they to keep what they had had gathered in the morning
overnight to the next morning. If they did they found it full of maggots and it had a bad smell. However, some did not
pay attention to the instructions and attempted keep it over night. Others went out on the Sabbath expecting to find it on
the ground but it wasn’t there. God was displeased with their refusal to observe his laws about the bread. Again, they
had failed the test of faith.

God had Moses to place some of the manna in a jar. It would be placed in the Ark of the Covenant on which rested the
Mercy Seat. Later on, it was kept in the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle. By the time of David most articles in the
Ark were missing.

DISCUSSION

How do we account for their weak faith, often followed by a great miracle?

Do you think their daily food diet was satisfying?

As they recalled their days in Egypt were they as well off as they claimed they were in Egypt?

Why did Moses lead the people into such desolate places or was it Moses who led them?

LIFE OF MOSES #7

The Israelites now set out for a place called Rephidim but there was no water to drink there. As previously they begin to
grumble against Moses accusing him of bringing them out into the wilderness so they will perish. They are even ready to
stone him. Moses asks why do you quarrel with me? Why do you continue to put the Lord to a test? Surely, they could
remember God had provided them with an abundance of water plus meat and bread.
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Moses calls upon God, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” Moses is instructed
go on ahead of them taking with him his staff and some of the elders. Their murmurings must have cut deeply the
feelings of Moses. He is doing what God has asked him to do, and that was to bring them out of Egypt. Almost every
mile of the way they had complained. It is a wonder he didn’t walk away refusing to lead them anymore. Only his
extraordinary meekness kept him from lashing back at the crowd.

Arriving at a rock in “Horeb” he was to strike the rock and water would come out for the people to drink. God stood
before him this time. This must have been to encourage Moses to not give up because of their complaining. Their
actions again were really testing God whether or not he was among them. They probably reasoned when there is no
water was this a sign God had left them, or was He really among them? We marvel at the patience of God as he dealt
with those rebellious people. So again, God showed that he loved the people in spite of their weak faith. If God would
show such favor to those who doubted and were weak in faith how much more He do for those who love Him and are
faithful to keep His word?

The water that flowed from the rock was called “honey and oil” (Deuteronomy 32:13) because the Lord made it doubly
pleasant to the people’s taste. Again, God demonstrates his love for his people. He will not let them starve for a lack of
water. For some reason, they could never get the point.

While encamped at Rephidim the Amalekites came and attacked them (Exodus 17). This is Israel’s first battle. They had
little choice but to fight. It became a fight for survival. When called upon to enter the land God had promised, they
refused to go on the basis that the people of Canaan were greater, some of them being giants and their cities were walled.
Thus, they would not go as God had through Moses commanded them to go and take the land. Now the tables are
turned. They are the ones being attacked thus to survive they had no alternative but to fight the Amalekites.

The Amalekites were descendents of Esau. Moses now at an advanced age takes on an additional position of delivering
Israel from their enemy. He becomes their Commander-in- Chief. He gives a command to Joshua to choose some of the
men and go out and fight the Amalekites. Joshua was a man Moses could trust and knew that he would get the job done.
He was one of the optimistic spies who said they could go up and take the land. Moses as their commander will stand
on top of a hill the next day and will have the staff of God in his hands. It seems the attack on Israel was rather swift
and may have been from the rear so that it was totally unexpected. Without hesitation Joshua acts, quickly so that they
can engage their enemy in battle. Joshua probably was up all night enlisting the best men he could find, men that would
be able to hold their own in battle. They had been slaves in the past. They were not professional soldiers. Joshua no
doubt proved himself an able leader and warrior. We must keep in mind that many of these men knew one another back
in Egypt. Joshua no doubt was careful to select strong and brave men who would not be driven away by fear.

The Commander-in-Chief, Moses, along with Aaron and Hur stood on a hill to observe the battle. This was possibly to
offer encouragement to the men who were in combat but the real purpose was that as long as Moses held his hands up
the Israelites were winning. But if he tired and lowered his hands then the Amalekites would start winning. So, Aaron
and Hur stood on each side of Moses raising his hands so that Moses’ hands remained steady until sunset. Thus, Joshua
was able to defeat the Amalekites. It is interesting that this battle was fought with swords. The Israelites were not
swordsmen but because God was with them they were able to win the battle.

