265. GOD PROVIDES A DELIVERER FOR ISRAEL

"Choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God"

Jacob was overjoyed when reunited with Joseph. His love for his favourite son had been sorely tested when all hope for Joseph appeared to be lost, but now at the end of his life, Jacob's heart rejoiced at the hand of Providence guiding and blessing their lives. Pharaoh was pleased to grant Joseph's request and he authorized them to occupy the land of Goshen. There Jacob's family prospered and multiplied. In the rest of Egypt, however, the famine forced people to sell their lands and their lives into slavery under Pharaoh (Gen. 47:14-22).

Events though were soon to take a dramatic turn to the dismay of Jacob's people, but a crisis developed out of which Israel was delivered.

The aim of this lesson is to show how God raised up Moses to deliver Israel, His chosen people, and lead them out of Egypt.

Exodus 1 and 2 DEATHS OF JACOB AND JOSEPH.

Though Jacob died in Egypt, he had been assured that God would "bring him up again" (Gen. 46:4). This found an initial fulfillment in the deliverance of his seed, the nation of Israel, out of Egypt. But its true fulfillment to Jacob personally will occur when he will be resurrected from the dead, a hope which he shared with that of the fathers (Acts 2:26; cp. Lk. 20:34-38). To show the reality of this hope, Jacob requested a burial at Hebron with Abraham and Isaac and their wives (Gen. 47:29-31; 49:29-31).

Later, Joseph died also, but not before he assured his people that the God of their fathers would "surely visit" them and deliver them out of Egypt and bring them into the land of promise (50:24; cp. 15:13-16).

He also left specific instruction as to his burial. They were not to bury him in Egypt, but to carry his remains with them from Egypt and bury him in the land of promise (see Ex. 13:19; Josh. 24:32). Joseph in this way revealed his faith in the promises of God. These two points alone, out of all his life's experiences, are singled out for special mention in Hebrews 11:22!

Israel was called upon to carry Joseph's coffin throughout the 40 years wilderness wanderings. This would impress them with his faith in the pro mises and belief in the resurrection from the dead. That generation perished in the wilderness, except for Joshua and Caleb. But Joseph will live again, together with those whose lives reveal his faith (Heb. 11:39-40).

ISRAEL IN BONDAGE (Ex. 1).

Joseph's prophecy of deliverance lay dormant for over 150 years. In this time his people lost their vision and hope in Yahweh's promises, though they multiplied and prospered (v. 7).

But then "arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph" (v.8). The kings who had reigned over Egypt in the days of Joseph were the Hyksos or "Shepherd Kings". They were of Semitic origin and view ed the Israelites favourably. When the Egyptians overthrew this dynasty of kings, the Israelites no longer had protection and began to be persecuted.

The Egyptians feared the numerical strength of the Israelites and decid ed to put them to hard labour and bondage (vv. 9-11). When this failed to stop their numbers from multiplying, they "made them serve with rigour." Then they appointed the Hebrew mid wives to slay every male child at birth (vv. 12-16).

THE BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE OF MOSES (Ex. 2:1-10).

In the midst of these tragic happenings, Moses was born. He was the third child of Amram and Jochebed of the tribe of Levi. Aaron and Miriam were his elder brother and sister. Moses was by lineage the representative of the fourth generation of the children of Israel in Egypt about whom God spoke to Abraham (Ex. 6:16-18; Gen. 15:16).

His parents realized that he was a "proper child" (Heb. 11:23), for he was "exceeding fair" (see Acts 7:20 margin, which reads "fair to God").

Acting by faith (Heb. 11:23), Amram and Jochebed hid Moses for three months at which time Moses was "cast out" (Acts 7:21). Stephen uses a word meaning to "set forth" or "expose", which is different from the word used in verse 19. Thus it would seem they acted by careful deter mination, choosing the place and the time to put the baby in the ark near the bathing place of Pharaoh's daughter. Miriam could be on hand to assist when the baby was discovered. They were not abandoning the baby in despair, but were displaying great faith and courage. This act of Moses' parents finds notable mention in Heb. 11:23.

