DAILY DISCIPLINE #56
By Colleen Donahue

 

The story of the Exodus of the Jewish nation from the land of Egypt is a "landmark" event in world history and certainly a study in itself. The events, trials, and triumphs of the Jews on their way to the Promised Land will be our next study. For now, we'll concentrate on Moses -- God's chosen leader for this time and place.

In the last study, we looked a little at how God trained Moses quietly for 40 years in a desert before calling him as His leader. Only with great reluctance and timidity did Moses step forward and obey God. He showed few signs of being a confident, strong leader, and yet God's Spirit was to be upon him for one of the most important events in history.

In this study, we'll focus on key moments in the life of Moses as he leads two million people to freedom.

MOSES Part 2 -- Learning Lessons in Hard Times

I. THE RED SEA

Day 1- Have you ever felt "penned in" by your circumstances? You couldn't go backward, you couldn't quit, but you couldn't seem to go forward either? This was exactly the place that Moses and the children of Israel were in when they fled from Egypt. The Egyptians pursuing them from behind, the desert on the sides, and the roaring Red Sea in front!
Exodus 14:1-12

Day 2- This charged and perilous situation might have caused panic to any leader's heart but Moses spoke confident words to his people that still apply to us in our situations.
Exodus 14:13-14

Day 3- It's one thing to speak confident words and it's another thing to act on those words. How did God challenge Moses?
Exodus 14:15

Day 4- "To be still and let the Lord fight for us" does not mean inactivity as the Lord Himself now shows Moses. He wants us to be still in our spirits--calmly trusting in God-- but activity is often necessary in our physical lives.
Exodus 14:15b-16

Day 5- Once again we see the need for absolute obedience. Had Moses not acted--despite his own helplessness--perhaps all of history would have been different. But he obeyed and God worked.
Exodus 14:21-31

II. MARAH AND ELIM

Day 6- Having just crossed the Red Sea where did Moses lead the people and what problem did they face?
Exodus 15:22-24

Day 7- Already they had forgotten the glorious victory a few days earlier at the Red Sea. What did Moses do?
Exodus 15:25

Day 8- What else could Moses do? The Lord was the only one he could turn to. Gradually Moses was learning that the whole responsibility of this pilgrimage was on the great shoulders of the Almighty. Whenever there is any trouble or cause for concern our cry should be to the Lord, who is our help in times of present trouble.
Psalm 121:1-8

Day 9- After the experience at Marah, what did Elim contain?
Exodus 15:27

Day 10- Elim is a symbol of rest and refreshment and there is no desert march without one. It is a gift of God when He lifts drooping hearts and feeble knees. Moses had been through nine gruelling rounds with Pharaoh and already had contended with more than enough complaints and criticisms from the people. God knows just how much we can bear and will not allow the temptation to be more than we can withstand.
I Corinthians 10:13

III. REPHIDIM

When the Israelites got to Rephidim there were several lessons for Moses. On this stage of the journey Moses again sees the limit of his abilities.

Day 11- What was the immediate problem they all faced?
Exodus 17:1

Day 12- Now one would think that if God could make bitter water sweet at Marah that He could produce water where there was none at Rephidim. But this was to be an example of the behaviour of a people who had no faith in God.
Exodus 17: 2-3/ Romans 2:5

Day 13- Moses being fearful for his life cries out to God. You can almost feel the exasperation in his voice.
Exodus 17: 4

Day 14- It is actually a blessed position when the providence of God reduces us and we find ourselves facing overwhelming circumstances. We are only left to see that we are not sufficient of ourselves but rather God is all-sufficient.
I Chronicles 29:10-13 / Psalm 115:3 / Isaiah 43:10-13 / Luke 1:37

Day 15- When we are brought to see ourselves in the correct light, then we can be prepared to know God.
Exodus 17:5-7
Here we...
A. See God's patience to supply every need of a grumbling people.
B. Learn the reality of His presence. (vs.6)
C. Learn of God's secret storehouses: water from a rock!