They had to know they really did not have the military strength or ability to win this battle by themselves. They had to
know that God was with them and as they looked to the top of the hill where Moses stood they were inspired. They
would recall that Moses used the same staff he had used when he stretched it out over the Red Sea and the waters parted.
Moses would raise his staff and as long as he could. He would hold it up but his arms soon become tired and in time
they would drop. When his arms tired he was then assisted by Aaron and Hur. When the Israelites would see the staff
held high they seem to fight much harder, overcoming the Amalekites. Some think that Hur was Moses’ brother-in-law
the husband of Miriam.
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DISCUSSION

The Israelites were ill prepared for a battle with their swords. Where did their strength really come from?

What did the holding up of Moses’ hands have to do with the success of the Israelites?

When called upon to enter the promise land they were afraid and refused to go. What did their victory over the
Amalekites say to them?

LIFE OF MOSS #8

Exodus chapter eighteen deals with the visit of Jethro the father-in-law of Moses (Some have argued his brother-in-law.)
Jethro arrived at the place where Moses and the people had camped. He had with him Moses’ wife and two sons. No
doubt Moses was glad to have his wife and sons back with him. It had probably been a full year since he last saw them.
Due to the danger involved in Moses’ dealings with Pharaoh he had sent them back to Jethro where they would be safe.

Jethro was amazed at the news of how God had delivered the Israelites from bondage. He confessed his faith in Jehovah
and offered burnt offerings and sacrifices. He said, “Blessed be Jehovah who hath delivered you out of the hand of
Pharaoh.” He obviously was a true believer in God and served as a priest of the Most High God. By contrast look at the
Israelites who murmured and complained after they left Egypt. Jethro was a descendant of Abraham but not an Israelite.
This shows there were priests like Melchizedek living then.

Jethro had observed Moses as he dealt with the many problems the people had which would come under the heading of
Administration. Moses had explained to him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have
a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and laws. Moses’
father-in-law replied, ‘What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear
yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you advice,
and God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and baring their disputes to him. Teach them
the decrees and laws, and how the way to live and the duties they are to perform. But select capable men from all the
people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands,
hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them to serve as judges for people at all time.”

This was good advice to Moses. Moses was trying to lead over two million people through desert land and get them to
work together in peace and harmony. It would take some time to implement Jethro’s plan. Notice Jethro told Moses to
select faithful men who could render fair judgment. Age does not always mean a person is wise or can render good and
fair judgment. Therefore, Moses must “select faithful men” from among all the men. Jethro advises further, “If you do
this, all this people shall go to their own place in peace.” It is obvious that Jethro was fond of Moses and pleased that he
had led the people out of Egyptian bondage.

Moses had served as a shepherd for Jethro for forty years after he fled from Egypt. No doubt he had gained much
wisdom from his father-in-law in all those years. It was a happy reunion for them to be together and for Moses to have
his family back. Three months after leaving Egypt (some argue 45 days) Moses and the Israelites came to the
wilderness of Sinai where they encamped. There will transpire here one of the most awesome experiences during their
life time. It begins in Exodus 19. It could rank in importance as second to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
Here Moses will come face to face with God. Subsequently the Israelites will hear the voice of God. Here the O.T. Law
will be given to the people.

God calls Moses out of the wilderness to come up to the top of Mount Zion where he will meet with God. God tells
Moses he is to say to the Israelites God has said to you, “You have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bear
you on eagles’ wings, brought you unto myself” (Exodus 19:4). This is a tender and beautiful metaphor signifying
God’s love and protection for His people.
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God further tells Moses, “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my
treasured possession”. Moses goes back and calls the people together. When they hear what God had declared they
responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” Moses brings their answer back to the Lord.

God tells Moses he would come to him in a “thick cloud.” This meant His presence would be there but he would not be
visible to Moses or any of the people. The people are to sanctify themselves for this meeting with God, another sign of
respect for God. He set bounds for the people at the bottom of the mountain which they were not to cross. They were
not to go up to the mountain or even touch the border of it. This is to show reverent respect for God.

On the third morning, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud covered the mountain and a very loud trumpet was
heard. All the people trembled. Then Moses leads them out to meet God. The Lord warns Moses to remind the people
to stay away from the boundary line. Moses is allowed to go down and get Aaron to accompany him part of the way as
Aaron did not go completely to the top of the mount. This would be an experience only for Moses to meet with God.
What an awesome experience it had been for the people to witness the mountain covered with a dark cloud, to hear the
thunder and see the lightning and fire, to hear the blast of the trumpet and to see the mountain tremble violently. They
evidently heard the voice of God as He spoke to Moses. They would never forget what they had witnessed.

