Text; Exodus 32:11-14
Theme: Prayer Life of Moses
Greetings & Introduction:
Date of Exodus and date of birth of Moses:
According to I Kings 6:1, the Exodus from Egypt occurred 480 years before Solomon began building the Temple in Jerusalem. It is in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign, about 960 BCE. So, Exodus would date about 1440 BCE. Moses was probably born in the late 14th century BCE. (Encyclopedia of Britannica). Moses lived 120 years and at 80 he confronted Pharaoh. At what age he left Egypt and reached Midian is not very clear. But later Jewish and Christian traditions assumed till he was 40 he was with Palace and then moved to tend sheep.
Illustration:
George Bush met Moses in heaven, and he wanted to talk to him. So, he said, "Excuse me, sir, aren't you Moses?"
Moses stood perfectly still and said nothing.
Again, Bush called, a little louder, "Excuse me, sir, aren't you Moses?"
Again, Moses was speechless.
Bush tried a third time, with a high tone. "Excuse me, sir, aren't you Moses?"
Again, no words from Moses.
Angel asked Moses, why are you behaving so rude?
Moses replied gently: "Don’t you know that last time when I spoke to the burning bush, I had to spend 40 years wandering in the wilderness."(Adopted).
Today, I would like to introduce Moses as a Man of God (Joshua 14:6), a Servant of God (Joshua 14:7), and a Prophet of God (Deuteronomy 34:12) which he attained through his prayer life. As a man of God, he knew his God and his people; as a servant of God, he bridged God and people through prayer; and as a prophet of God, he did powerful ministries through miracles and teachings.
1. MAN OF GOD
Name Moses, (Hebrew: Moshe – mashah= to draw - Exodus 2:10). Josephus and Philo the Historians, express that this word comes from Coptic: Mo = Water, Ushe=Saved =Mouses, The Egyptian word Mes = mesu (son) referring to Egyptian deity Ra-mesu, Thot-mes. Mose means ‘in born’.
Moses was a Hebrew prophet, teacher, and leader. He delivered his people from Egyptian slavery. He received Torah and Ten Commandments; He rendered and codified supplemental interpretations of the Covenant stipulations. He was an organizer and legislator. He presented to Israel the Pentateuch (Encyclopedia of Britannica).
Moses was called the Man of God not just “a” man of God (2 Chronicles 3:16). He was faithful in all God’s house (Hebrews 3:5). He was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3). Moreover, the Lord spoke to him face to face, as a man speaks to his friend (Exodus 33: 11). Moses had several theophany experiences (Exodus 19:18). His staff had divinely power to perform miracles and wonders (Exodus 7:8-13). Moses was exalted as a great person among all men of his times (Exodus 7:1, 4:16, 11:3). Remember that St. Paul’s handkerchiefs had the power to heal people.
James 5:16 says that “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working”. Prayer is the breath of our soul. “Prayer does not bring God to man, but man to God.”
The culmination of Moses’ prayer life was found in Exodus 32: 32. He said to God: "Blot me out of Thy book." If you are not going to forgive the sins of thy people. Again, on another occasion, Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me” (Exodus 17:4). So, God intended to consume the people. God had a deal with Moses that he would destroy the seeds of Abraham but he would make his family a great nation.
Instead of accepting this good deal, Moses interceded on behalf of the Israelites. Moses spoke of the goodness of God, and the promises of God to Abraham (Exodus 32:11, 12, 14). As a Man of God, when spies instigated people against Moses and God. He cried out for mercy and forgiveness (Numbers 14:13-19). Moses addressed the Lord and reacted by protesting when the burden of his mission became too heavy (Numbers 11:10-15).
2. Servant of God
Exodus 3 teaches us that the prayer of Moses was a response to God’s revelation, he built his trust in God and strengthened his relationship with God, and he showed his reverence to God in prayer (George Cherian). Moses prayed for his enemy Pharaoh (Exodus 8-10).
