OT Heroes Part III - Moses

I would imagine that one could study the life of Moses in great detail and it would take years to glean all of the meaningful insights and experiences. Here is a Hebrew who was raised as a son of Pharaoh's, a prince of Egypt. He had the very best money and Egypt could offer: food, education, clothes, shelter, etc and yet we find that he is convicted by the treatment he sees of his fellow Hebrews to the point of actually murdering an Egyptian slave master. As a result of this, he runs away into the desert and he stays there for a long time.

Most of us know the rest of the story and how God calls Moses out of the wilderness to lead God's people, the Israelites, out of Egyptian slavery and into the Promised Land with a short 40yr "pit stop" in the wilderness on their way. The significance of the Exodus from Egypt cannot be understated as it is one of the most important events in the history of the Israelite people as well as Christians today. If you have never read this story or you find yourself realizing it has been some time since you last read it, check out Exodus chapters 2 thru however-far-you-want-to-read to see a great story of God's presence with Moses and His people.

The part that I would like to key in on has to do with two things about Moses...1) often times we forget or overlook the fact that Moses was a murderer and yet God still choose Moses to lead His people out of Egypt and 2) like Abraham, Moses has an exchange with God and at one point, after God telling Moses to go get His people out of Egypt, Moses actually tells God he doesn't want to go and asks God to send someone else. At this point in Moses' life, he is shepherding out in the wilderness, comes across a bush that is on fire but not burning up, hears the voice of God speaking to him out of a burning bush and has the nerve, audacity, courage, stupidity (whatever you want to call it) to tell the voice of God coming out of a burning bush that he doesn't think God choose the right guy. The thing I like about this the most is not that Moses felt comfortable enough with God to share his own thoughts on the idea but the patience, faithfulness, trust and wisdom that is demonstrated by God as He deals with Moses.

This is the God I want on my side knowing that He is going to be patient with me when I am unsure, doubtful, questioning or willing to share how I think it should go. Be encouraged to know that it is the same God that showed patience and compassion to Moses who desires to do the same for you.