Love Is Stronger Than Death Series

MOSES: THE SERVANT OF GOD

Moses led a colorful, controversial and commended life. He was The Prince of Egypt, the Giver of the Law (John 1:17) and God’s Faithful Servant (Heb 3:2, 5). The Lord would speak to Moses face to face (God is the subject or initiator), as a man speaks with his friend (Ex 33:11). A man more humble than anyone else (Num 12:3), he communicated God’s word to the people and even showed up in the New Testament to talk with Jesus (Luke 9:31). He was also a psalmist (Ex 15:1-18, Deut 32, Ps. 90, Rev 15:3), an historian (Num 33:2) and a prophet like no other (Deut 34:10).

Exodus to Deuteronomy relates the story of Moses’ personal redemption, Israel’s national deliverance and God’s implementation of His promise to Abraham. At the end of the wilderness sojourning, Israel emerged as a nation, the apple of God’s eye and a thorn to their enemies, and God displayed His sovereignty over Egypt, Israel and all the nations of the earth in a powerful way.

In this 15-part series, we will learn of the names of individuals, tribes and places; read of personal conflict, group dynamics and national wars; and understand a bit more about Moses’ effort, the people’s experience and God’s expectations of His people.

LOVE IS STRONGER THAN DEATH (EXODUS 1:1-2:10)

The popular and anguished cry – “the city is dying” - swept Hong Kong a few years back. Similar despondent cries appeared all over the Internet from like-minded people from around the world:

“The city is dying and we don't know why.”

“The city is dying, and we are the ones killing it.”

“The city is dying and it's only a matter of time before it's gone.”

“The city is dying and most people are already dead.”

Those who refused to cave in to hopelessness persist with such fighting words:

“The city is dying, but not dead.”

“The city is dying, but the music must go on.”

“The city Is dying but I will not.”

“The city is dying, but we keep going.”

“The city is dying, but God is living," and we are living.

During the worst of times, people rise to the occasion. The first two chapters of Exodus tell of a cruel king, an oppressed people and a slew of heroes, who were all women, especially mothers (two midwives, Jochebed, Pharaoh’s daughter). The account began with slavery and moved quickly to forced abortion and infant genocide. Love, kindness and hope prevailed when violence, bloodshed and fear threatened.

When Israel was in danger of extinction, a few stubborn ladies outsmarted the heartless, headstrong and heavy-handed Pharaoh, who considered the Israelites a political liability, a national danger and an inferior race. God blessed the ladies and treated them well and favorably for displaying faith instead of fear.

How should believers act in times of adversity, hostility and tragedy, especially when others’ lives are at stake, depend on us and require critical assistance?

Show Your Consideration

8 Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt. 9 “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become much too numerous for us. 10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.” 11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour. (Ex 1:8-14)

A long time ago my sister told me she cried while watching the movie “The Elephant Man,” which I did a decade or more later. The Elephant Man was a deformed man who was made into a circus act because he looked part-man, part-elephant. The circus owner exacted money from the curious crowd that paid to see the disfigured man.

A kind surgeon had sympathy on the man, rescued him from his tragic plight at the circus, brought him into normal society and persuaded the general public to accept him as a man and not a freak. The welcome was short-lived and, inevitably, the public regarded him as a creature or monster - disgusting, deranged and dangerous.

The surgeon, however, was more determined than ever to help the Elephant Man as he got to know the sorry figure more and more. He knew that the man was not a creature but a normal person with an ordinary name and an engaging personality. The victim’s name was Joseph Merrick; he was funny, sensitive and vain and his dream was to be like any other human being. He could even memorized Scriptures his mother taught him. The surgeon relentlessly taught people not to be afraid of Merrick, took him to social functions and introduced him to people of high society, even though he won few admirers, friends, or converts.