Wilderness University - Week 1

Exodus 2:11-3:12

I. Moses’ Lapse (Exodus 2:11-15)

A. His Good Intentions (11)

Moses was 40 years old when these events transpired, up until that point, he was being trained and groomed to be the next Pharaoh.

“he looked on their burdens” = Moses went out from the palace one day and he saw his people being mistreated by the Egyptians and it made him emotional. Moses shared God’s heart for His people. God had placed the deliverance of His people upon Moses’ heart

Hebrews 11:24-26 tells us that he deliberately made the choice to identify with Israel rather than Egypt by faith.

Moses had learned about God most likely from his biological mother, who was a faithful Jewish woman.

Because he had a heart filled with sympathy for his brotherhood, he could not just stand by and do nothing.

Moses had good intentions here: He wanted to do something about the injustice upon his people. He wanted to be the one to deliver them from their bondage.

B. His Poor Decision (12)

Moses wanted to be a hero. He thought he was the perfect man for the job to deliver the people of Israel from their bondage. However, he went about it the wrong way.

The fact that he looked both ways to make sure noone was around was a dead giveaway that he knew what he was about to do was wrong. You dont hide it if your conscience wont be affected by it.

Acts 7:23-25 gives us some insight on this

Acts 7:23–25 KJV 1900

23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: 25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.

Moses thought that the Israelite that he saved from oppression would go and tell the others that Prince Moses was on their side and he was here to save the day, and that they would recognize and follow him as their deliverer. But it didnt happen that way

C. His Total Rejection (13-14)

The next day, Moses comes out to settle a dispute between 2 Israelites that were fighting with eachother. Again, in his mind, he’s thinking that they will look up to him, they will hear his word and follow what he says… but thats not what happened

They rejected Moses! And in so doing they said “we dont want you to rule over us and tell us what to do.”

You can see the similarity to Christ here. Jesus Christ was the Royal Prince of Heaven Who came to deliver His people from the bondage of sin (Egypt), but His own people rejected Him.

People today say something similar in their rejection of Christ: “we dont want God to tell us what to do!”

D. His Embarrassing Departure (15)

Moses saw himself as the key man for the deliverance of Israel b/c of his royal background, education, success, and sympathy for his people. But instead his plan ended up being a total failure and he ended up on the run. He went from a Royal palace to living in a barren wasteland of Midian. Where did it all go wrong?

He did it his way, and not God’s way… God never instructed him to do that

He never asked God about this plan… He acted on impulse, not on direction from God

He had good intentions, but went about it all the wrong way

II. Moses’ Learning (Exodus 2:16-3:1)

As he is fleeing to Midian, it is likely that Moses felt like God’s plan for his life was defeated. He probably believed that the only chance he had to deliver his people is now over and there’s nothing else he can do. He can never go back to Egypt! But it was at this point, God had Moses right where He wanted him.

Moses was too big for God to use. Moses tried to do God’s work in man’s wisdom and power and it didnt work. After 40 years of seemingly perfect preparation, God had another period of preparation for both Moses and Israel.

God had to teach Moses some lessons before He could use Moses to be the deliverer of Israel

A. Moses Learned Humility

Moses went from having everything handed to him and being waited on hand and foot to being a runaway in a desert with nothing.

He meets the Priest of Midian (Jethro) and Jethro takes him in and gives him a job… the job of a Shepherd, the job of a servant.

Moses ended up spending 40 years in Midian and he never owned his own sheep. Exodus 3:1 says he was tending his father in laws flock! talk about a dramatic shift in lifestyle.

In Egypt, Moses learned to be somebody… in Midian, Moses learned to be nobody!

B. Moses Learned Responsibility

He settled down and had a family. He married and had 2 kids with Zipporah, something he never did in his 40 years as being the Prince of Egypt.