Moses’ prayer consisted of thanksgiving after crossing the Red Sea. He kept on praising God’s strength (Exodus 15:2), and His greatness (Exodus 15:11).
“Moses boldly prays for the return of God’s presence. Better than a prayer for safety, traveling mercies, or physical needs, Moses prays for God–nothing more, nothing less–just God. he prays on God’s promises; he prays for the knowledge of God personally, not about God but God himself; and prays for the favor and ways of God” (Exodus 33:12-15, David Schrock).
Yes, Moses found favor in God’s sight through prayer (Exodus 33:17). He prayed to God when poisonous serpents decimated the people (Numbers 21:4-9).
“Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire died down” (Numbers 11:2). Moses cried to the Lord on behalf of Miriam, ‘O God please heal her–please’ (Numbers 12:13).
Psalm 90 reveals that he prayed for the teaching of life and death, satisfaction on a daily basis and happiness in all situations by trusting God, and restoration equally to the period of loss and defeats through prayer. This Psalm 90 is full of the concept of time. Verses 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, and 16 are referring to the Time and Life of a man, compared with God, animals, plants, and planets.
He spent fasting for 40 days and 40 nights (Exodus 24:18; Deuteronomy 9:9). The number 40 has a symbolic value and suggests the totality of the experience, whereas fasting indicates that life comes from God and that it is he who sustains it. “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
By fasting Moses showed that he was awaiting the gift of the divine Law as a source of life: this Law reveals God’s will and nourishes the human heart, bringing men and women to enter into a covenant with the Highest, who is the source of life, who is life itself. Israelites weary of journeyed with invisible God. So, they went for a visible Golden calf. This is a constant temptation on the journey of faith: to avoid the divine mystery by constructing a comprehensible god who corresponds with one’s own plans, one’s own projects. The prayer of intercession is permeated by the love of the brethren and the love of God, they are inseparable. (Pope Benedict XVI).
3. Prophet of God
Moses was born as an ordinary person. But died as an extraordinary Prophet of God. He was extraordinarily humble (Numbers 12:3). Though he was a murderer (Exodus 2:12), and a man of many lame excuses (Exodus 3-4). But, committed to the extreme end. A great leader with patience, humility, and courage.
Though Moses’ parents Amram and Jochebed were slaves and lived with all vulnerabilities (Numbers 26:59, Leviticus 2:1). His sister Miriam (Exodus 15), and his brother Aaron (Exodus 4:14) were separated at their early stage. He married Zipporah (Exodus 2:21). His Father-in-Law was Reuel or Jethro (Exodus 2:18, 3:21, Numbers 10:29). He became the responsible son-in-law to take care of his six sisters-in-law (Exodus 2:16-22). His sons were Gershon, and Eliezer (Exodus 2;22, 18:4, 1 Chronicle 23:14-15).
As intercessor for the people, he was their priest. His influence continues to be felt in the religious life, moral concerns, and social ethics of Western civilization. (Encyclopedia of Britannica). Moses saw God and spoke: “to him face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 24:9-17; 7-23; 34:1-10, 28-35).
He was a songwriter (Deuteronomy 32). Revelation 15:3 mention the “Song of Moses.” It refers to the victory song sung by the people after crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 15:1-3), rejoicing in Yahweh's glorious victory over Pharaoh's army. It is all about God! The Song of the Lamb is also a song of triumph over Satan, the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and their armies (Revelation 15:3-4).
It was a great honor. There were many songwriters, many hymns, and choruses but this man got this great honor in heaven. God told his day of death and God buried Moses (Deuteronomy 31:14, 34:5-6). Moses died at the good old age of 120. However, his vision was clear, and his strength did not decrease (Deuteronomy 34: 7).
We read as an end note: “there was none like him for all the signs and wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel” (Deuteronomy 34: 10-12).
Conclusion: God raises in every generation who are faithful to carry out his assignments.
