Christ-Light Connections: Moses Escapes to Midian & God Calls Moses to Lead Israel

The theme this week is God wants us to follow his direction rather than our own. As we examine the first 80 years of Moses’ life, we see him learn this lesson multiple times over through trials, confusion, and identity loss.

Adults and youth will relate to Moses in different ways. Those who are older have the advantage of looking back on their own lives and seeing God’s hand at work. Youth have a little less to work with. It is important for us to share with children how God has shaped our lives and to begin teaching them to reflect on their own lives however short. We want them to develop the habit of trusting God to work in and through their lives as they grow up.

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OT 1 13A

Moses Escapes to Midian — Exodus 2:11-21

Context

Israel has now been enslaved in Eygpt for 400 years. In Genesis 15:13-14 God prophesied to Abram that this slavery would come to an end. Four centuries of God’s silence and a powerful slave master had drained Israel’s hope. Would God still keep his promise? How could he rescue them from the most powerful man in the world?

Then, Moses is born and is miraculously rescued from the hand of Pharaoh. Now he has grown up in the palace of Pharaoh with all of the eduction and benefits Egypt had to offer. He was powerful in speech and action (Acts 7:22).

As you teach these lessons, be sure to include the New Testament text Acts 7:17-35 and Hebrews 11:24-27 for more insight into Moses’ faith and character.

Big Themes

Moses’ identity as a young man (Exodus 2:10-14, Acts 7:23-29, Hebrew 11:24-26)

The books of Acts and Hebrews give us more insight into Moses’ faith and thoughts than Exodus alone. When you read these texts side by side we the sinner and the saint at the same time. Moses’ certainly believed in God and believed that God’s people should be rescued. He also saw how remarkable his own life was and (accurately yet prematurely) assumed that he would be the one to rescue God’s people.

When Moses murdered the Egyptian it was out of zeal and passion. When he looks “this way and that” and hides the body, we see that Moses is conflicted about his actions.

Conversation starters:

• Was it a sin when Moses killed the Egyptian?
• Can you think of other examples of misguided zeal for the Lord? (When Peter cut off Malchus’ ear, the crusades, bombing an abortion clinic, lashing out in anger against a child who sinned…)
• What damage can misguided zeal have on the church?

Moses is rejected as leader (Exodus 2:14)

Can you imagine the devastation Moses felt when his fellow Israelites rejected him as their leader? It seems that they had disdain for him and in no way viewed him as a beacon of hope. Moses left Egypt stripped of his identities. He no longer had any rights as an adopted Egyptian and the Israelites thought he was a joke.

Conversation Starters:

• Reread Hebrews 11:24-26. What identity survived?
• Parents/teachers, in what are you tempted to find your identity? How has God taught you to find your identity in him?
• Children, in what are you tempted to find your identity? How might God be teaching you to find your identity in him?

The next 40 years (Exodus 2:15-21)

Moses flees to the land of Midian. The Midianites were descendants of Abraham’s wife Keturah. They were shepherds and nomads. Moses marries a Midianite, has children and becomes a shepherd.

We have the advantage of looking back on this portion of Moses’ life to see how God was preparing him to be a leader. Moses learns humility and patience as a shepherd and he also becomes familiar with the land in which the Israelites would wander for 40 years.

Conversation Starters:

• Parents/Teachers, reflect on how God has prepared you to serve him your life now. Did you follow the path that you expected to follow when you were young?
• Children, can you identify ways in which God has prepared you for how you serve him now? Do you like to think about what God might be preparing you for in the future or do you prefer to just wait and see?

God looked on the Israelites and was concerned (Exodus 2:23-25)

Whenever God “remembers” someone, it is not because he has forgotten. This indicates he is about to act. The Hebrew description of his concern for Israel implies a deep intimacy between God and his people. Our God is a personal God who suffers with us.

This artwork depicts the suffering of God’s people and connects it to Christ. Our God came down to earth to endure the torments of slavery and to rescue us from it. Click on the caption to learn more.

Digging Deeper

The Seeds of Faith resource unites the two stories this week. Click for more or see the key points below.

40 Minutes in the Old Testament

• Episode 63: When grown, Moses comes to the defense of some fellow Jews resulting in him being on the run.
• Episode 64: Moses is on the run, he meets some women at a well (and of course marries one), God hears the cries of His people and a bush is burning but not consumed.

OT 1 13B

God Calls Moses to Lead Israel — Exodus 3:1-21 – 4:28

Context

Moses is now 80 years old. He has a new life in a new land. He is a shepherd, a husband, and a father. In his lowly and unimportant position, God sees fit to call Moses into action.

Big Themes

Mount Horeb (Exodus 3:1)

This mountain is also called Mount Siani and the Mountain of God. It is where God would give the law and reveal himself to his people. Geographic location is often significant in the Old Testament.

Moses meets the bush (Exodus 3:1-6)

Hidden within the bush is none other than the Angel of the LORD. The text indicates that this is God himself speaking with Moses. Moses is instructed to remove his sandals out of respect. The future priests would also minister barefooted.

I AM (Exodus 3:14)

As God reveals himself and Calls Moses there is a whole lot to unpack concerning the identity of God in these verses. The phrase “I AM WHO I AM” can also be translated “I WILL BE WHO I WILL BE.” From this phrase, we get the name Yahweh for God. This name God gives himself is simple and clear. He is the God who exists.

• How does God show that he is the God of the past, present, and future?
• How does God show that he is a personal God?
• How does God show that he is a patient God?
• What does God’s name for himself imply about other gods?

Moses’ objections Exodus 3:11 – 4:17

As the reality of what God is calling Moses to do sinks in, he comes up with a whole list of objections. “Who am I?” “Who are you?” “What if Israel doesn’t believe me?” “I’m not eloquent.” Like a patient Father, God gives Moses all the answers and tools that he would need.

Moses is still not convinced and pleads with God to send someone else. This 80-year-old man was well acquainted with his own weaknesses and struggled to believe that God could accomplish the impossible through him. But God would not let him off the hook.

This feeble version of Moses who is terrified to answer God’s Call is relatable to us who are called to serve in far simpler ways. Satan taunts us with our inadequacies. Ultimately, Moses’ credentials didn’t matter and neither does ours. The only thing that really matters is who is with us.

Conversation Starters:

• How have you been called to serve?
• How do you feel inadequate?
• For more comfort and courage check out Ephesians 2:10

Weird circumcision drama Exodus 4:24-26

After all the back and forth between God and Moses, God threatens to kill him because his son was not circumcised. Zipporah circumcises their son and touches Moses’ feet with the bloody foreskin. These verses are kinda weird but full of symbolism. Moses is saved by the touch of blood from his firstborn son. The same Hebrew verb is used to describe the touch of blood from the Passover lamb on the doorframe.

Digging Deeper

The Seeds of Faith resource unites the two stories this week.

Four Episodes from 40 Minutes in the Old Testament covers the content.

• Episode 64: (Exodus 2:15-3:6) God hears the cries of His people and a bush is burning but not consumed
• Episode 65: (Exodus 3:7-17) The great “I Am” episode.
• Episode 66: (Exodus 3:18-4:17) The conversation with God is wrapped up. Compulsion and striking with miracles don’t have Moses feeling great about all this but God isn’t asking.
• Episode 67: (Exodus 4:18-26) Moses gets ready to go back to Egypt, Christ is foreshadowed and, Zipporah circumcises their son to save Moses’ life.