The Man Moses #3

The Lord said to me,.."I will test my people with a plumbline. Amos 7:8 (TLB)

The Plumbline is a blog to encourage the Body of Christ.

The Man Moses #3

Clayt  II

Announcement of Deliverance: GOD spoke to Aaron, "Go and meet Moses in the wilderness." He followed the instructions and met him at the mountain of God. Moses told Aaron the message that GOD had sent him to speak and the wonders he had commanded him to do. The two men proceeded to gather together all the leaders of Israel. Aaron shared everything that GOD had told Moses and demonstrated the wonders before the people. And the people trusted and listened and believed that GOD was concerned with what was going on with the Israelites and knew all about their affliction. They bowed low and they worshiped. 

God, having spoken to Moses, allows him also a liberty of speech, which he here improves; I. He objects his own insufficiency for the service he was called to (v. 11): Who am I? He thinks himself unworthy of the honor, and not equal to the task. He thinks he wants courage, and therefore cannot go to Pharaoh, to make a demand which might cost the his head: he thinks he wants skill, and therefore cannot bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt; they are unarmed, undisciplined, quite dispirited, utterly unable to help themselves; it is morally impossible to bring them out.

1. Moses was incomparably the fittest of any man living for this work, eminent for learning, wisdom, experience, valor, faith, holiness; and yet he says, Who am I? Note, The more fit any person is for service commonly the less opinion he has of himself: see Judge. 9:8, etc.
2. The difficulties of the work were indeed very great, enough to startle the courage and stagger the faith of Moses himself. Note, Even wise and faithful instruments may be much discouraged at the difficulties that lie in the way of the church’s salvation.
3. Moses had formerly been very courageous when he slew the Egyptian, but now his heart failed him; for good men are not always alike bold and zealous.
4. Yet Moses is the man that does it at last; for God gives grace to the lowly. Modest beginnings are very good presages.1

Pharaoh's Opposition: Moses and Aaron presented their plea to Pharaoh to let God’s people go. Pharaoh said, "And who is GOD that I should listen to him and send Israel off? I know nothing of this so-called 'GOD' and I'm certainly not going to send Israel off."  Moses continued, Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness so we can worship our GOD lest he strike us with either disease or death."  But the king of Egypt replied, "Why would you suggest the people be given a holiday? Get back to work!"  Pharaoh took immediate action. He sent down orders to the slave-drivers and their underlings: 


Israel's Task Increase: Pharaoh changed the rules mid-stream. His word was "Don't provide straw for the people for making bricks as you have been doing. Make them get their own straw. And make them produce the same number of bricks—no reduction in their daily quotas! They're going around saying, 'Give us time off so we can worship our God.'  ( You can read the story in Exodus 4:29-31; 5:2;5:7-9).

The next edition we’ll discuss The Plagues.