by Moses. That no longer young man that God called out of the Sinai desert to go lead a nation out of slavery. It had been over 400 years in Egypt for the descendants of Jacob, much of it under a heavy yoke from Pharaoh. God had decided it was time for Israel to come out of Egypt into the inheritance he promised their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in the Promised Land of Canaan. And the man of the moment for this almost impossible escape would be Moses.
Was Moses a militant soldier, or a persuasive lawyer-type, or even an inspiring political leader that could sell a vision of freedom? The Bible doesn’t give us that impression.
There were some special things about Moses that display God’s wisdom, foreknowledge and glory. Like the way Moses escaped death as a baby. Midwives had been instructed to kill all baby boys at birth. But these Hebrew midwives (or midwives to the Hebrews) refused to kill the babies. Moses was thus born. Then there’s Moses’ mother Jochebed, a woman of immense faith and courage. The book of Hebrews says she saw Moses was no ordinary child and the family risked their lives to make sure this beautiful baby lived. See her bravery in hiding her baby from Pharaoh’s soldiers who were killing all baby boys. See her faith releasing that cot with her precious child amongst the reeds in the Nile. What must have gone through her mind at that moment? I can bet she sent off that Moses cot with lots of prayers, tears and faith in God who is able to deliver against all odds. And God did send deliverance. See Pharaoh’s daughter, finding that baby and deciding to keep it. See Miriam’s courage in offering to find Jochebed as a wet nurse for this new prince. Then see God, directing that Jochebed would care for her own baby while being paid to do so.
The baby that should not have seen have a sunrise, the baby that should have been killed by Pharaoh’s sword, the baby that could have drowned in the Nile, is now a prince in Pharaoh’s palace, and cared for by his bio mother. How beautifully God weaves stories!
God had Baby Moses survive by all odds. Why? God makes sure that Moses is brought up in the Egyptian palace, as one of the Egyptians. Why?
As fate would have it, the seeds of a deliverer budded in Moses’ heart before he was ready for the job or knew he was the man for the job. The book of Hebrews says Moses decided he would rather suffer with God’s people than continue to enjoy the riches of Egypt. In trying to bring justice and deliverance for God’s people, his people, an unfortunate event that ended up in a murder saw Moses flee Egypt, afraid of Pharaoh. A fugitive for murder. If Moses had ever entertained thoughts of delivering Israel, this must have sounded like a death knoll on those dreams. Egypt was done and dusted for him.
He finds respite in the Midian desert where he becomes a shepherd for Jethro’s flocks. From Prince to a hippie shepherd. How humbling, how confusing for someone used to soft life. Can you imagine Moses wondering what God was up to, year one, year two… 40 years in the desert, working for his father in law in a lowly job?
But again in this unfortunate set of circumstances, in this prodigal moment for Moses, we see God’s foreknowledge and wisdom. Because Moses needed to know that Sinai desert like the back of his hand of he was to lead a nation and their goats through it. Forty years Moses was in the desert, in our definition, washing out, a stranger among the Midians, probably missing his people, both the Egyptians and the Israelites. Homeless.
Connecting the dots
But the burning bush finally connects the dots. Moses hadn’t been talking to himself when he decided to kill an Egyptian ‘mnyapara’ to save an Israelite. It was purpose sneaking up on him — he was to be a deliverer for the nation of Israel. His mother wasn’t crazy to say this was a special child and to desire to save him. He was a very special child, God’s chosen ‘messiah’ to get Israel to it’s promised land.
Looking with our human eyes, Moses is not the man we would have called out of the crowd to deliver Israel. He was more Egyptian than Jew. At least by nurture. Then he was a fugitive. He had a rap sheet. He had muddied his CV, burnt goodwill.
You can imagine God telling Moses that He is sending him back to Egypt, the place he is being sought after for murder. To save people who could have considered him a foreigner, enemy and glake. After all he ran away for 40 years. Moses himself tells God that he is not a great speaker neither is he very convincing as a leader. Reluctant to go, he pulls out every excuse in the book. “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, `The LORD did not appear to you’?”.
But God chooses whomever he chooses. Scripture says he chooses the foolish things to shame the wise and the weak things to shame the strong — that no man may boast. I can’t imagine Moses ever thinking it was his doing as he saw God deliver Israel with a mighty hand. But then God! It was the Lord’s mighty hand that delivered. And God chose to deliver through Moses, a man with a story, personal hiccups and human imperfections that could have disqualified him for the job, and through him mediate a covenant for a new people for God.
God chooses whoever he chooses. Romans says he shows mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy… That our individual stories may showcase his wisdom and foreknowledge. That one was raised as an Egyptian prince to come counter the pharaoh. That a mother would be paid to care and raise a child she gave up.
How has God shown you mercy? Are there areas in your life where you can pinpoint the fingerprints of God weaving your story, like a master craftsman? Are there patches where the story is complete and you can look back and say, ‘I see God at work behind the scenes’? How has had God knit the story of your life that He may showcase his grace, power, beauty, holiness, love and glory?
