MOSES

In Hebrews we are told it was when Moses had become great, he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, and in Acts 7 we read: “And when a period of forty years was fulfilled to him, it came into his heart to look upon his brethren, the children of Israel”. Did you ever stop to think what kind of a man Moses was at this time? He must have been a magnificent man. Physically, a splendid specimen; intellectually, learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was “mighty in his words and deeds”, as great in the senate-chamber as on the field of battle; qualified to adorn any position in connection with this world’s system; a man who could ‘fit in’ as they say, and if you are able to adorn this world, it is only too glad to adorn you.

But this world was not big enough for Moses. “And when a period of forty years was fulfilled to him” – he was no mere youthful enthusiast – “it came into his heart”. What came into his heart? A revival of what his mother had taught him. He looked round about him. He sized up the situation. He knew where God was; not in the court of Egypt, but amongst those slaves. He knew that whatever light there was of God in Egypt was amongst them too. His father and mother had belonged to them and he owed everything to them, and he was a Hebrew and ought to be sharing their sorrows, but he had never declared himself. None of these slaves knew about Moses being kindred to them, and few, if any, in Pharaoh’s court. I think Moses must have reasoned ‘Here am I luxuriating in the palaces of Egypt and God’s people in reproach. I can do it no longer’. What does he do? He decides for Christ. I would like to see some man or woman decide for Christ tonight. I would like to win a soul for Christ tonight. I do not mean that I want to win a soul for heaven merely, blessed as that is. I would like to see someone step out in such fashion that they identify themselves with the interests of Christ on earth, so that everyone may know just where they stand.

We read further: ‘it came into his heart to look upon his brethren, the children of Israel’. That is beautiful. His brethren! He really accepted fellowship with them. Who was he? A prince. Who were they? A lot of slaves, but they were God’s people and Moses recognised them as such. He did not patronise them. He identified himself with them. There they were, suffering and in reproach, and his heart goes out to them as he looks on their burdens. He felt for them. He had the heart of a shepherd … Think of Moses, keeping sheep forty years! A scholar, a statesman, a warrior, keeping a lot of sheep! Enough to break his heart. Think of a man, who is to lead three million people across a desert – where do you get any leadership like that? – and yet that man keeping sheep! But it was just the training he needed. It brought him to the end of all that he had acquired in the land of Egypt … There was Moses, forty years in the desert. He was not there a day too long. And now, when he has learned his lesson, the Lord says to him: ‘You can come out now’. … Now the Lord takes him up to deliver His people. The man who has judged Egypt in the light of Christ, and has given up everything to be identified with the reproach of the Christ, the Lord says to him: ‘I will use you to get My people out of Egypt’. A man cannot lead others beyond where he himself has gone.

Extract from pp11-17 of

‘The Courage, Surrender and Recompense of Moses’

by H. Gill

One of the ‘Fundamental Truths’ series available from

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