Moses the Prophet, the Beginning of Service, and the Stages of the Lord’s Work of Salvation
Moses the Prophet
3 – The Beginning of the Ministry and the Stages of the Lord’s Work of Deliverance
An Excuse, and Excuses
There is a difference between Moses’ excuse from ministry and the excuses of others.
- His excuse was not like that of Jonah, who fled from the Lord.
He did not flee out of humility, feeling weak or unworthy, but fled to preserve his dignity and the fulfillment of his word.
He feared proclaiming destruction upon the city of Nineveh, lest the Lord relent afterward, and thus Jonah’s word would fall! For this he fled. And when the Lord reproached him after Nineveh’s repentance, Jonah said to the Lord in anger:
“…Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and One who relents from doing harm.” (Jonah 4:2). - Moses’ excuse was not out of lack of care for ministry, nor a desire to be busy with worldly matters.
As happened with some whom the Lord Jesus Christ called. One said: “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” Another said: “Permit me first to bid farewell to those in my house.” (Luke 9:59, 61).
Or like those invited to the great supper, who “all with one accord began to make excuses.” One said, “I have bought a field… excuse me.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen… excuse me.” Another said, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come…” (Luke 14:18–20). - Moses’ excuse was not out of lack of zeal, but lack of ability…
It was not mere words of humility but a true feeling of weakness.
His many questions to the Lord in presenting his excuses were evidence that he was taking the matter seriously, presenting the problems of this ministry before God.
But God did not accept Moses’ excuses, and confirmed his calling.
He granted him Aaron and the rod, and explained to him what to do…
The beautiful point that draws attention concerning the rod is the Scripture saying: “And Moses took the rod of God in his hand.” (Exodus 4:20).
Thus it was the rod of God, not the rod of Moses.
And the miracles Moses performed, he did not perform by his rod, but by the rod of God… that rod of which God said: “And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.” (Exodus 4:17).
A Difficult Beginning
The Lord said to Moses: “Go, return to Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead.” (Exodus 4:19).
This resembles somewhat what the angel of the Lord said to Joseph the carpenter when he was fleeing into Egypt from Herod: “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” (Matt. 2:20).
God issues His commands at the proper time, when danger is removed from those He sends.
The Pharaoh who had a dispute with Moses died.
But there came another Pharaoh who had a dispute with the people.
Here the battle became between Pharaoh and the Lord, not between Pharaoh and Moses.
Moses began his ministry according to the Lord’s command.
He carried out everything the Lord commanded him — and troubles came upon him!!
How? Why? What is the divine wisdom in all this? Why did God permit it?
Aaron met Moses on the way, and Moses told him all the words of the Lord… They gathered all the elders of the Israelites and told them the Lord’s words, and that the Lord had visited them and seen their affliction. The people believed, bowed, and worshipped (Ex. 4:27–31).
Up to this point, everything was good.
But when Moses and Aaron spoke with Pharaoh, the matter completely turned.
It seemed that the promise of deliverance had become the cause of new troubles.
Pharaoh accused Moses and Aaron of making the people idle…
Formerly he provided straw with the mud for making bricks. He commanded that straw should no longer be given; they must gather it themselves and their work be increased… When they complained he said: “You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD…’” (Ex. 5:17).
The people murmured against Moses and Aaron and complained of them to God.
And Moses stood reproaching the Lord…
“O Lord, why have You done evil to this people? Why did You send me?
For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.” (Ex. 5:22–23).
It appeared that Moses had completely failed!!
He did not bring about the required reform — instead the people’s burdens increased.
Nor did he win the people, who said to him and Aaron: “The LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants.” (Ex. 5:21).
The people said: Stay away from us — that is better for us.
Moses and Aaron were in an extremely critical position — before Pharaoh, before the people, and before themselves.
And it seemed God had not delivered His people!!
Where are Your promises, O Lord? Where is Your support against Pharaoh and his servants? Pharaoh cared nothing for the name of God and increased in harshness!
“The LORD said to Moses: Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh.” (Ex. 6:1).
The Lord’s plan for delivering the people included specific stages.
Four Stages
The story of the Lord’s deliverance from the bondage of Pharaoh passed through several stages, four of which stand out:
- The first stage was between God and Moses.
The calling of Moses, God’s discussion with him, and His persuasion of him to accept the ministry and perform it. This stage took a course we have explained. Moses agreed, and Aaron joined him without discussion. - The second stage was between God and Pharaoh.
This is what God referred to at its beginning: “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh…” God, who extended His patience with Moses in calling him, also extended His patience with Pharaoh… to the utmost limits of patience and longsuffering…
Why? How? This we shall explain later… - The third stage was between God and the people of Israel.
In their murmuring and stubbornness in the wilderness, for their leadership was not easy! The Lord said they were stiff-necked (Ex. 32:9; 33:3, 5). They even worshipped idols and rejected the Lord (Ex. 32). The Lord bore with them, and Moses interceded for them…
Strange that God wants to save a people who do not want salvation for themselves.
He wants to lead them to a land flowing with milk and honey — and they do not want it!! They long for leeks, onions, and garlic.
It resembles what the Lord Jesus said to them later: “How often I wanted… but you were not willing.” (Matt. 23:37). - The fourth stage was between God and the nations of the earth.
Those whose cup of wrath had not yet been filled… They were also pagans and far from God.
The story of deliverance passed through these four stages.
We begin with God’s dealings with Pharaoh…
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