People in the Bible Who Pleased God – Moses

    Many know Moses as the Hebrew baby hidden in the bulrushes in Egypt, or as the man who led the Israelites out of Egypt bondage and gave them the Ten Commandments, but there is so much more that we can learn from Moses.

Here are three things that made Moses unique:

Moses was very humble

“(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men who were on the face of the earth.)” (Numbers 12:3 NKJV)

    When he was 40 years old, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather “to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:24-25), and when he approached the burning bush that same year, and heard the voice of the Lord, “he trembled and dared not look” (Acts 7:30-33). When he heard that the LORD wanted to send him to deliver the Israelites, Moses replied, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” but God assured him, through words and signs (Exodus 3-4), that He would be with him through it all.

    Humility is not weakness, it is recognizing a complete dependence on God, and Moses, acknowledging his own weaknesses, asked God to help him, to go with him, so he could do the things God had given him to do. Take time to read and consider Exodus 33:12-17.    

    In the last 40 years of his life, his older siblings, Miriam and Aaron, rose up in criticism against Moses, but he left it to the LORD, just as Jesus did (1 Peter 2:23) to rebuke them. When punishment was delivered, Aaron immediately humbled himself before Moses and asked that the punishment on Miriam be lifted, and Moses pleaded with the LORD to heal Miriam from the leprosy she was struck with after her dissension. Read and think on Numbers 16, when Korah, Dathan, and Abiram gathered men together in rebellion against Moses (verse 3). Note Moses’ initial response in Numbers 16:4 and his further responses in verses 41-42 and 46-48.

    Moses remained a humble servant to his death at age 120 years old (Deuteronomy 34:7).

Moses was faithful as a servant

    In his humility Moses felt unqualified, but asking for God’s help, he went and he did what was asked of him.

    Moses, though a stranger to them, stood before the immense and mighty people of Israel, and he prepared them for departure from their bondage by declaring God’s instructions to them. He stood repeatedly before their oppressor, the Pharaoh of Egypt, informing him of God’s power and might. He led the children of Israel out of Egypt and into the wilderness toward the promised land. All of this he felt unqualified to do, yet he did it, seeking God’s help all the while.

    He is remembered as the “servant of the LORD” (by King Joash, 2 Chronicles 24:6), and the Hebrew writer says that “Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant” (Hebrews 3:2, 5). Later in the book of Hebrews, in the chapter highlighting the faithful, six verses outline what Moses did by faith (Hebrews 11:24-29).    

The LORD spoke to Moses face to face

    While rebuking Miriam and Aaron in Numbers 12:6-8, the LORD makes clear the unique form of communication He used with Moses:

“Here now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I , the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house. I speak to him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings; and he sees the form of the LORD. Whey then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?” (NKJV)

    And after Moses’ death it is stated:

“…But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, in all the signs and wonders which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh, before all his servants, and in all the land, and by all the mighty power and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.” (Deuteronomy 34:10-12 NKJV).

    The LORD spoke to Moses as a man speaks to a friend (Exodus 33:11), not in dreams or visions, but in clear, understandable words; words that would guide not only Moses, but God’s chosen people, in obedience and to find grace in the eyes of God.

What can we learn from Moses?

    Like Moses, we can humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord (James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:5-7). Humility is needed to truly submit to His will (“willing to yield” James 3:13-17), to humbly trust that His commands and instruction are for our good always (Deuteronomy 6:24-25), and to do what He has given us to do.

    God has given us a purpose to fulfil: to seek Him and find Him (Acts 17:26-27), to do good works (Ephesians 2:10), and to proclaim His praises (1 Peter 2:9). Throughout the New Testament, we find many commands and instructions that help us fulfill our purpose, but sometimes we may feel unsure about our ability to do what God has asked. If so, we need to read the Bible to reassure ourselves of God’s promises and His power; to fortify our trust that He will be with us every step of the way! Remember that it is only by His power, might, and wisdom that we can stand up against the wiles of the devil and overcome evil with good (Ephesians 6:10-18, Romans 12:1-21).

    Like Moses, we can be faithful as a servant. Be willing to serve God faithfully for life (Revelation 2:10, Matthew 24:13), not only when it’s convenient, not only when we need something from Him, but always – serve Him faithfully on your good days and on your bad days; when it’s hard and when it’s easy, when He asks much of you and when He asks little. Be willing to trust in His ability, take a deep breath, and step out in faith to obey what He commands!

    Like Moses, we can talk to God always. Tell Him your fears, acknowledge your weaknesses (Philippians 4:6), go boldly to His throne of grace in time of need (Hebrews 4:16); ask Him for wisdom (James 1:5) and strength (Ephesians 3:14-21, 1 Peter 5:8-11). Never give up on prayer – it’s your line of communication with our Creator! – pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). Talk to God, plead with Him (Luke 18:1-8), make your requests known, and then get up, trusting Him with all your cares (1 Peter 5:6-7), and do what He has commanded you to do.

Are you ready?

You can do it! So can I!! 

