The Legacy of Moses

Deut 34:1-12

The true battleground for Christians is within our own hearts.

Our victory - a pure and tender heart. (Heb 3:7-8, 11-13)

When we lose the battle for the heart, doctrine (teaching) has little effect.

God will not force us to follow Him, but if we humbly and earnestly seek Him, He takes powerful measures to keep us in His way!

This great power of God can only be defeated by a hardened heart. (Heb 3:9-11)

Moses is a “Christ type”. In order to urge Jewish Christians to follow the Lord, they were shown the heart of Moses. (Heb 3:1-2)

The faithfulness of Moses is an example to be followed and not just praised.

Consider the challenge to stay the course (faithfulness). This is one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit. (Gal 5:22-23)

Moses’ Faith Displayed His Closeness to God.

Moses’ Faithfulness (Num 12:6-8)

(ʾāman). vb. to be true, faithful; to believe, accept as true. Primarily conveys either the state of being faithful or the act of believing something is true.

Fenlason, A. C. (2014). Belief. In D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Lexham Press.

“The quality of reliability, trustworthiness, which makes a man a person on whom we can utterly rely and whose word we can utterly accept.” - Barclay

Faithfulness is especially hated by Satan. Persecution is directed at the faithful!

How much teaching today in essence denies that faithfulness is essential for a Christian? (Ex. Calvinism) (Eph 1:1; 1 Cor 4:2)

Moses was transformed to be like God because he sought God. (Ex 34:5-8, 29-33)

Imagine seeing the glory of God and hearing these words. It even had some sort of physical effect upon Moses!

Moses came to know God! This was a lifelong process. He wanted to know.

Moses had many weaknesses that God worked with. He was impetuous but through failure and trials over time learned humility. He grew! Acts 7:23

Acts 7:23 NKJV

“Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.

At the start he learned that faithfulness comes at a price. (Heb 11:24-27)

Moses knew that faithfulness can only come from hearing and doing God’s word.

He had the best education in the philosophy of the Egyptians. Moses never appealed to nor directed others to consider the thoughts of men! (Acts 7:22)

Hearing, meditating, obeying without compromise is the essence of faithfulness.

Moses was opposed because of His faithfulness. He kept God’s Law and taught others to do the same. (Ex 16:4; 24:12)

Opposition from Pharaoh and others was expected. Moses stood upon the word of God without compromise. He was the ultimate “legalist.” (Ex 10:24-27)

The greatest opposition came from God’s people. How many occasions did the majority of the flock grumbled and sought to overthrow Moses?

Consider the individual opposition! Even Aaron, and Miriam! (Num 12)

Moses’ Meekness Directed God’s Strength toward Others.

Moses’ Meekness (Num 12:3)

ASV - “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men that were upon the face of the earth.”

praus - as a quality of gentle friendliness gentleness, meekness (as strength that accommodates to another's weakness), consideration – Frieberg

“to be becoming, seemly, fit”

Thayer, J. H. (1889). In A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: being Grimm’s Wilke's Clavis Novi Testamenti (p. 535). Harper & Brothers.

The word used here "praus is seen in that it lies between excessive anger (Gr. origates) and exessive angerlessness (Gr. aorgisia). It is true composure, i.e., the ability to be angry at the right times and never angry at the wrong time. Rightly so, the Greeks used praus (meek) for a tamed beast (a horse once wild, but now obedient to bit and saddle).

God spoke powerfully of Moses’ meekness.

How do you respond to men who complain and murmur behind your back and at you personally? He prayed earnestly for them. (Ex 32:10-12; Num 14:11-13)

Parents must find this kind of heart. It is not all about you! We need to pray for our children even when we hate what they’re doing to us.

Is meekness a weakness? No, it is yielding to the power of God. (Rom 12:19-21)

Moses was meek in the rebellion of Korah. (Num 16:1-3)

As a faithful man Moses only delivered and stood by the word of the Lord.

Korah in pride charged Moses with pride. Moses knew this was about God and not about himself! Consider God’s words to Samuel. (1 Sam 8:7-8)

Moses tenderly pleads with Korah and his following. (Num 16:4-5, 8-10)

Korah would not listen but rather push his followers in emotion. (Jude 8, 11)

Consider the general aspects of rejecting authority and speaking evil of dignitaries. That’s what Korah did, and we are not immune from this if we secretly trash the name of our brethren.

Korah and his followers learned the power behind a man meek towards God.

After Korah’s death, the seeds of bitterness still lived in opposition to the faithful, meek Moses! He knew God and still interceded for the people. (Num 16:41)

Consider The Power of Moses’ Example.

He was a forerunner of Christ. (Acts 3:22-23)

He interceded for God’s people. (Heb 7:25 )

Hebrews 7:25 NKJV

Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

He was faithful. (Heb 3:1-2 )

Hebrews 3:1–2 NKJV

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.

He was meek. (Mt 11:29 )

Matthew 11:29 NKJV

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Moses focused so much on God that his message transcended his own time. (Psalm 90)

Who does Moses focus on throughout this psalm?

What if Moses was judged by the numbers who listened and obeyed his teaching?

There was more than one generation that could profit from his words and example.

We need to learn how God builds! I must make faith my own and not look around me at what brethren accept! Look to God! (2 Tim 4:3-4)

Brethren, build on your foundation. Read your Bible every day and take the time to meditate and study on what you’ve read. Just like Moses listened to God at the burning bush, we must listen and obey.

Ally yourself with strong, stable brethren who will help you improve. Spend time with them. Learn from God with them!

Find and take advantage of opportunities to serve. Be willing to serve with faithfulness and meekness like Moses did. Do not let the negative behavior of others keep you from doing so.

Moses was apparently chosen to speak to Jesus along with Elijah. (Lk 9:30-31)

Imagine what that discussion was like! They both provided an encouragement and uplifting for Jesus, who was completely alone.

Moses did not enter the physical promised land but did enter the heavenly one.

Surely he had some understanding of this, standing alone on Mt. Pisgah, overlooking the land he would never get to go to physically, but knowing he would be with God forever. Heb 11:13-16

Jesus built on the work accomplished through Moses! (Jn 5:45-46; Lk 24:44)