In response to their faith God intervened to bring about His will. Moses was saved and at Miriam's suggestion, Pharaoh's daughter pro vided Jochebed as a nurse for her own son. In so doing, Moses was bless ed with the loving care of his mother and with thorough instruction in the promises of Yahweh at the hands of a woman of faith, whilst being brought up in an Egyptian court.

MOSES MAKES A CHOICE (Heb. 11:24-26).

As the son of Pharaoh's daughter, Moses was given the best Egyptian education and training. Josephus records that he prospered as a leader, commanding the Egyptian army with honour. He was set for a life of distinction, luxury and power, perhaps in time even becoming Pharaoh. But he knew from the instruction of his mother that his spiritual allegiance lay with the down-trodden Israelites. As time passed by, the need to make a choice pressed itself upon him. The issues facing him were glory and riches, or suffering and affliction with the people of God. With great faith in God he elected to suffer with his own people. He knew that the "pleasures of sin" in the Egyptian court were but for a season, but the reward of the God of his fathers was an eternal inheritance in the land of promise (Gen. 13:15; Heb. 11:24-26).

In so doing Moses sets before all a good example. The same choice lies before us today. Either we decide to follow the world or Christ. We shall inevitably make this decision. If we are wise, we like Moses, will perceive the vanity in all this world has to offer and choose to walk in Christ toward that "inheritance, incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away" (1 Pet. 1:4).

MOSES VISITS HIS PEOPLE (Ex. 2:11-22).

Moses had perceived that his remarkable deliverance, education and position had fitted him uniquely for a great work. Stephen tells us that it was clear to him that God would deliver Israel by his hand (Acts 7:25). Israel, however, had become contaminated with the idolatry of Egypt (Josh. 24:14; Ps. 106:7), had lost faith in the promises and was unprepared for deliverance at the hand of Moses (Acts 7:25).

When Moses saw an Egyptian ill-treating an Israelite, he rescued and avenged him; but when he would have separated two Israelites striving together, one of them charged him with the death of the Egyptian (Ex. 2:11-14)! Moses had tried to conceal this and was shocked to discover that it was known. Fearing Pharaoh's wrath, Moses fled to Midian in the Sinaitic Peninsula (vv. 16-22). The Midianites were descendants of Abraham and Keturah (Gen. 25:2).

There, at a well, Moses met seven daughters of Reuel (also called Jethro), priest of Midian, who gave him hospitality and one of whose daughters he married. The first 40 years of his life had been spent in the court of Egypt. During the next 40 years he was a shepherd in the harsh region of Mount Sinai. By leading the sheep he was learning how to lead the people. He learned to trust in God, and to have patience and self-control. When Moses appeared to Israel the second time, 40 years later, he allowed God to direct him. Human anger and passion, as on the previous occasion, played no part.

In Hebrews 11:27 we are told that Moses by faith "forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisi ble." This is a reference to his utter repudiation of Egypt when he came back to plead for Israel before Pharaoh. The word translated "forsake" means "to leave thoroughly or utterly". Such a word well describes Moses' strong demands before Pharaoh as he sought that every Israelite with their flocks and cattle should be allowed to go.

THE CHARACTER OF MOSES.

Moses was one of the greatest men who ever lived (Deut. 34:10). He is called: €

1. The Servant of God (Ps. 105:26); compare with Christ (Isa. 53:11).
2. The Chosen of God (Ps. 106:23); compare with Christ (Isa. 42:1).
3. The Man of God (Ps. 90); compare with Christ (Ps. 80:17).
4. The Shepherd of God (Ps. 77:20; 78:52); compare with Christ (Heb. 13:20).
5. The Prophet of God (Deut. 34:10); compare with Christ (Deut. 18:18).
6. The Mediator of God (Ex. 24:2); compare with Christ (1 Tim. 2:5).
7. The Deliverer of God (Ex. 3:10); compare with Christ (Gal. 4:5; Jn. 3:17).
8. The Lawgiver and Ruler of God (Deut. 33:4, 5); compare with Christ (Jn. 5:22; 1:49).

