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Page One-Hundred and Forty-Four

Moses

The First Forty Years In The Wilderness

Notice how God has Moses in the land of Midian. This is important to note, because Midianites occupied the desert north of the peninsula of Arabia. This forty year experience out in the desert would prepare Moses on how to live in an environment of such.

(Bible Study Online Article Covers: Exodus 2:22-25)

In the last article, we touched on some things that would help us connect with Moses on a personal level. But now we begin to move forward a bit more regarding the Sacred Account of Moses. We are now at the point where we get a glimpse of what happened during his first forty years in the wilderness.

Yes, you read that right: "the first forty years." I stress this little bit of information because it's important to know that Moses had already spent forty years in the wilderness prior to the more famous account, which talks about his forty years in the wilderness with the Israelites.

Let's start by looking at the surface of the Sacred Text first:

"And she [Zipporah] bore him [Moses] a son, and he called his name Gershom; for he said, 'I have been a stranger in a foreign land.'" -- Exodus 2:22

As we can see, Moses and Zipporah ended up having a child and named him "Gershom" which signifies (a stranger here, or exiled, or foreigner) just like the text tells us.

And it's by naming his son that we gain some deeper insight into how Moses felt about his new home.

Being that Moses knew that this place in which he now dwelled wasn't who he was or a place that he could call home. One can only imagine how he must have felt, knowing that he had left his people to suffer mightily at the hands of the Egyptians. But honestly, what more could I have done? He could have gone about it differently. Who knows? But that time has passed.

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Moses's Disadvantage

Or Advantage?

When one looks at Moses's disadvantages at this point in his life, it should remind us how blessed we truly are to have the Sacred Scriptures to turn to whenever we need direction and reassurance from the Lord. Moses couldn't see what God was doing for him because he did not know what was to come next, being that he would soon enter into the third phase of his life.

Fortunately for us, we can see if we are willing to look beyond the surface of the Sacred Text. When we learn how to do this, we can see how God was preparing Moses for not only the next phase of his life but also greatness. We can also see how God was molding and crafting Moses into the man He created him to be. Moses couldn't see this, but we can.

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The Preparation of Moses?

Notice how God has Moses in the land of Midian. This is important to note because the Midianites occupied the desert north of the peninsula of Arabia. This forty-year experience out in the desert would prepare Moses for how to live in such an environment. And rest assured, he would need this expertise, being that God would lead him and the Israel nation out into a similar environment for the same length of time.

This is a part of Moses' life that most teachers and preachers mainly overlook. And it's shameful that it is, being that it provides us with some insight into how God would deal with us within our own lives. This record reminds us that even when we don't see God working in our lives, we can be reassured that He is, even though we don't see it. This helps to give us the confidence in knowing that God is always near, despite our situation. We don't need anybody to tell us; we can see it right here and throughout the Word of God.

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Reading God's Word Is Crucial?

This is why we must read about the things that God has already done, so we don't make the crucial mistake of abandoning God before we can see the movement of God within our lives. It's more than this: the Old Covenant, and we are in the New Covenant built on better promises.

We must understand that the Sacred Record shows us how God provided, protected, and blessed those when it came to the Old Covenant. And since God never changes, why shouldn't we expect the same when it comes to the New Covenant that we are beholden to, which is built on better divine promises and the blood of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ? Make no mistake: God will never fail us if we don't walk away from Him.

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A New Pharaoh Rises?

Now let's go forward some more...

"Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage." -- Exodus 2:23

Now we begin to see things developing, as the Scriptures reveal that the Pharaoh who ruled during the time that Moses had fled the kingdom has passed away. This Scripture also points to the Israelites' disappointment after this had occurred. Understand that they weren't disappointed that the Pharaoh had died; in fact, they were happy that he had passed away. The disappointment came after they soon realized that things wouldn't get any better under the new Pharaoh that had risen.

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Israel Cries Out?

But notice what happens when the Israelites cried out to God: "...and their cry came up to God because of the bondage." Could it have been that the Israelites were starting to give up hope? This is why we must keep in mind that God will never put more on us than we can handle, in spite of how unfair the situation may seem to us.

Rest assure, you're a lot stronger than you realize, and often times, God has to put us in an extreme position to get us to realize this. However, look at what happens next: "So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them." -- Exodus 2:24,25

One could wonder: "Could it have been possible that God had forgotten His covenant?" Of course not, but this is how it seemed to the Israelites, being that they had been in bondage for so long. But God had already foretold the length of time that the Israelites were to endure such hardships:

"Then He said to Abram: 'Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions.'" -- (Genesis 15:13,14)

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God Keeps His Word

No Matter What?

Understand that the end of the aforementioned "four hundred years" was fast approaching, and since God had already spoken the prophecy, He would not be made out to be a liar. So therefore, the Israelites will have to endure a bit longer, and endure, they shall.

One can't help but think: What if they could have only known what God was preparing them for? If they had known, would they have emerged from this horrific ordeal as a great nation? But fortunately for us, this we can see, thanks to the Sacred Record, for we are reminded that God strives to bring out the greatness from within us.

If we could only remember these things while we're facing our challenges in life, then perhaps we could go through them with the peace of mind of knowing that everything will be okay and that we will emerge far stronger than before, being that we have the one true God on our side.

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If We Need To Be Reminded

Than So Be It?

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? -- Romans 8:28-31

We must not make the crucial mistake of forgetting these things; we must learn to accept that we are invaluable, priceless, a unique treasure, and a creature with tremendous value. Know this, embrace this, and remember this is who you are.

In the next Bible Study Online Article:

In the next article we will move forward with the "call of Moses." We will journey along with Moses as he comes across the "Mountain of God" and stumbles upon a divine burning bush. Are we daring enough to go beyond the surface of the text?

Related - Bible Study Online Articles - Links

Start Reading a Different Bible Study Online Series:

Joseph the Overseer of Egypt

Jacob Becomes Ill

The Prophecies of Jacob

**YOUR CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES WOULD BE HERE**

Continue Reading - Bible Study Online - Current Series:

128) Moses the Historian

129) The Exodus Stage

130) The Fall of the Hyksos Kingdom

131) A New Pharaoh Rises

132) The Egyptian Affliction

133) Israel a Nation within Transition

134) Israel's New Generation

135) The Hebrew Midwives - Shiphrah and Puah

136) The Hebrew Midwives - The Fear of God

137) Moses the Son of Levi

138) Moses the Son of Egypt

139) Moses the Sympathetic Killer

140) Moses the Exiled Son

141) Moses Finds Refuge in Midian

142) Moses a Man on the Run

143) Moses the Midian Dweller

144) <-CURRENT PAGE->

145) The Call of Moses

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