DISCUSSION

How do you see Jethro fitting into God’s plan to deliver and make a nation out of the Israelites?

Do you think the people up to this point appreciated what God had done for them?

Why do you think God appeared in a dark cloud and the people were not permitted to see him?

LIFE OF MOSES #9

It is not the design of this study to discuss in detail all the laws given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus,
chapters 20-31). Rather we want to put ourselves in the sandals of Moses and see what it was like to be on that
mountain hearing the voice of God speak to him each day. It seems evident that Joshua accompanied Moses part of the
way and then waited those 40 days until Moses was ready to come down. Then Joshua accompanied Moses the rest of
the way down the mountain. We know this because Joshua was not in the camp when the golden calf event occurred.
He is just as surprised as Moses was when they saw what was happening.

Arriving at the top of the mountain God spoke to Moses and the “finger of God” wrote the Decalogue (the 10
commandments) on two tablets of stone on both sides of the stones. The Decalogue seems to fall into two divisions.
The Jews say that the “duties to God” (1-5) were written on one table while the “duties to man” (6-10) were written on
the second tablet. Jesus unequivocally names God as the author (Matthew 15:4). The rest of the laws no doubt was
delivered verbally by God to Moses. Later Moses would write with the help of inspiration by the Holy Spirit the
remaining laws. However, these laws were not to be permanent. It was a covenant between God and the Israelites.
Jesus would take it out of the way, nailing it to His cross (Colossians 2:14). It would be replaced by a new covenant
which we call the N.T. and applies to all men and not just to the Israelites.

Were the ten commandments new? Except for the 4th the answer is no. It has always been wrong (sinful) to murder, to
practice idolatry, to commit adultery, etc. The first mention of the Sabbath is in Exodus 16:23. Those who violated it
were not rebuked. It would not go into effect until the Decalogue went into effect after Moses descended from Mt.
Sinai. The Sabbath was not observed by the Israelites Egypt.

God did not stop with the Decalogue. (Exodus 20) He moves on to give instructions pertaining to the rights of the people
and their relationships with one another. He gives instructions regarding the Tabernacle and the sacrifices. He gives
instructions to the priests, and their garments.
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It ends with these words; “When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the
Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God. (31:18).

Chapter 32 of Exodus tells us what has transpired while Moses had been away. He had been gone for 40 days. The
people became restless. It is said that they “Gathered themselves together unto Aaron.” A better rendering would be
that they gather themselves, “Against Aaron.” It was a belligerent and demanding mob that descended upon Aaron.
They wanted a gold calf that they could worship. They said no one knew what had happened to Moses can’t be all true.
They saw enough miraculous evidence to prove that Moses had gone up on the mountain to meet with God. Aaron tells
them to break off their golden ear rings of their wives and children. It appears that all the people wore gold ring in their
ears an idolatrous practice they had picked up in Egypt, from the Egyptians.

A great amount was collected. There were at least two million people which gave four million ear rings that weighed ¼
oz each. This would be 83,000 lbs. Aaron of all people melts the gold and shaped it into a gold calf and it was solid
gold. Aaron tells them, “Here is your God.” How can we explain Aaron’s action? Where did the idea of a gold calf
come from anyway? It seems since they had lived in Egypt for so many years they had adopted the idolatry of the
Egyptians. Even if Moses had been gone for a long period of time how could they forget how God had delivered them
from the Egyptians? It is obvious that Aaron was weak and would not defy the demands of the people.

We are told that the people offered burnt-offerings. They sat down to eat, drink and rose up to play. In 1 Corinthians
10:7-8 Paul makes it plain that their “play” was a sexual orgy. It is difficult to believe that they would be involved in
such evil things. Within the very shadow of Mt. Sinai where the law was being delivered to Moses, Israel was at the foot
of the mount involved in the worse kind of paganism. God’s anger would wax hot against the people.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, go down because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become
corrupt……I have seen these people,’ the Lord said to Moses. They are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so
that my anger may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation. But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his
God. O Lord, he said, why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great
power, and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, it was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them
in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth?” We are told the Lord relented and did not bring disaster on
the people.

