Moses’ Mandate From God
November 5, 2022
Commentary
In these verses we can see what Moses gave up. He gave up a kingdom, to lead his people out into the desert on a great adventure for God. This great man is not the man who, like the Jews, is thrilled about the past and jealous of his privileges; he is the man who is ready to answer God’s summons and leave the comfort and the ease he might have had.
1. Moses had a burden for Israel (vv. 30-34).
a. He was looking (vv. 30-31) – The burning bush symbolized persecution.
b. He was listening (vv. 32-34) – Moses had to learn humility for the task.
2. Moses had a mandate from God (vv. 35-36).
a. He was sent to save them (v. 35) – The one they rejected returned to lead and deliver them.
b. He was sent to separate them (v. 36) – Egypt was judged while Israel was set apart.
3. Moses delivered a message to Israel (vv. 37-38).
a. A message about their Messiah (v. 37) – Moses and Jesus compared.
b. A message about God’s mandate (v. 38) – Written with God’s own finger.
4. Israel disobeyed God’s message (vv. 39-43).
a. They rebelled against Moses’ leadership (39-40) – Scorned their savior.
b. They rebelled against the law (vv. 41-43) – Disobeying the Scriptures.
It is pointed out how Moses, who was to be the minister of holiness, first had to learn how personally unfit he was for the task. Moses had to learn what it meant to stand as a sinner in the presence of a thrice holy God who was as a flaming fire (vv. 30-33). All that Israel gained by their blind and wicked rejection of Moses was further bondage. The parallel between Moses and Jesus is now brought into focus by Stephen (v. 37).
Application
Lord, help me to see some of the idols that people turn to today instead of following what the Scriptures teach. I must remember that anything that comes between the Lord and me is an idol. Lord, I want to serve you more than anything this world has to offer.
Acts 7:30– 43 (NET)
30 “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the desert of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and when he approached to investigate, there came the voice of the Lord, 32 ‘I am the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look more closely. 33 But the Lord said to him, ‘Take the sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have certainly seen the suffering of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. Now come, I will send you to Egypt.’ 35 This same Moses they had rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge?’ God sent as both ruler and deliverer through the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 This man led them out, performing wonders and miraculous signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers.’ 38 This is the man who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors, and he received living oracles to give to you. 39 Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him, but pushed him aside and turned back to Egypt in their hearts, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go in front of us, for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt —we do not know what has happened to him!’ 41 At that time they made an idol in the form of a calf, brought a sacrifice to the idol, and began rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42 But God turned away from them and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘It was not to me that you offered slain animals and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, was it, house of Israel? 43 But you took along the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of the god Rephan, the images you made to worship, but I will deport you beyond Babylon.’