In last week’s blog, we learned about the role the nation of Israel was to play in God’s promise to bless the world through Abraham’s posterity. https://www.cosdavis.com/the-promise-and-gods-plan-for-israel//provides details of God’s plan for Israel’s unique relationship to Him and their task of blessing pagan nations by becoming a “holy” nation and a “kingdom of priests”.
Two months after being freed from slavery, Moses and the Israelites arrived at Sinai. Through Moses, God revealed His plans to the people, and their response was, “All the Lord has spoken, we will do!” Exodus 19:8.
With their agreement to obey, God begins preparing them to fulfill their part of the covenant agreement. They have inherited the promise God made to Abraham, a lofty, important goal for which they will need His preparation and guidance.
Can you imagine the difficulties that such a task would entail? These people had known nothing but slavery all their lives. They are just beginning to taste what freedom is like. Some questioned the wisdom of leaving Egypt; although they were always being told what to do, there was food, and the certainty of their day-to-day routine was reassuring. However, they seem to be growing in their trust of Moses, and God’s covenant offer brings a hearty “yes.”
Like many of us, the Israelites didn’t realize that their covenant with God would require significant adjustments and discipline on their part. When God calls us to do His work, He provides the guidance and help needed to obey Him. We may not like it, we may chafe under it, but God’s way will bless us as we bless others. God knows us and what we need, and all His instructions are for our good.
How does God prepare Israel for fulfilling the promise?
How will this disorganized mass of humanity become a unified nation? How will they come to understand and “own” as their task?
God chose a great leader.
The Israelites were a disorganized, confused, and aimless mass of humanity. And God’s goal was to make them a holy nation and kingdom of priests that would bless the pagan nations. This was a gigantic task, one that would need a great leader.
God had determined that man was Moses. God knew the potential greatness, the heart, spirit, and personality of this man. You may recall that Moses argued with God and made excuses about his inabilities, but God convinced Moses that what he lacked, He would supply by His presence with him.
When God needed a man to save His people during a great famine, He raised another great leader, Joseph. https://www.cosdavis.com/josephs-exemplary-leadership/. When God needs something done, He looks for leaders to inspire, teach, equip, correct, and guide those under their care. We are in desperate need of godly parents, teachers, pastors, businesspeople, politicians, and world leaders who will serve God and those under their authority.
Moses was such a man for the hour in which God needed him. You will see in the Exodus, chapters nineteen through thirty-two, at least four occasions in which Moses went back and forth between God and the people to receive God’s instructions and communicate them to the people.
As we will discover in next week’s blog, Moses received God’s directions (commandments) for holy living, plans for the tabernacle, and the selection of priests, their vestments, and duties. Moses is the leader of the nation and will carry out God’s plan to inspire obedience among the people and help them fulfill the promise God made to their “father”, Abraham.
How important was Moses to the nation of Israel? How important is he to Christians? I think you may find this article interesting https://bustedhalo.com/questionbox/who-was-moses-and-what-is-his-importance-for-christians
A couple of things I want to mention before you go. Regarding leadership, there is no more important leadership role in society than parenting. Parents must be intentional, teaching God’s word and way to our children. We must understand the purpose of life and assume the privilege of guiding our children and laying the foundations for their personal faith in Christ. Here’s a book for you or someone you know that will be a great resource in this most important of all parenting tasks. https://www.cosdavis.com/product/parenting-with-a-purpose/
Also, please remember to invite someone to sign up for my blogs at http://www.cosdavis.com