Good morning. Perhaps you have noticed when reading God’s scriptural account of the life of Moses that it is broken into three forty-year stages. For the first two stages we don’t have a lot of information, only descriptions of how each of those stages led to the next. I thought that for today we might consider those “stages of life” questions.
Moses first forty years were exceptional. We know of his beginning, that Pharoah had commanded all boy Hebrew babies to be immediately killed. But his mother believed that he was special, so they took a huge risk to save him. The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was an exceptional child, she hid him three months. Exodus 2:2 We know about the floating basket, about the Pharoah’s daughter finding the basket and claiming him, and that his mother was paid to nurse him as a baby. We know that the name Moses was given to him not by his birth mother but by Pharoah’s daughter. In Egyptian, Mose’ means “son of” and is a name given to one who may become Pharoah. Ah-mose and Thut-mose are the names of Pharoahs of that period. In Hebrew it means “to draw from the water,” which also applied to Moses.
Moses was raised as a prince in Pharoah’s household. We don’t often give that truth much thought but consider how significant this is to Moses’ life history. He was known by the Pharoah when he returned to Egypt. He had a reputation and history in Egypt, and he would have been raised with full military training. There is extra-biblical writing that speaks of an Egyptian general of that period who rose to great prominence. He was accorded with leading armies to several victories, and it is written that he was in line to become Pharoah of Egypt, for he was of the royal lineage. This general suddenly disappeared and was listed in Egypt as one “that would never again be spoken of.” Is this Moses? It is hard to say because wherever this warrior general’s name had been written it was erased from the text. This general fell completely out of favor with the ruling Pharoah who had ordered that it be as though he never existed. Such a description would certainly fit Moses when he made the choice to kill the Egyptian who was mistreating the Hebrew, and then fled to Midian. The Biblical account wasn’t written to satisfy our curiosity, but there are times that I wish it would!
The second 40 year period of Moses’ life begins when he flees Egypt after killing the Egyptian just mentioned. We read in Exodus 2:15 that Pharoah learns of Moses killing an Egyptian and that Moses fears for his life and flees to Midian. If in fact Moses was being spoken of as the next Pharoah, as we considered above, it is reasonable that the current Pharoah would jump at the chance to prosecute and perhaps even kill Moses.
We don’t know much about the 40 years in Midian, only that Moses’ first actions in that far off land were rather heroic. The seven daughters of a priest of Midian (not of the Lord) were being harassed as they tried to water their flock and Moses intervened on their behalf. When the daughters returned to their father, they referred to Moses is this way: When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have come home so soon today?” They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock.” Exodus 2:18-19 At this point Moses continues to look and act like an Egyptian, but that will change.
We don’t know much more about those years, other than that he marries one of those daughters. At the end of that stage of his life Moses encounters God at the bush that burns but is never consumed by the fire. This moment marks the beginning of the 3rd 40-year stage of Moses’ life.
It wasn’t easy for God to convince Moses to return to Egypt, but our mighty God can be persuasive.
Of this last 40 years of Moses’ life, we know quite a bit. It is well recorded for us in the Book of Exodus. But here are a few highlights:
Moses was a reluctant hero, but ultimately he decided to obey the Lord our God.
Moses was not well received in Egypt, but he was unique among the Hebrews in that his history provided him with opportunity. He was able to go to Pharoah and speak with him face to face on God’s behalf. I don’t think any other Hebrew would have had that opportunity.
He remained steadfast in proclaiming God’s Word and commands, even though he did so under threat of his life.
He led God’s people out of Egypt, to the gates of the Promised Land, only to see them reject the gift of God.
Moses led the people through the wilderness for 40 years (amazing how that number keeps coming up). He had his moments of joy, and many moments of sorrow, and some moments of rage. He also had his moments of sin, and that truth kept him from leading the people into the Promised Land when they were ready. At the threshold of victory, God calls Moses home. His time was done, his work finished.
During that last 40 years God gives to Moses His Law and all of the Pentateuch, the first five books of scripture. In 120 years Moses led an interesting life. He went from prince of Egypt, to a poor shepherd far from home, to the hero of the Hebrews and the much revered servant of God. There had to have been vexing questions in his mind throughout each stage, but in the end it all came down to the will of God.
So it is true for each of us. We have questions. Why me and why now? Why not and when? But in the end, it all comes down to the will of our God who is faithful and whose wisdom and love are beyond our understanding.
Serve well today!
Vern