Character Lessons from the Life of Moses

1. Read: Exodus 2:1-3

2. About the Text:

1) Here is the man God used to save the people of Israel from Egyptian bondage.

2) Moses lived 120 years and provided a great example for us of how we should live today.

3) His life contains many great lessons besides the one’s we are discussing.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Read Hebrews 11:24-26 “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”

2. Moses refused what likely would have been a lifetime of luxury. Notice Acts 7:22 “And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.”

3. Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God.

1) Notice Exodus 2:11-15 “And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known. Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.”

2) Acts 7:24 “And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:”

3) He ended up leaving Egypt to be with the Midianites and there he continued to suffer affliction.

4. Thus did Moses esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt.

1. Notice Acts 7:25-28 “For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?”

2. Moses wanted to be the deliverer for the people of Israel, but not in God’s time.

3. Moses then worked for another 40 years before God was ready for him. Acts 7:30 “And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.”

4. Luke 8:15 “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

5. Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

6. Luke 21:19 “In your patience possess ye your souls.”

1. Read Exodus 3:11, 12; 3:13; 4:1, 2; 4:10, 11; 4:13, 14

2. Moses made excuses for not wanting to do God’s will, but God did not take kindly to these excuses.

3. Today God says, “Seek ye first….” Matthew 6:33

4. God says, “Do all to the glory of God” 1 Corinthians 10:31

5. How many times to do we say, “I can’t, because ________________?”

6. We can do all things through Christ! Philippians 4:13

7. Are we seeking to excuse ourselves from our responsibilities or do we humbly submit to God’s will?

1. We read in Numbers 12:3 “(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)”

2. Moses was meek, but he was not weak!

3. We should be meek, but not to compromise God’s truth. Moses never did this.

1) Instead we see Moses as the man who was in Mt. Sinai 40 days and nights.

2) We see him as a bold and courageous leader of God’s people.

3) We see him as someone who defied the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abijah.

4. Meekness is a trait which all we as Christians should have. Notice Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”

5. Meekness is one of the items listed in the fruit of the Spirit. Gal.5:23

6. It is something that we need to receive God’s word. James 1:21 “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”

1. Moses life has many lessons to teach us. Let us learn these few regarding . . .

1) Shunning Sin

2) Practicing Patience

3) Erring in Excuses

4) Manifested Meekness

2. Invitation