The Faith of Moses Falters

Vol 2 - No 3, February 3, 2005

Moses' faith falters:

After fleeing Egypt and arriving in Median Moses met seven (7) daughters of the priest of Median who were attempting to water their father's flocks at a well but were being harassed by rival Shepard's. Moses assisted the girls and they introduced him to their father who is referred to by three (3) names: Reuel (Exodus 2:1818 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?

); Jethro (Exodus 3:11 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

); and Raguel (Numbers 10:2929 And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.

.) According to Strong's Hebrew and Greek dictionaries, Raguel means "friend of God" in Hebrew. According to the George Williams Student Commentary, this priest of Midian was a descendant of Abraham by Keturah and a worshipper of the true God and no doubt like Job, was a king and priest to his tribe.

Not much is recorded about the 40 years Moses spent in the desert of Arabia. He married Zipporah, one of Jethro's daughters, they had two (2) sons and he worked as a Shepard for Jethro. - Acts 7:2929 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.

, Exodus 2:15 - 2215 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.

17 And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?

19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.

20 And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.

21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.

22 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.

. "Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb." - Exodus 3:1. (In Hebrew, Horeb is a generic name for the Sinaitic Mountains and Mount Sinai is where God would later give the 10 Commandments and law.) During the 40 years Moses spent in Median the Egyptian king who had ordered him killed had died but the Children of Israel continued to suffer greatly under the oppression of the Egyptians. Now, God heard their cries for delivery and remembering His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob He spoke to Moses from a bush that was burning but not consumed by the fire. "Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God" who told Moses He had come to deliver His people from Egypt and bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey, the land of Canaan, which was then inhabited by other nations or tribes of people. God told Moses He was sending him to Pharaoh to bring His people out of Egypt - Exodus 2:23 - 3:10.

Eighty years old and having spent the last 40 years working for his father in law as a Shepard in the desert Moses had become mellowed out and humbled. Whereas 40 years prior, full of self assurance gained by his education, training and life in Pharaohs household, he had been mighty in both word and deed, Acts 7:21 - 2321 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.

22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

, and had boldly killed an Egyptian who was mistreating his Hebrew kinsman, Exodus 2:1111 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.

& 12, he was now emptied of self and ready to be used for God's work. Having thus been emptied of self assurance he asked God "Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?" God assured him: "And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain." But Moses faltered: "And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.- Exodus 3:11 - 1411 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

.

(God would teach the Children of Israel that anything they needed could and would be supplied by "I AM," God's title for them. "I AM" salvation, "I AM" deliverance, "I AM" life: God was the great "I AM" to Israel. They did understand this title when Jesus was on earth and He identified Himself as the great "I AM," that is, their God and Messiah. "Jesus said unto them, (the Jews) Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by." John 8:58 & 5958 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

. The Jews at that time knew when Jesus said "I am" that He meant He was their God and Messiah. They did not believe this but believed He was blaspheming God so attempted to kill Him for claiming He was "I am.")

God told Moses exactly what He wanted him to do. He was to go to the Elders of the Children of Israel and tell them he had been sent by the God of their fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to deliver them out of Egypt to the promised land. God said the Elders would listen to him and accompany him to tell Pharaoh they wanted to take all of Israel three days out into the desert to worship God. God said He was sure Pharaoh would not agree to this so He would have to wound and kill Egyptians until they would actually send the Israelites away from Egypt with many riches - Exodus 3:15 - 2215 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:

17 And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

18 And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.

19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.

20 And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.

21 And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty.

22 But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.

. In short, God told Moses exactly what He was going to do, how Pharaoh would react and what would ultimately happen. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. All Moses had to do was believe and move forward by faith in God's Word. However, Moses' faith faltered and he questioned God.

Moses claimed the Israelites would not believe him. In response God gave Moses three signs or miracles he could show the Elders of Israel to convince them God had sent him. First, he could throw his staff down and it would become a serpent but when he picked it up by the tail it would change back into a staff. Then, he could put his hand under his shirt and when he pulled it out it would be diseased with leprosy but when he put it back in his shirt and pulled it out again it would be healed. And if that was not enough he was to take water from the river and pour it on the dry land where it would turn to blood. - Exodus 4:1 - 91 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.

2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.

4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:

5 That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.

6 And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.

7 And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.

8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

. The Jews require a sign (that is, a miracle, a token, a wonder,) 1 Corinthians 1:2222 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

, and these signs were given to assure Moses that he could assure the Elders of Israel that he had indeed been sent by their God. God knew beforehand that the Egyptians would imitate these particular miracles by illusion and ultimately the Pharaoh would only let Israel go after their firstborn children were killed, but He never the less gave the three signs to Moses to assure him and the Elders of Israel.

Moses' faith continued break down. The man who had been mighty in word and deed now told God he was not eloquent and was slow of speech. With patience, God assured him that He was the one who made speech and sight and that He would surely teach Moses what to say - Exodus 4:10 - 1210 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?

12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

. What more could anyone ask? The Creator and God of heaven and earth told Moses exactly what was going to happen and how He was going to take care of everything and Moses could lean and depend on Him for everything. But this was not enough for Moses, he wanted his older brother Aaron to help him. God's anger was kindled against Moses but He never the less gave in to Moses' request and appointed Aaron to be Moses' spokesman. God even promised that He would tell Moses and Aaron what they were to say - Exodus 4:13 - 1613 And he said, O my LORD, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.

14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

. Without faith it is impossible to please God, Hebrews 11:66 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

, and in asking for Aaron's help when God said He would take care of everything, Moses showed lack of faith. And unknown to Moses at the time Aaron would later turn out to cause quite a problem for him.

At least two lessons can be learned from this part of Moses' experience: first, that God does not normally use those educated and with the most ability, humanly speaking, to carry out His will: "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence." - I Corinthians 1:25 - 29. This is not to say that Moses' education, training and experience in Pharaoh's household would not be valuable to him in leading Israel, but he had to learn to depend on God and not on his own ability to carry out God's work.

The second lesson learned is that we should act by faith in His Word in spite of any doubts we have in our own abilities. "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" - Romans 8:31 & 3231 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." - Hebrews 11:6.