It must be borne in mind that great as Moses was, he was pre eminently a servant (Ex. 14:31), whereas Jesus was a Son over God's house (Heb. 3:5-6), and therefore he was greater.

MOSES AS A TYPE OF CHRIST.

Moses' life was a type of the life of the Lord Jesus (Deut. 18:15-19, cf. Acts 3:22-26). As Pharaoh slew the male Hebrew children at the time of Moses' birth (Ex. 1:22), so Herod did when Jesus was born (Matt. 2:16).

As Moses had to flee, so did the Lord, for at his birth, his mother carried him to Egypt (Matt. 2:13-15). Moses led his people from Egypt (Ex. 13 and 14). So, in a spiritual sense, does Jesus (Heb. 3). Moses' people were baptised in the Red Sea (1 Cor. 10:2). Those whom Jesus leads must also be baptised (Mark 16:16). Israel under Moses was to be "a kingdom of priests" (Ex. 19). Under Christ, spiritual Israel is a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet. 2:9). Under God, Moses was Israel's lawgiver (Ex. 20). Christ was God's lawgiver to supersede Moses (Matt. 5:21-28).

In the events of Moses' life we see an outline of the mission of Christ. Thus: €

1. Moses appeared to Israel twice as a deliverer; so will the Lord Jesus.
2. At first Moses was rejected by Israel; and in the same manner Jesus was first rejected.

3. Moses fled into a far country, the Lord ascended into heaven.
4. Moses returned to deal with Egypt and deliver his people, so will the Lord.

But Moses as a type, cannot be pressed too closely. The general typical outline is there € not the detail. Unlike Jesus, when Moses first came to his people, his spiritual education was not perfected. Moses fled, having apparently failed, but Jesus ascended to heaven in triumph (Acts 1:9; Eph. 1:20, 21). Moses was reluctant to return, but Jesus sits on God's right hand "from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool" (Heb. 10:12, 13). It is essential to recognize this difference be tween the type and the reality. The type can teach us much, but we must look at the real thing for the complete picture.

LESSONS FOR US:

• The instruction of a wise and faithful parent prevailed over all the wisdom of Egypt when Moses made his choice to serve God and help his people.
• By faith Moses could see that the prizes this world has to offer are vain, but that the reward of God is eternal, and therefore to be preferred (2 Cor. 4:18). If the hope of the promises was greater than the prospect of ruling as Pharaoh, it is certainly greater than anything we can endeavour to achieve today.
• Quietness and meditation are essential for a balanced understanding of God's ways. In the remote parts of Sinai, while caring for sheep, Moses developed the qualities of compassion and patience, so essential in those called upon to lead.

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"Elpis Israel" (J. Thomas) € Pages 286-287

"The Ways of Providence" (R. Roberts) € Chapter 9

"The Visible Hand of God" (R. Roberts) € Chapter 9

"Moses My Servant" (H. Tennant) € Chapter 1

"Letter to the Hebrews" (J. Carter) € Pages 151-156

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. What was there about the deaths of Jacob and Joseph which taught the Israelites about the hope of the promises made to the fathers?
2. Why did Moses flee from Egypt?
3. What lessons did Moses learn during his forty years as a shepherd in Midian.
4. Of Moses it is said: "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with thepeople of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season " (Heb. 11:25). How does this apply to us today?

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Write an essay about Israel's bondage in Egypt and God's provision of the deliverer, Moses.
2. How was Moses prepared for his work of deliverance? What lessons can we learn from his early circumstances?
3. In what way did the work of Moses foreshadow that of the Lord Jesus?