Moses

In Moses and his relation to Israel, we see leadership and preservation combined. “And by a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.” Hosea 12:13. More than two centuries in Egypt, perhaps half of that time in bondage, had reduced Israel to a host of slaves without leadership and without hope. But eighty years before the time of their release God began to prepare them for that momentous hour when they would be delivered. He impressed the daughter of Egypt’s monarch not only to spare the life of the baby boy she found at the Nile’s edge, but to adopt him as her own son. He prompted her to leave the child with his own mother until there had been opportunity to teach him unforgettable lessons about his God and his people. At the age of twelve years he began a quarter of a century of training for leadership, so that he might know how to organize and direct his people when they would go forth to the Promised Land. Forty years more were needed to soften the heart of the general of the armies of Egypt, that he might be qualified to be shepherd of the flocks of the Lord when Israel should leave Egypt.APAY 152.1

During the days in the desert the Lord called the shepherd of Midian to be His prophet. He opened to him views of the events of creation week, the fall of man, the days of evil, the Flood, Abraham’s call to become the father of God’s nation, and the early experiences of Israel in Egypt. These things Moses recorded, and they have come to us in the book of Genesis. He became God’s historian of the beginnings of the world. Then one day he was called to active service as the Lord’s representative to lead Israel out of Egypt. From the land of bondage to Mount Sinai, and then through forty years of wilderness wandering, and finally to the banks of the Jordan, ready to enter the Promised Land, Moses led the chosen nation. Not permitted to cross the Jordan himself, he was given a panoramic view of the land. He died and was buried by angels, and later he was resurrected and taken to heaven. In New Testament times he appeared with Elijah on the mount of transfiguration, and he thus encouraged Christ when He faced the hour of trial and suffering.APAY 152.2

In this prince turned prophet, this general turned shepherd, are illustrated all the functions of the prophet. Moses was the greatest of them until the coming of the One who was to be “like unto” him. Writer of Scripture, leader, judge, messenger of God, psalmist, preacher, guide, protector, worker of miracles,—Moses was all these and more. He fills his own peculiar place in sacred history; his position is unique because his task was unique. The Exodus of Israel typifies the experience of the remnant church in its preparation for entrance to the heavenly Canaan. Because of this, the life of Moses and the journeys of the children of Israel deserve our intensive study in order that we may learn their lessons without having to repeat all their mistakes. Through the crises the prophet of God guided the destiny of the vast multitude who would have lost their way completely had they ignored the divine instruction.APAY 153.1