There is a sense of maturity that comes when you get married

There is another sense of maturity that comes when you raise children

Moses was also given a job of a Shepherd, which was hard work. This was not a “waiting” time for Moses, it was a “working” time! Moses had never worked this hard in his life!

He was unknowingly being trained by God to be able to lead the flock of Israel!

Marriage, Kids, and hard work taught him something he never learned in the luxury of the palace… Responsibility and Maturity

C. Moses Learned Contentment

Moses never in these 40 years mentioned going back to Egypt to “try again”. He had become content with where God had brought him and was focused on the task he had been given, which was being a family man and a shepherd.

It is possible he felt like he blew his only chance at ever being able to deliver the Hebrews. He named his son Gershom which means a person who has been exiled from his home.

Either way, it is evident that Moses had “settled down” in Midian, and as far as we know, had no plans to ever go back to Egypt

D. Moses Learned Leadership

He learned how to lead a home, lead a family, and lead sheep… all things that would come in handy later on in his life when he leading the “sheep” of Israel.

God allowed Moses to go through 40 years of the wilderness to bring Moses to the place where he could be used of God… he was brought low so God could bring him high! James 4:10 “10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

III. Moses’ Life’s Purpose (Exodus 3:2-12)

Being a shepherd in Midian is probably not what Moses had envisioned for his life, but he was being led the whole way by the Lord. God was orchestrating all of this so that He could use Moses to be the leader Israel needed

A. God’s Call to Moses (2-6)

Moses, while minding his own business and doing what he always did, has an encounter with God in the desert.

God appears to Moses in the burning bush. It was not uncommon for bushes in the desert to spontaneously combust, but what made this stand out was 2 things: 1) the Angel of the Lord appeared in it and 2) The bush burned but was not consumed

Notice how God did not call unto Moses until He had his full attention.

The burning bush captured Moses’ attention; but it changed nothing until Moses received the Word of God that came to him there

The first words God said to Moses was “Moses, Moses”. Even though Moses had become an obscure figure living in an obscure place, God didnt forget where he was or who he was!

Moses was in the very presence of God and bowed down himself and humbled himself before the Lord.

B. God’s Commission to Moses (7-10)

God tells Moses that He has heard the cries of Israel and is aware of their affliction and He wants to use Moses to deliver them

See the connection between verse 8 “I am come down to deliver them” and verse 10 “I will send thee”. God uses human instruments to complete His work. He wants to work with us!

Moses certainly wasnt expecting this! He possibly had forgotten all about his people, or maybe he just never thought he’d get another opportunity to fulfil his dream, but here’s God, calling him to do what he wanted to do 40 years earlier.

Why didnt God let him do it 40 years ago? Moses wasnt ready for it! But now he was!

C. God’s Changing of Moses (11)

How do i know Moses was now ready to be the deliverer? Because of what he says in response to God “who am I?”. 40 years prior, he wouldve said “im the perfect guy for the job” but now he says “are you sure you want to use ME?”

God had allowed Moses to be in the wilderness for 40 years to get him to this point. God knew he wasnt ready 40 years ago, but His preparation worked! God knows what He is doing!

D. God’s Correcting of Moses (12)

God’s reply here is intended to take the focus off of Moses’ question “who am I?”, because it wasnt the right question to ask! He says “I will be with thee”

Essentially “it doesnt matter who YOU are, it only matters Who I Am, and Im going to be with you!”

When we know God is with us, it gives us the confidence to do His will!

At this point, now that God has promised to be with Moses, he now has no further right to object to God’s call!

Conclusion

Has God put something on your heart to do for Him but He’s not letting you do it yet? Just be patient, God is getting you ready. If Hes not letting you do it now, its because youre not ready for it yet!

Embrace this time in the wilderness

Have you found yourself in a spiritual wilderness because of a mistake you made or maybe through no fault of your own? Just hold on, when it feels like God is doing nothing, He’s always up to something!

Instead of asking God to remove you from the wilderness, ask God to help you learn everything He wants you to learn in it!