Cheat

Sheet: Moses

Bible Study 7/8/2011

All In with Moses Check-in: Homework Assignment: How did we do in following God in the little things? Any stories? Did anyone read the whole story of Abraham? Introduction to Moses: Genesis 15:13-16; Genesis 50:24-26; Exodus 2:23-25; Last week we left off with the testing of Isaac and the confirmation of Gods covenant with Abraham. In the story of Moses we see Gods covenant to make Abraham a great nation in the land of Canaan come to fulfillment. There is a lot of content with Moses: For Abraham we looked at 10 chapters. Moses life covers 4 books of the Bible or 137 chapters. We will once again be hitting the high points on a timeline of his life in this study. Moses story is tied to Israel you cannot separate the two. A Slow, Stumbling Start o Moses story begins in the book of Exodus, when the children of the people of Israel are being slaughtered to keep their population low. Gods people have multiplied but they are in trouble. o Timeline: Moses Birth : Exodus 2 o Moses is born and grows up in Pharaohs household, which is great, except that all of his people, the Israelites, are enslaved. o Timeline: Murder/Flight to Midian : Exodus 2:11-14 Just like Abraham lying when he first left home after going all in, Moses really messes up at the beginning of the story in Exodus 2. What does Moses do? Why does he do it? Zeal without knowledge: Moses has the right idea (free Gods people) but he is going about it in the wrong way. Sometimes we have the right goals in mind but we try to take our own way and it just lands us in trouble. Remember: Gods future, Gods way. Moses flees: Read Exodus 3:21-25. Moses is in Midian for 40 years just having a family, but has God given up on Israel? Do you think it was hard for Israel to wait on God? o Timeline: Burning Bush: Read Exodus 3-4:17.*** What sticks out to you about this passage? Does Moses seem excited about the job God gives him? What are his fears? Do you have any fears about God calling you to be all in? o Timeline: Return to Egypt / Bricks Without Straw : Exodus 5 Pharaohs increases the labor of the Hebrews when Moses comes, so they hate him.

Cheat Sheet: Moses

Moses asks God, O Lord, why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all. (ex. 5:23) Moses expected the job to be quick and easy, but in the story of Moses, we see that Gods plans often arent quick or easy. Timeline: 10 Plagues and Passover : Exodus 7-12 What are some of the ten plagues you remember? What is the last plague? Whats the Passover? Timeline: The Exodus : Exodus 14 This is Israels redemption story. When Moses leads the people of Israel to the edge of the sea, there is no way out for them except death, unless God makes a way, and thats when God does. Jesus does that on a bigger scale. Cool side note: Moses name means draw out Did God know what He was going to do with Moses even when he received his name from an Egyptian woman? Timeline: Israel at Mount Sinai, Ten Commandments, Golden Calf : Exodus 32-33 Has anyone seen The Prince of Egypt? That movie ends after the Exodus. Moses story is far from over though; its only just begun. God saves Israel from slavery in Egypt, but he is also saving them to the Promised Land so that they can be his nation of priests. Being a nation of Priests means revealing who God is to the world around them. God shows Israel how to do this by giving them the law. The law is VERY important. The people agree with Moses to do everything God says, and then break the 1st commandment when Moses leaves to hear from God for 40 days. High highs, low lows. Why does Israel lose faith so quickly? Timeline: Gods Character Revealed to Moses : Exodus 34 o Moses doesnt know how to lead Israel. So he says, If I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. What is God like? Read Gods answer in Exodus 34:6-8. He could have said anything, why does God say this? Timeline: Moses Sends Spies to Canaan, Israel Rebels, Moses Intercedes : Numbers 13-14 o Big Jump to the book of Numbers, this is 2 years later. The people have been wandering around the wilderness and are about to enter the Promised Land. o Moses sends spies, but they come back saying the land is full of other nations that will kill Israel off. Israels leaders insist that God will make a way, but the people dont want to go to the Promised Land anymore.

Cheat Sheet: Moses

o God is angry and wants to kill all of Israel. o Read Moses intercession in Numbers 14:13-19. When Moses asks God to forgive the people, he appeals to what God said about himself in Exodus 34. o Moses has gone all in, but the people following him havent, but he doesnt give up on them. Timeline: Moses Strikes the Rock : Numbers 20:10-13 o Even though Moses has been the leader of Israel for years, he still doesnt get it all right, and this story is another example that being all in doesnt mean being perfect. o What does God tell Moses to do? o Why doesnt Moses do it? o If God forgives Moses, why are there still consequences? Timeline: Moses Commissions Joshua to Lead Israel / Death of Moses : Deuteronomy 31, 34 o Moses has done his job leading the people of Israel, but the people of Israel still must be led. o God cares about legacy. o Where does Moses die? o Moses sings a song and blesses Israel before he dies. He led Israel faithfully for 40 years, and gets to look out over the Promised Land, knowing God will take his people there. Sounds like a fulfilling final moment. Lessons from the Life of Moses: 1) Going All-In with God = . As Moses walks more and more with God and follows Him he gets to know God better and better. (Exodus 3:13-15, Ex. 33:9-11, Ex. 34:6-7) 2) God works through you of you. (Ex. 3:11-12, 4:10-16, Ex. 5:22-23) 3) Gods promises are not without . (Numbers 13:25-29, Ex. 14:10-14) 4) You are a . Moses didnt get delivering the Israelites right the first time; he murdered an Egyptian and ran away from Egypt alone (Ex. 2:11-15) It takes a lifetime, and even then youre not perfect (Num. 20:10-13). Moses is one of the heroes of the faith, and he didnt get started as the leader of Israel until he was 80 Does that

Cheat Sheet: Moses

mean the first 2/3 of his life was worthless? No. God knows what He is doing and will work in your life in His timing (Ex. 2:23-25).

5) God is concerned with ; his plan includes us, but also extends beyond us. Just like Abraham died having seen Isaac being born but not seeing his descendants as numerous as the stars, Moses dies on a mountain overlooking the Promised Land, which the people he led are about to inherit. Joshua, his follower, dies after only part of that land has been conquered, etc (Exodus 31:1-8). 6) God saves you . The Lord saves Israel from being a nation of slaves so that they can be a nation of Priests. (Exodus 2:7-10) The road to becoming a nation of priests is a long one, and the human tendency is to be impatient and to abandon Gods plan when we dont see it fulfilled. Like Moses, we are called to endure in the wilderness in hopes of the Promised Land.