MOSES

This morning I heard on the BBC news about a remarkable rise to fame of a basketball player in New York (USA).  It seems that he was a “reject” just a few weeks ago but is now a super-star!  Apparently he has spoken openly about his belief that he owes it all to God being at work in all kinds of ways (20 or 30 – he says) that have brought about his current situation.

Well, I reckon Moses would say much the same thing.  He would point to many factors – great and small – that brought him to the Burning Bush and the commission from God that transformed the history of the Israeli Nation. 

The Michelangelo sculpture of Moses depicts him with two horn-like protuberances above his forehead.  The ancient idea was that Moses’ experience in the presence of God had given him these horns!  However, it was a mistranslation of a word and should have read “glorified”.  We know that Moses face shone when he returned from the mountain.  However, the idea is sound – that Moses was special, anointed, made capable of amazing things.  Otherwise, we will struggle to see how he could rule over a million nomadic people.

God had a plan from before time began.  This included Moses as leader of the Hebrew slave people – bringing them out of Egypt.  God’s purposes culminated in Christ Jesus!

Just think about the mammoth task Moses had.  He really needed miraculous help and assurance that God had called him to it!  I think this is reflected a little in every church leader’s experience.  We may lead just a few people in comparison but there are many similarities between Moses’ experiences and those of church elders or leaders.

First we see that the Hebrews had a “slave mentality” – they expected everything done for them – good or bad.  They were swift to blame Moses for their conditions rather than see faith in the Lord as the remedy.  The people were “carnal” (or at best infants) and were easily swayed by physical problems and needs.  We might read in amusement how they longed for the cucumbers they could eat in Egypt in preference to the Manna provided by God!  Then there was the battle with Amalek soon after their escape from Pharaoh’s armies and the crossing of the Red Sea.  This is usually taught as a picture of the way the “flesh” (the old nature) and the world can try to discourage the Christian in his or her new life.  The people were ambushed!  Moses need to pray through this and needed the help of other leaders to keep his arms up!

All these experiences have their parallels in the local church.  Leaders, like Moses, need to be clear about their calling and be anointed through being in God’s Presence.  They need to be able to see the hand of God in their experiences and have faith that he has brought them into leadership of their particular group.  They need people to help them in prayer for the people – especially from being ambushed by sin, the flesh and the devil.  Then there is the need for clear teaching about being the children of God and free in Christ – bringing the people out of slavery.  Of course, this requires a clear purpose to bring the people into maturity in Christ – realising their inheritance in Him and the fact that they will be brought to glory as “sons”.

dvc