Home Prophets What we learn from the life of Prophet Moses

What we learn from the life of Prophet Moses

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By Pr Isaiah White

Though the patriarch Abraham is addressed as a Prophet (Genesis 20:7) and Jude tells us that another former, Enoch had prophesied (Genesis 5:24, Jude 14).

Fundamentally, Moses was the first patriarch to launch the office of the prophet in the Old Testament.

While prophecy is original with God, Moses first occupied this office and applied it to its details.

It is clear that Moses is seldom addressed as a Prophet in the Old Testament; he was the greatest prophet in the Jewish economy.

To the Old Testament writers and the Jews altogether, the man Moses was the greatest prophet; the leader of Israel’s deliverance from 400 years of slavery, and the lawgiver.

He is a saint who was buried by God Himself, and he alongside Elijah appeared to encourage Jesus Christ in His lowest moment.

Let us now look at the ways in which God shaped him for greatness and the few lessons we can learn from him.

Circumstantial prep
Moses was born at the time when it was legal in Egypt to kill a male child upon birth (Exodus 1:15-22), but miraculously he did not just survive but rather thrived in such a situation.

He was secured from the river as he was hidden there floating, raised in the palace by the very enemies who wanted him dead.

He was treated like a prince from his childhood to his youthful days (Exodus 2:5-10; Acts 7:21-22).

There is no other scientific explanation for the providential hand of God upon Moses’ life. God was directly involved in the events surrounding the life of this prophet in his vulnerable days.

Moses wasn’t being protected for the sake of protection he was being prepared for future service.

Raised as a prince in Egypt, Moses did not trade his identity, but used his privilege to liberate his enslaved people. (Source/Learn Religions)

Lessons from his Life
The first lesson Moses teaches those persecuted is that success and prosperity are not necessarily the results of running away and hiding from your persecutors.

God has prepared a place for you in the camp of those seeking your head.

Moses who was supposed to be killed at birth was raised by those who were supposed to kill him.

The Lord prepares for us a table before our enemies (Psalms 23:5).

Secondly, though Moses was raised in the palace and trained in all Egyptian languages and culture, he never lost touch with who he was.

Many people under the burden and pressure of success lose touch with their backgrounds and become different people.

We learn from this prophet that no amount of success and good life can substitute our identity.

Christians, rich or poor, strong or weak, far away or near, must maintain their true identity in Christ.

Moses, amidst power and success, maintained his Israelite identity, sympathized with and defended his people (Acts 7:23).

The third lesson is: the good life you are living today could not necessarily be part of your mission in this world.

Therefore, it is important to know and have the will to let go of your comfort and pursue your call.

With all these earthly pleasures and treasures, Hebrews 11:24-27 has this to say about Moses:

“It was faith that made Moses, when he had grown up, refuse to be called the son of the king’s daughter.
“He preferred to suffer with God’s people rather than to enjoy sin for a little while.

“He reckoned that to suffer scorn for the Messiah was worth far more than all the treasures of Egypt, for he kept his eyes on the future reward.

“It was faith that made Moses leave Egypt without being afraid of the king’s anger. As though he saw the invisible God, he refused to turn back”.

By faith, Moses knew that life was not just about material possessions. He knew it was rather about discovering and fulfilling the mission you were created for.

The fourth lesson we learn from Moses is the virtue of patience.

He patiently waited for 40 years, watching the people he loved being oppressed.

Besides, for another 40 years, he watched his status as former prince reduce to a herdsman (Exodus 2:11-7:7).

He persevered the pressure of slavery, wandering in the wilderness for another 40 years (Numbers 32:13).

The Lesson here is not in how long the time was that Moses waited. It is about how Moses was and how he behaved during the waiting. That is what patience is about.

Finally, Moses, at 80 years, embarked on the mission to deliver his oppressed kinsmen from slavery (Exodus 7:7).

We learn that God’s call and mission on your life demands as long as you are alive. It does not matter how old you are.
Even Noah was commissioned to build the Ark when he was already 100 years.

Sarah had her first son in her menopause, and many other characters in the Bible defied age to do incredible tasks.
Outside the Bible, Kentucky Fried Chicken founder, Harland Sanders started his business at 62 years.

God has a mission upon your life. It is neither over nor assigned to any other person as long as you still live.

The writer is a life coach and pastor.

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