The second significant event at Rephidim was the defeat of Amalek. These people were descendants of Esau's grandson and they attacked Israel from the rear, assaulting the stragglers.

Day 16- Although the physical battle was fought by Joshua and his men, how does Moses directly affect its outcome?
Exodus 17:8-16

Day 17- In earlier days Moses would only have thought to win the battle by fighting, but at Rephidim, Moses learns he can win it by praying. The power of prayer will do the impossible.
Mark 11:24

IV. MOSES THE INTERCESSOR

Often, during his lifetime, Moses was to take the position of an intercessor. An intercessor is simply a man or woman going before God on behalf of another. Israel would have met with destruction for their apostasy had it not been for Moses interceding for them.

Day 18- An intercessor must first be related rightly to God Himself. We cannot go into a bank to draw upon its resources unless we are clear in our own accounts.
2 Chronicles 7:14 / James 5:16 / I John 3:21-22

Day 19- Then, when we come before God we must be able to pray for others in a DEFINITE WAY. God doesn't answer generalities. HE ANSWERS SPECIFIC REQUESTS. Notice these examples in Moses' praying.
Exodus 8:8-9, 29 / Exodus 9:28-29 / Exodus 10:17-18

Day 20- Here are other examples of how Moses prayed specific requests.
Exodus 32:11-14 / Exodus 32:31-32 / Exodus 33:13,15-16 /Numbers11:2 / Numbers 12:10-13/ Numbers 14:11-20

Day 21- There are no set methods for intercessory prayer. Sometimes it just says that "Moses prayed". But notice the times when he was most urgent and CRIED OUT to God. Exodus 8:12, 30 / Exodus 9:29, 33 / Exodus 10:18 / Exodus 15:25 / Numbers 12:13

Day 22- Notice also these serious times when Moses immediately falls face down before God. This humble man often offered himself for destruction so that God would forgive and save His people.
Numbers 16:4, 22, 45b-50

Day 23- Once our request has been made known to God, we need to believe that we have received it and to take the answer by faith.
Mark 11:24 / Luke 11:9 / John 15:7

Day 24- Read how God answered Moses' prayers. You'll see that in almost every instance He did just what Moses asked for.
Exodus 8:12-13, 31 / Exodus 9:33 / Exodus 32:14, 33-35 / Exodus 33:14, 17 / Numbers 11:2 /  Numbers 14:20

Day 25- You'll notice also that besides answering the specific request, God seems to have an eternal purpose in mind.
Exodus 8:10 / Exodus 9:29

V. THE DISOBEDIENCE OF MOSES

The last episode in Moses' life I'd like us to look at may leave us with a popped balloon in regard to this great man of God. Yet it is such an important principle that it must be mentioned.

Day 26- IF GOD (and in this age, Jesus) IS TRULY LORD IN OUR LIFE THEN WE MUST BE ABSOLUTELY OBEDIENT TO ALL THAT HE ASKS OF US. Deuteronomy 26:16 / I Samuel 15:22 / Jeremiah 7:23 / John 14:23

Day 27- Here's how Moses got into trouble....
Numbers 20: 1-11

Day 28- Moses was NOT TO STRIKE the rock but TO SPEAK TO THE ROCK! He had inserted his own will and way as a substitute for God. It was as if a word would not be enough for God to do this miracle. For this seemingly small incident of disobedience, Moses drank from the bitter cup of disappointment.
Numbers 20:12

Day 29- Imagine 40 years of wandering in the desert and looking toward the Promised Land and then not being able to go in! Is there any wonder that Moses pleaded with God to reverse His decision?
Deuteronomy 3:23-25

Day 30- God's response?....
Deuteronomy 3:26-27

We may be forgiven of our sin but the consequences may remain. God's decisions are irrevocable.

Day 31- While it is in God's character to expect absolute obedience from his children, it is also in his heart to forgive, and we find the end record of Moses' life quite touching. Deuteronomy 34:1-7

As with all the great men and women of God, their victories and defeats are for our benefit today. Let us be wise especially in learning from their mistakes so that we can keep ourselves from the same pitfalls and serve God from a pure and obedient heart.

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