Moses descends from the mountain with the two tablets of stone, one in each hand. Joshua is with Moses hears the noise
coming from the camp. He thinks it is the sound of war. Moses approaches the camp and saw the calf, and the dancing.
Moses is enraged. He threw the tablets down the tablets breaking them. He took the gold calf melted it then ground it
into powder and spread it out over the water and made the people drink it. Moses’ anger is vented toward Aaron. He
said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?” Aaron makes it appear it was
the all the people’s actions to be blamed. Moses does not accept his excuse. Moses charges him with having brought a
great sin upon the people. Aaron had lost complete control of the people. The NIV says “Aaron let them get out of
control.” The AV has, “Aaron had made them naked.” He should have stood up to them and rebuked them for their evil
intentions. Three thousand men were slain.

Why these particular men? These were still naked after their orgy that had taken place in the camp. Aaron was
responsible to a great extent for this sinful event in that he did not offer resistance. Moses spoke to the people, “You
have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” He does go
and says to the Lord. “O what a great sin these people have committed!....But now, please forgive their sin—but if not,
then blot me out of the book you have written.” Moses is instructed to go back and resume leadership of the people.
The Lord struck the people with a plague because of their sin afterwards. Few of us would have had the patience Moses
had. It is a wonder he did not give up. Probably most of us would have given up.
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LIFE OF MOSES #10

Moses asked God who will help him lead the people out from Sinai. God tells him He Himself will do this. Moses
asked that he be able to see God in His glory. There now takes place one of the most mysterious and solemn scenes in
the entire Bible. Moses is shown more than any other person had ever seen. However, God would not allow all of
Moses’ requests to be answered. He could not do this and live. No human has ever been able to actually see God for
His glory would bring death to them. God will place Moses in the cleft of a rock so that when His glory passes by God
would cover Moses with His hand, and after passing God would remove his hand and Moses would see his back but not
His face. Moses now at least knew God’s presence would be with him as he led the Israelites to the promise land.

Moses is commanded to hew two more stones and bring them to the top of the mountain. God will again write the Ten
Commandments. Again, He accepts the Israelites as His people. So, Moses takes the stones up the mount where again
he seeks the favor of God. Moses bows down before God. God said, “I am making a covenant with you.” The people
will see wonders never done before. They are again warned to abstain from any form of idolatry.

Chapters 35–40 give an account of the construction of the Tabernacle. There were those who were skilled in various
trades which they used to produce the material to be used in the Tabernacle. God used the skills of certain ones to build
the Tabernacle exactly as he wanted it to be. It was a tent that could be taken down and move from one place to another.
The furniture could also be transported in a special way so that their hands never touched the sacred pieces of furniture.

When Moses came down from the mount with the two stone tablets his face radiated (shined) so bright the people were
afraid to come near him. Some of God’s glory must have been transferred onto Moses. He had to put a veil over his face
while in the presence of the people. However, he would have removed the veil when he went into the Tent of Meeting
to meet with God.

On the 20 th day of the second month of the second year (after leaving Egypt) the people moved out to the desert of
Paran. This was done because the Lord commanded them to move away from Mt. Sinai. It is not long until the people
complained about their hardships. They have not changed much in spite of the fact the Lord had taken them back. Fire
came down from the Lord and burned consuming some of them at the outskirts of the camp. They are the same people
as before Sinai. Now they complain about their food. If they only had some fish and other foods they had in Egypt.
Now Moses begins to complain to God that He had placed the burden of leading the people on his shoulders. God had
Moses to bring in 70 elders to help him bear the burden. Moses still complains. How difficult it must have been for
Moses to wake up every morning to the moaning and groaning of these stiffed neck people. No doubt there were many
nights he did not sleep. Yet we are told that “Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face
of the earth.” This is why he kept going no doubt.

Miriam and Aaron begin to be critical of Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. They also seem to express
some Jealousy. Had not God spoken to them also? God severely rebukes them. Miriam is suddenly leprous. Aaron
pleads for forgiveness. Miriam now has to live outside the camp for seven days because under the Levitical law she was
unclean.

Arriving at the desert of Paran God instructs Moses to send men to spy (explore) the land of Canaan, the promise land he
had promised to the descendents of Abraham. They were to find out how good the land (soil) was! They were to find
out about the towns and were they walled! They were to bring back some of the fruits. They were gone for 40 days.
They brought back a branch of grapes that took two men to bring suspended on a pole. They reported the land did flow
with milk and honey but the people lived in fortified cities. They even saw giants living there. They were two powerful
for them to overcome. They said Israel seemed like grasshoppers compared to them. Joshua and Caleb give an entirely
different report. Caleb said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
 14
That night the people begin to wail and cry out. They grumbled against Moses (as usual). They said, “If we had (only)
died in Egypt or in the desert. Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall upon the sword?” They wanted
to find someone else to be their leader beside Moses to lead them back to Egypt. Joshua and Caleb spoke out declaring
the land was a good land and the Lord would lead them into this land that flowed with milk and honey. They pleaded
with the people not to rebel against the Lord but “The whole assembly talked about stoning them.”

