DECISIONS OF MOSES

Introduction
1. God made us in His image as free-will agents. Life is a series of decisions.
Our decisions have consequences.
2. We can learn from decisions of Moses and the consequences.

I. Moses Decided to Suffer with God’s People Rather Than to Enjoy the Pleasures of Sin.

A. Ex. 2:11-15 He left Pharaoh’s court to see the suffering of God’s people & killed an Egyptian.

B. Acts 7:22-29 Moses believed God could use him to deliver the Hebrews from bondage.

C. Heb. 11:24-27 His decision was made by faith in God. He feared God more than he feared the king.

D. We can learn from the decision-making process of Moses.
1. How shall we analyze & describe his decision to leave Pharaoh’s court?
2. What in Moses’ background made him think about delivering his people from bondage?
3. Was Moses right to want to protect an abused brother & was this killing justified?
4. Why did the 2 Hebrews who fought not yield to Moses’ admonition?
5. What was Moses’ plan for delivering the Hebrews?
6. What was the consequence of Moses killing the Egyptian & how did it affect his hope to deliver his people?
7. Give examples of decisions we might make which are basically right but which have unintended consequences
because our zeal & haste run ahead of our knowledge?

II. Moses Decided to Stop Making Excuses & to Obey God’s Command.

A. Ex. 3:10 When God called Moses to deliver the Hebrews from Egypt, Moses gave many excuses.
1. Ex. 3:11 “Neither the Pharaoh nor the Hebrews have any reason to listen to me.”
a. Why does this appear to be a plausible reason in the case of the Pharaoh? The Hebrews?
2. Ex. 3:13 “How will I explain the nature & character of God to convince the people You can deliver them?”
a. Why does this appear to be a plausible objection?
3. Ex. 4:1 “Just because I give explanations does not mean the people will believe me.”
a. Moses is not yet convinced God has a comprehensive plan & so new objections come
to his mind. Why does he doubt the people will believe him?
4. Ex. 4:10 “I am not an eloquent quick-witted speaker.”
a. Think of Moses’ activities for the past 40 years, and the prospect of appealing to the Pharaoh
& the Hebrew multitudes: How or why does he feel timid & inadequate?
5. Ex. 4:13 “Lord, send someone else” (i.e, I am not the right man for the job).
a. Is this healthy humility or something else?

B. Ex. 4:18-20 Moses decided to obey God.
1. Why? What had changed?

C. We can learn from the decision-making process of Moses.
1. Are the same 5 excuses of Moses or similar ones used by people today?
2. What causes a person to stop making excuses and to obey God?

III. Moses Decided to Act with Courage & Confidence in God at the Red Sea.

A. Ex. 14:10-12 As the Pharaoh’s army drew near, the Israelites reacted.
1. How did they react and why? What were they forgetting?

B. Ex. 14:13-18 In spite of a seemingly hopeless situation, Moses persisted by faith that God can deliver His people.
1. Moses & the people began their exit from Egypt with great joy & relief. They had not expected the Pharaoh
to bring his army in pursuit of them. Now destruction seemed imminent.
2. Moses had no more knowledge of how they could escape than the people did,
but what is his reaction in verses 13-14?
3. What is the difference between Moses and the people?

C. We can learn from the decision-making process of Moses.
1. What are some seemingly hopeless situations in which we might find ourselves today?
2. How might we learn & experience that God is still able to deliver in unexpected ways?

IV. Moses Decided to Pray for Someone Who Hurt Him Deeply, Not to Seek Revenge.

A. Num. 12:1-3 Miriam & Aaron Charged Moses with Arrogance & Usurpation of Authority.
1. The pretext for this harsh criticism was his choice of a wife.
2. Verse 3 shows the character of Moses was directly opposite to the accusation.
He was very humble & lowly in attitude.

B. Num. 12:4-8 God defended Moses as a faithful servant & a prophet to whom He spoke
with special directness & clarity as friend to friend. His authority must be respected.

C. Num. 12:9-10 God struck Miriam with leprosy for leading this uprising.

D. Num. 12:11-13 On behalf of them both, Aaron confessed their sin & plead for Moses to pray
for Miriam to be healed. Moses immediately & meekly prayed for her.

E. We can learn from the decision-making process of Moses.
1. What connection can we see between verses 3 & 13 regarding Moses’ character?
2. Explain why or why not Moses’ would have been justified to leave Miriam a leper?
3. Who today might be charged with pride & usurping authority?
4. How does a person feel when such harsh & unfair criticisms are made?
5. Why is it hard to do what Moses’ did?

V. Moses Decided to Strike the Rock When God Said Speak to It.

A. Num. 20:3-5 The people severely criticized Moses when they found no water at Kadesh.

B. Num. 20:7-12 God told Moses to speak to the rock but he struck it in anger.
1. It was out of character for Moses to sin in deed & word as he did here (Ps. 106:33).
2. “The accumulated anger, exasperation and frustration of 40 years” was expressed
(NIV Study Bible, footnote, p. 219).
3. He was severely punished because his reaction called attention to himself & did not honor God.

C. We can learn from the decision-making process of Moses.
1. When or how might we be provoked to rash anger which dishonors God today?
2. How can we avoid making this mistake?

By Ron Halbrook

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