Moses: A Life Journey

Have you ever wondered about the Biblical characters and their lives behind the scenes that we see jumping out at us? Often these individuals seem larger than life. Their heroism and tenacity seems more than we can achieve. However, we need to know that these extraordinary individuals were ordinary, often very flawed people, who had an extraordinary trust in God.

We could pick any name from the list of the great heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. Let’s look at Moses. He was born into slavery. His parents hid him for three months because there was a King’s (Pharaoh) decree that all baby boys under the age of two should be killed, and that the midwives were to instantly kill all boy babies born.

What an obstacle! The world was not a welcoming place for Moses. Just being born placed him at risk. Do you ever feel that your life is at risk at no fault of your own? Do you feel like someone is always out to make your life fail before it can even start?

I pray that the life journey of Moses will encourage you to believe God has a purpose for your life, that God orchestrates the process of your life, and that through practice you will be able to navigate the various seasons of your life. Let’s finish the life journey of Moses before we make practical application to our lives today.

Moses’ parents had faith that God would help them protect their son. By three months of age, it was becoming too hard to conceal his existence. God gave Moses’ mother (Jochebed) a plan. She saw the daughter of Pharoah everyday down by the river. Jochebed crafted a baby basket that could float and pushed it near to the princess.

The princess saw Moses and instantly fell in love with him and wanted to keep him for her own, even though she knew it was a Hebrew baby boy. God through seemingly ordinary events miraculously saved Moses through the first hurdle of his life’s journey. Jachebed was even hired to nurse Moses, because what self-respecting princess would breast feed a child.

While born a slave, Moses was raised in Pharaoh’s palace. Moses received the best of clothes, food, and education. A far cry from the life of the slaves from which he came. This portion of his life is not clearly described in the Bible. However, it becomes clear that Moses knew he was a Hebrew by birth, but was living a double life as royalty in the palace.

Somehow, Moses gained an idea that his purpose was to free his fellow Hebrew slaves. However, this was only the beginning of the process. Moses was young (40ish) and very impulsive. This impulsivity would be a life long struggle and a handicap that he would need to practice overcoming through obedience to God.

For a more detailed recap of Moses’ early years before the “Burning Bush” experience and his return to confront Pharoah by declaring God’s words, “Let My people go!” see Exodus 1-2.

The next 40 years of Moses’ life was a process to help him learn to hear the voice of God. The next 40 years after that was the practice of Moses learning to obey the voice of God even in the midst of turmoil.

Let’s now apply Moses’ Life Journey to our journey and see if there is anything that will place us in the Hall of Faith of modern day ordinary people who placed their lives in the care of an extraordinary God.

The Early Years

Every human is born into a family, a geographic location, and a situation that is not of their choosing. However, Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God declares over us, “I know the plans that I have for you, plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.” God spoke directly to Jeremiah (1:5), “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” That setting apart is God knowing the purpose placed within us. Psalm 139:13-18 is David repeating his understanding of God’s miraculous and intricate development of our human form.

In our early years we are raised with a certain level of clothing, food, education, and place of origin that shapes our later years. There are times our lives may be so traumatic that we cannot grasp the love of God and His planned good purpose for our lives. But, as we will see through Moses’ life journey, “It is never too late to adjust to the calling of God on our lives.”

The Young Adult

The young adult years formulate our distinct personality. Our character, strengths and weaknesses are formulated through the experiences we encounter. Left unchecked, these tendencies can become hindrances later in life. What a wonderful opportunity if we are raised in a Godly home, never break the law, never become addicted, and make all the right choices without fail.

I’m sure those people exist, but I know that I grew up in a Christian home and I’m not pleased to repeat the darker side of disobedience that caused heartache for me, my family, and most of all God. However, God’s gracious, quiet, loving pursuit followed me wherever I roamed. The younger we are to hear and obey God will save us unwanted baggage down the rest of our journey.

The Middle Aged

As we enter middle aged life, hopefully we have learned to be more disciplined. We are not tossed by every wave of emotion that comes our way. I believe this is where Moses had arrived sitting on the back side of the desert. He had time to reflect on his life journey so far and weigh the results of his actions and their consequences. Where are you in your contemplation and reflection of your life lived so far? We should not live in regret, but we can live with the intention to change our future choices. Romans 8:1-2 states, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

The Mature

Hopefully we have gained a better perspective of God’s calling and purpose in our lives as we become “mature.” Mature can be a relative age. While many think of mature as over the age of 50, mature is more of being able to live a life that is moderate and content in whatever state we find ourselves (Philippians 4:11-13). Moses at the age of 80 was hearing and obeying God consistently. And yet, some of those youthful faults mentioned earlier did haunt him even into maturity.

We can never let our guard down and think we have arrived. Staying vigilant in prayer and communion with God will help us better weather the storms of life in a gracious manner that produces Godly fruit and helps us avoid fatal consequences.

God told Moses to strike the rock many years earlier to provide the people with water, but this occasion was calling for a different method. Moses’ emotions took precedence over practice. Moses during his mature years had obeyed God and seen great results: the 10 plagues of Egypt, the release of the people from slavery, the parting of the Red Sea with the people crossing on dry land, while the enemy was drowned, the 10 Commandments, the manna and the quail, and countless other displays of obedience. But this disobedience cost Moses from completing his life journey into the Promised Land of God. He was able to look over and see it, but was unable to enter.

Reading Moses’ life journey and how his outburst of anger against the constant grumbling and complaining of the people caused him to strike the rock rather than speak to the rock as God had directed gave me pause to reflect. I don’t want a youthful flaw of my past to cause me to miss the ultimate plan and purpose of blessing that God intended since before I was born.

I pray that this look at Moses’ life journey and the seasons of his life help you reflect on where you are and on how well you are doing. Our ultimate desire for this life is to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness“ (Matthew 25:23).