Why God Called Moses
God’s people were in trouble again. God had preserved them by calling Noah at the time of the flood. He had kept them from idolatry by calling Abraham. He had saved them from famine by calling Joseph. Now they were in need of deliverance from slavery in cruel and wicked surroundings. So God called Moses to lead them.
The people groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help went up to God. He looked on them and was concerned about them. He 4 said to Moses, “I have seen the misery of my people. So now go, I am sending you.”
Moses was a strong, intelligent man. He had learned from his mother that God had preserved him as a child. He knew the ways of God and was submissive. Nevertheless, when he received the call of God, he was meek. “Who am I to lead your people?” he asked God. “Perhaps the people will not follow me. How shall I explain to them that you, my Lord, have sent me? What shall I say if they ask me the name of my Lord?”
God told Moses to go in the name of the God of Abraham. Then He gave him the power to do miraculous signs so that the people would believe him.
We have seen that other men had been called to do special tasks in the service of God. But never before had God given to a man the type of commission He gave Moses.
His was a task of direct leadership and persuasion. He was sent to tell others of God’s will for them and guide them in their relationship with God. God equipped him for his mission in three ways: Through the revelation of His name, His power, and His laws.
The Name of God
The term name in the sacred writings refers to the character and inmost nature of a person. It indicates being and purpose. The Lord told Moses to use the name I AM. This was an indication of the unchangeable nature and faithfulness of God. All the work of Moses and all the words he would record were to be based upon the character of God.
The Power of God
The power of God was shown by means of signs and plagues which He revealed through Moses. Before this, God had not used men to work miracles. He told Moses to use these miraculous signs “so that they may believe that the God of Abraham has appeared to you.” By the power of God, Moses’ staff became a snake; his hand became leprous and then was healed; and water could become blood when poured upon the ground. These signs of power confirmed the work of Moses. Later God demonstrated His power in a physical way at Sinai to confirm His written word.
The Laws of God
The laws of God were delivered to Moses by God Himself. Moses was to lead the people in the ways of God. So God provided him with a set of rules to guide their actions. Obedience to these laws would bring success and help people to live at peace with God and with one another. Thus we see that the work and the words of Moses were based upon the character of God, confirmed by miraculous signs, and made effective among men by God’s laws.
For You to Do
Fill in the blanks to complete the following statements:
- God equipped Moses for His mission through the revelation of His
- Moses was the first man whom God asked to put His word into
- Moses was the first man through whom God