Go Down Moses: a Passover Story (Part 2)

Go Down Moses A Passover Story (Part 2)

Lesson By: Elisabeth Pointer

Moses Finds a New Home While Moses was in Midian he saw seven women giving water to their father’s sheep. Other shepherds came to the same area and tried to make the women leave so they could water their own flock. Moses, however, defended the ladies and helped them with the sheep. The women were very grateful for what Moses did. When they returned home, Jethro, their father, asked, “How is it that ye are come so soon today?� After his daughters explained what Moses had done for them he of course wanted to meet such a nice young man. He then asked his daughters to invite Moses to their home.

Moses Gets Married!

When Jethro saw Moses he liked him very much and gave his daughter Zipporah to be his wife as well as a place to stay.

Together, they had a son by the name of Gershom. And Moses became a shepherd, tending to his father and law’s sheep in the land of Midian.

Israel Cries Out As the years passed, the king of Egypt died but Israel continued to be in captivity. And because of their captivity they were very sorrowful and cried out in distress.

The Lord in heaven heard this cry and had compassion on the people.

For he remembered the promise he made with the Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, the forefathers of Israel.

The Burning Bush While Moses was tending to the sheep, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God. Suddenly he saw a burning bush but the fire did not destroy it. Moses marveled at this and had to get a closer look but before he could get any closer the voice of God spoke to him from the burning bush and said, “Moses, Moses, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.�

God Introduces Himself to Moses The Lord also told Moses that he was the God of his forefathers, Abraham, Isaac & Jacob. Once Moses heard this he became scared. He just felt that God was so holy and he was nothing in comparison so he hid himself and did not look upon the Lord. But the Lord continued to speak. He explained to Moses how he saw the pain and suffering of Israel because of their captivity in Egypt. Well God wanted to put an end to Israel’s troubles and deliver them from this wicked land.

God Introduces Himself to Moses The Lord had a great plan for Moses. He wanted him to go to Egypt and meet Pharaoh face to face to free Israel from captivity. But Moses was so afraid and didn’t think he was the right person for the job. You see, Moses was a humble man...he didn’t think he could speak well and was very unsure of himself.

Moses asked God, “Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? “ And God said unto Moses, “I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” God sure does have a lot of names!

God’s Plan for Israel The Lord or I AM, commanded Moses to go unto the elders of Israel and tell them that God did indeed come unto him in Mount Horeb in the burning bush. And that Moses and the elders were to go unto the King of Egypt, telling him to let the children of Israel go. The Lord knew that Pharaoh would not let his people go, “no, not by a mighty hand.” But it was God’s will for Pharaoh to refuse to let the children of Israel go. But why? Because the Lord first wanted to stretch out his mighty hand and strike Egypt with great plagues. Only after all these plagues would come to past upon Egypt, would Pharaoh let the people go. This was a judgment that God placed upon Egypt for the cruel bondage they put Israel in.

Moses Still Unsure Despite God’s powerful plan, Moses was still very unsure of himself. He told the Lord that the people of Israel would not believe him. So God gave him a sign. He commanded Moses to cast his rod upon the ground and do you know what happened? It became a snake. Yuk! When Moses grabbed the snake by its tail it became a rod again. The Lord then commanded Moses to place his hand on his chest and when he took it out it was white or “leperous� as snow. Wow! Moses put his hand back onto his chest and it returned back to its normal color. These were two signs that God gave Moses to show the people of Israel to ensure that they would believe him.

Off to Egypt!

Even with those two great signs, Moses still didn’t want to face the elders of Israel or Pharaoh. He told the Lord that he was not eloquent with words and was “slow of speech.” In other words, he wasn’t a good speaker. But God explained to him that he would be with him and give him the words to speak.

Even still, Moses wanted the Lord to send someone else. Well God became very angry and frustrated with Moses because he was so uncertain. He then commanded Moses to go unto his brother Aaron, who spoke very well. His brother Aaron would be like his spokesperson to the elders of Israel and Pharaoh. Afterwards, Moses went to Midian to say goodbye to Jethro his father and law. He then put his wife and sons on an “ass” or donkey and off they went to Egypt.

See What Happens in Part 3

Questions?

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