The Lord response to the people was, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse
to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them. I will strike them down with a
plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they.” Moses now appeals to God.
He said, “The Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them……The Lord
was not able to bring these people into the land he promised on oath; so he slaughtered them in the desert” (Numbers
14:11-16).

The Lord then brings judgment against the people. They will spend 40 years in the desert one year for each of the 40
days the spies were gone. Caleb and Joshua are the exceptions. This applied to everyone 20 years and up. They will
see the land and will live in it. God said they were a “wicked community, which had banded together against me.” God
said that their rebellion was against him rather than against Moses.

LIFE OF MOSES #11

After leaving Egypt Israelites were about a year reaching Mt. Sinai. After another year they move on to Kadish Barnea
on the southern border of the Promise Land. Because they refused to invade the land God turned them back into the
wilderness. God said that their punishment would be one year for each day the spies were in Canaan a total of 40 years.
Everyone 20 years and older would perish in the wilderness. “By then the entire generation of fighting men had perished
from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them. The Lord’s hand was against them until he had completely eliminated
them from the camp”. It is believed the camp itself was 12 miles square. What a sight this must have been. Their
wonderings were a total disaster.

NADAB AND ABIHU

The priests were now organized to perform their work at the Tabernacle. However, corruption soon enters the
Priesthood. Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense. Because they
offered unauthorized fire contrary to the command of the Lord. God sent fire down upon them and they were consumed.
It was necessary in the beginning for God to teach an important lesson. God must be respected and honored by complete
obedience to His laws. Moses had their bodies removed outside the camp. “So they came and carried them, still in their
tunics, outside the camp, as Moses ordered.”

THE REVOLT OF KORAH

Korah a descendant of Levi along with 250 other men who were well-known leaders came to Moses and Aaron. They
said the entire community was holy and the Lord was with them. They wanted to know, “Why then do you set
yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?” Moses warns Korah and his followers that God would reveal the true leader of
the people. The end result was that 250 of the men who had rebelled were swallowed up into the ground.

14,700 DEDTROYED BY A PLAGUE

The very next day the entire camp grumbled against Moses and Aaron. They said, “You have killed the Lord’s people.”
Moses has Aaron to take his censer put incense in it with fire and make atonement for them. However, the plague had
already started before Aaron could reach the mob. By their standing between the living and the dead the plague stopped.
However, 14,700 had already died from the plague in addition to the 250 who rebelled with Korah.
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MIRIAM’S DEATH

After 38 years they begin to set their faces toward Canaan. They are almost at the place where they began their
wanderings. Here Miriam dies. She was the sister of Moses and Aaron. She had to be over 120 years old as she was
older than Moses. She had watched when Moses was placed in the little ark among the bulrushes (Exodus 2:4). She had
been a leader among the women. She took her tambourine and went out to sing the praises of God leading the other
woman. However, she had murmured against Moses and will not be allowed to enter Canaan.

ANOTHER UGLY CASE WHERE THE PEOPLE MURMUR

Again, there was no water for the people. As usual they gathered themselves against Moses and Aaron. Here was the
same old complaint, “Why did you bring us and our cattle out here in this wilderness. Moses and Aaron approach the
Lord. Moses is to take the rod and speak to a rock before the people and it would give them water.” We are told, “And
Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gather the congregation
together before the rock, and said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this 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 spoke 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 9:20-12). Moses and Aaron do not seem to complain. Only two of the original people who left Egypt – Caleb
and Joshua and all who were under 20 years old at the time when the Lord drove the people back into the wilderness will
enter the Promise Land.

THE BRONZE SNAKE

Now traveling along the route to the Gulf of Aquaba the people grew impatient. They speak out against God and Moses.
“Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And
there is no water to drink!” The Lord sent venomous snakes among them. Many died as a result of their bites. The
people recognize their sin and ask Moses to have God to take the snakes away. God told Moses to make a snake, put it
on a pole so that by looking at it anyone bitten can live. Moses made a bronze snake. By looking at it they would not
die from any snake bite. They never came to trust God for his deliverance from the Egyptians thus they suffered and
died.