"God of... the earth"

    Used only three times, almost like fence posts placed at the beginning, middle, and end of the Bible, this term describes a consistent, unchanging God, a superior God over all, and a Sovereign God in a place of pre-eminence.

Genesis 24:3 – Isaiah 54:5 – Revelation 11:4

    God of earth means that our God is God of the entirety of earth – every earthly realm – and every inhabitant.

“The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, 
the world and those who dwell therein.” 
(Psalm 24:1 NKJV)

    The term “God of the earth” is used only three times, but statements about the earth belonging to God are sprinkled throughout the Bible:

During the ten plagues in Egypt – 

“So Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD; the thunder will cease, and these will be no more hail, that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s.” (Exodus 9:29)

When refortifying Israel’s faith and awareness of the Law – 

“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good? Indeed heaven and the highest heavens, belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it.” (Deuteronomy 10:12-14)

When God answers Job – 

“Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.” (Job 41:11)

When David described “the King of glory” – 

“The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters.” (Psalm 24:1-2)

When Asaph wrote about “the Mighty One, God the LORD” – 

“If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and its fullness.” (Psalm 50:12)

When Paul was teaching the Corinthians he quoted Psalm 24:1 – 

“Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake, for “the earth is the LORD’s and its fullness”” (1 Corinthians 10:26, in some translations this quote is repeated in verse 28)

    Step outside, or look out the window, Our God – the God of earth – created all that you can see by His word! He is over and above all that we can see and hear and touch and taste and feel – it’s all His, just as you are His! Let us honour and respect Him for all He has provided to us in this earthly realm, making it possible to seek Him and find Him (Acts 17:24-28), to live and thrive as His child, and to grant us a soul within our earthly bodies that will live on with Him in eternity (1 John 3:1-3)! 

You can do it! So can I!! 

"God of... Hosts"

    I would like to take some time now to better understand God, so our faith can flourish, by looking at bible verses that declare/describe God to be the “God of” something. What that something is, or rather what those somethings are, as there are many, is what this study will help you come to know. I hope it will draw attention to aspects of God that you may not have known or focused on and also refresh your heart’s appreciation for the ones you may already be familiar with.

    Let’s begin with “God of hosts” as it is the most used “God of…” phrase in the Bible, appearing 40 times in the Old Testament, 9 of which are found in Amos. It is often written as “LORD God of hosts,” “Lord GOD of hosts,” a few times as “the LORD, the God of hosts,” and twice as “O God of hosts” (in Psalm 80:7, 14).  

Side notes: The term “LORD of hosts” is used 245 times in the Old Testament, but we will limit our study to only the mentions of “God of…” in the Bible. Also, both “God of hosts” and “LORD of hosts” are phrases only found in the Old Testament.

    God declared Himself to be “the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts” (Amos 5:27), so what exactly does it mean? Who are the “hosts”?

    Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance/Hebrew Dictionary shows “hosts” (in every instance we are looking at) to be the Hebrew word: tseba’ah (H6635) This word, tseba’ah, is from the primitive word ‘tsaba’ (H6633*) and means ‘a mass of persons (or figurative things), especially regularly organized for war (an army); by implication a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically hardship, worship): - appointed time, (+) army, (+) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war (-fare).’

*tsaba (H6633) to mass (an army or servants) assemble, fight, perform, muster, wait upon, war

    This term draws our attention to God’s power and authority. He is able to do what He has said. He has a host at His command and servants ready and waiting to obey His command. He is almighty and He will accomplish all that He has declared!

“God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him. O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty like You, O LORD? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.” (Psalm 89:7-8 NKJV)

    We can see the term “God of hosts” and leave it at that, just a term, but let your mind dwell on that for a moment. Considering it is like looking up into the night sky. You look up and see maybe a handful of stars at first, but then as you continue to look and your eyes adjust, more stars seem to come out of nowhere, tiny points of light suddenly fill what was moments ago simply a canopy of darkness and your mind fills with wonder as more and more stars continue to come into view.  

    Grab your Bible and turn to 2 Kings 6:14-17 where the King of Syria was making war against Israel. The prophet, Elisha, had a servant who was quite anxious about the enemy’s army surrounding them and so Elisha prayed that the LORD might open the young man’s eyes to the truth of the matter, then told him, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who with them” (v16). What did he see when the LORD opened his eyes? “…behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (v17).

    This is our God, the very God we serve. He is the LORD God of hosts! ‘With God you are the majority’ is not a platitude, but the plain truth. He is the God of hosts. You can trust that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20)! We have no need to fear any person, for with our God, the God of hosts, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:31-37, be sure to read this reference – it is SO good!)!!

    God is able. He is the God of hosts, a description of ultimate power, ability, and capability – vast, untold resources and might – this is the God you serve! Do you trust Him? Are your eyes opening to His magnitude? Pray that they might be so that you can confidently put on His armour each day and stand strong in Him and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10-18), knowing without doubt that the very God of hosts surrounds you!

You can do it! So can I!!