Name three things that you know about Moses.
Name three things that you know about Moses.
Ric Trent, Local Lay Speaker, UMC Bible Reading: Exodus 3 & 4 NRSV [edited]
10 So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
13 But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”
Then Moses answered, “But suppose they do not believe me or listen to me, but say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” 10 But Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor even now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
12 Now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak.” 13 But he said, “O my Lord, please send someone else.”
Ric Trent, Local Lay Speaker, UMC Bible Reading: Exodus 3 & 4 NRSV [edited]
HOLY MOSES! 1. Important Context 2. Who was Moses as a person?
3. What was his significance?
4.How can we become be>er
Chris?ans today, because of
Moses?
Important Context • Prior to Exodus there were no scriptures,
no Commandments, no moral codes • The world was in a spiritual
and moral dark age
Important Context Continued • Common prac?ce was:
• Child sacrifice • Ritual pros?tu?on • Radical revenge • Lawlessness • Might makes right
Important Context Continued • All wri?ng about leaders was hyperbolic,
no faults • Virtually no value in
individuals especially those with physical challenges
Who was Moses the person? • Put in Nile in a basket as an infant c. 1390 BC • Rescued by Pharaoh's daughter • Named Mo-‐uses “water”, “deliver”.
• His mother was hired as a wet nurse & nanny
• As a young man, killed Egyp?an overseer
• Flees to Midian to escape death penalty
• Lives with Jethro’s tribe, becomes a shepherd
• Had his first prophe?c experience on Mt. Horeb (Mt. Sinai)
• Met GOD, learned HIS name, told to return to Egypt and free the Israelites
• Refused and argued because of his fear of speaking in front of people
What was his signiCicance? • We are here today because of Moses • There were hundreds of decision points that
could have changed the whole world • He formed Israel and sustained Judaism • He led the Israelites out of Egyp?an bondage • Overcame his terror of leadership and joined
with his brother Aaron to lead the Exodus • Encountered tremendous challenges from all sides
Exodus Map
• Exodus was the central event in Jewish history and Moses was the key figure
• Moses wrote the Pentateuch and all of the laws were called Mosaic Laws
• In 613 AD, Rabbinical Judaism codified Mosaic Law into the Mitzvot
• By 1000 AD the en?re Torah was a>ributed to Moses
• His leadership and courage set up the necessary circumstances to begin the count down to Jesus
What can we learn from Moses?
• EVEN Moses felt unequipped to do GOD’S bidding
• It took him 120 years and he s?ll didn’t get it exactly right… But he changed the world
• Walk toward your fear, even if your walk takes 40 years
• Small steps toward GOD’S love can have a huge impact on our future
Ric Trent, Local Lay Speaker, UMC Bible Reading: Exodus 3 & 4 NRSV [edited]