DEATH OF AARON

We are told that “Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor, where he died on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth
year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. Aaron was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount
Hor” (Numbers 33:38-39). We read this with some sadness. Outside the golden calf incident Aaron had been a faithful
servant. God chose him to become the first High Priest says a lot about his character. He was Moses’ right arm standing
firm beside Moses as they stood before Pharaoh and the rebellion of the Israelites but he too was not permitted to pass
into the Promise Land because of sin. This reminds us a person can be a good person and still miss heaven because of
neglect of something essential.

THE LIFE OF MOSES #12

Both Miriam and Aaron have died. Only Moses remains. After striking the rock and failing to give God the credit for
the water that flowed from it Moses knew he would not be permitted to enter the land God had promised the Israelites.
In an address to Israel he said, “I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord
has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan” (Deuteronomy 31:1-2). Although he was 120 years old physically he
still had the physical strength and eye sight to have led the people over the Jordan River, even to conquer the land.
There is no resentment in his words. He accepts God’s punishment without resentment.
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He assures them that God himself will precede them and will destroy those nations that were before them. They will
take possession of the land but their armies will have the responsibility of driving out and destroying the people before
settling the land.

1. Later he is commanded by God to go. Do you think we as Christians murmur too much?

up on Mount Nebo. Evidently, he was to go alone. “There the Lord showed him the whole land---from Gilead to Dan,
all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, The Negev and the
whole region from the valley of Jericho, the City of palms, as far as Zoar.” From this vantage spot Moses could see
everything from the east to west and from north to south. In other words, the entire land promised by God to Israel. The
western sea would be the Mediterranean Sea.

What a scene this must have been. The land then would have been filled with green trees and green pastures much
different than it appears today. The ravages of invading armies through the years have destroyed much of its original
beauty. For example, when invaded from the north in about 69 A.D. the Roman army under the Roman General Titus
destroyed much of the green growth and the fertile land was ravaged. He ordered the trees to be cut down which would
have included all the fruit bearing trees. Salt was sown in the ground so no crops would grow. Much has been restored
today but the land today is not like it was in the time of Moses.

The reason for his being denied the privilege of entering the land was his failure to give God the credit when drawing
water from a rock. Don’t you know he wished he had been more careful in choosing his words when he addressed the
people before striking the rock? There had to be some feelings of sadness. He had worked so diligently to get the
people into the promised land. He had endured all kinds of slander and accusations. He was almost there but in a weak
moment he did not “uphold God’s holiness” (glory). To fail to uphold the Lord’s holiness was a failure to give God the
glory and credit for what He had done. Instead, Moses had taking the credit for himself and Aaron. It would be on
Mount Nebo that he would die. He had reached the age of 120 although the average age at that time was probably lower
to around 70 to 80. Even though he was 120 physically and his eye sight was still good he was still strong and could
have led the people into the land. At best, it is a sad scene.

It is said “And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said, He buried him in Moab, in the
valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is.”

There is an interesting passage in Jude 9 that refers to Moses’ body. “But even the archangel Michael, when he was
disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said,
The Lord rebuke you!” We would like to know more about this dispute over the body of Moses but we have nothing
stated further about this event. Moses’ life was dedicated to being a servant of the Lord.

A wonderful tribute is paid to Moses in Deuteronomy 34:10 – 12. “Since then no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses,
whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to
Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the
awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.”

The people grieved for Moses for a period of thirty days. They remained in the plains of Moab during this time. It
seems the custom for grieving lasted thirty days. A new leader will succeed Moses and become the leader of the
Children of Israel. He was of the spies

DISCUSSION

What do you think was the greatest act that God performed for the Children of Israel?
 17
How would you answer the skeptic’s argument that Israel crossed only the sea of reeds which at that time was north of
the Sea of Suez but is now a part of the Canal? They argue that the wind blew the waters from around the reeds so that
all they had to do was wade across?

Do you think we as Christians murmur too much?

Aaron knew Moses had gone up to the top of the Mount to meet with God when the people rebelled at Mt. Sinai. Why
then would he give in and fashion the golden calf?

It seems in Bible times it was difficult for people to surrender their idols. In the case of the Israelites why was it so
difficult for them to give up their idols when the evidence was conclusive that there was but one true God?

With so many miracles performed by God how could the people turn so quickly to idols again?