What can we learn from Moses?

God prepares his servants in secret: forty years in the palace, forty in the wilderness, before forty years of ministry (Acts 7:23, 30; Deut 34:7). Our limits are no obstacle for God: “Who hath made man’s mouth?… I will be with thy mouth” (Exod 4:11-12). A true leader intercedes for those who have let him down and shares the load instead of wearing himself out alone (Exod 32:32; 18:21-22). A single public act of disobedience can be costly, even for a great servant of God: God’s holiness remains uncompromised (Num 20:12).

Exodus and wilderness · around 1525-1406 BC

Moses in the Bible

Israel’s deliverer and lawgiver. Name meaning: “Drawn out of the water”: Pharaoh’s daughter gives him this name, “Because I drew him out of the water” (Exod 2:10)

Born into slavery in Egypt, raised in Pharaoh’s palace, a shepherd in Midian for forty years, Moses is called by God at the burning bush to deliver Israel. Through him, God strikes Egypt, opens the Red Sea, gives the law at Sinai, and leads his people for forty years in the wilderness. The greatest prophet of the Old Testament, whom the LORD “knew face to face” (Deut 34:10), he announces a prophet like himself: Christ (Deut 18:15; Acts 3:22).

Main books: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

Key moments

Saved from the water by Pharaoh’s daughter Exodus 2:10
Called at the burning bush Exodus 3:4
“I AM THAT I AM” Exodus 3:14
The Passover and the exodus from Egypt Exodus 12:13
The crossing of the Red Sea Exodus 14:21
He intercedes after the golden calf Exodus 32:32
He strikes the rock at Meribah Numbers 20:11
He sees the promised land and dies Deuteronomy 34:4–5

Strengths

Humility
Intercession
Faithfulness
Courage
Intimacy with God

Weaknesses

Moses has a hot temper: he kills an Egyptian (Exod 2:12), breaks the tablets of the law in anger (Exod 32:19), and strikes the rock instead of speaking to it, which keeps him out of Canaan (Num 20:10-12). At first, he resists God’s call at length (Exod 4:13).

Lessons for today

God prepares his servants in secret: forty years in the palace, forty in the wilderness, before forty years of ministry (Acts 7:23, 30; Deut 34:7).
Our limits are no obstacle for God: “Who hath made man’s mouth?… I will be with thy mouth” (Exod 4:11-12).
A true leader intercedes for those who have let him down and shares the load instead of wearing himself out alone (Exod 32:32; 18:21-22).
A single public act of disobedience can be costly, even for a great servant of God: God’s holiness remains uncompromised (Num 20:12).

And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Exodus 3:14

And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

Exodus 33:11

The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

Deuteronomy 18:15

People around Moses

Aaron — Older brother and spokesman
Miriam — Older sister, a prophetess
Zipporah — Midianite wife, mother of Gershom and Eliezer
Jethro — Father-in-law, priest of Midian
Joshua — Servant and successor
Pharaoh — King of Egypt who refused to let Israel go

Stories with Moses

Quiz: how well do you know Moses?

From where did God speak to Moses to call him, near Horeb?

Whom did God give Moses as a spokesman before Pharaoh?

What final plague does the LORD announce, after which Pharaoh will let Israel go?

There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start your free trial.