1. Moses – A Study in Character Session 2

2. Our Greeting Be strong and courageous. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

3. Joshua 1:6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. (NIV)

4. God’s Call, God’s Plan Exodus 3:1-4:31

5. God initiates - to get our attention the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight--why the bush does not burn up." Ex 3:2-3 (NIV)

6. God calls people to be part of His plan God called to him When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." Ex 3:4 (NIV)

7. God introduces Himself "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Then he said, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. Ex 3:5-6 (NIV)

8. God shares His Plan I have indeed seen The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. I have come down to rescue them to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey… I am sending you So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." Ex 3:7-10 (NIV)

9. How do you respond to the call? Why me? 3:11 Will I be alone? 3:12 Who is it that will go with me? 3:13-22 What if they don’t believe me? 4:1-9 I don’t have the ability to do it. 4:10-11 Send someone else. 4:13

10. God reassures and repeats the plan Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, "Go back to Egypt, for all the men who wanted to kill you are dead." Ex 4:19 (NIV) I have given you the power to doI will harden Israel is my firstborn son soI will kill your firstborn son"When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. Then say to Pharaoh, 'This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, and I told you, "Let my son go, so he may worship me." But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.'" Ex 4:21-23 (NIV)

11. God’s Way Exodus 5:1-7:13

12. God’s ways are not our ways I do not know the LORDPharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go." Ex 5:2 (NIV) youThen Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working." Ex 5:5 (NIV) Lazy, that's what you are--lazyPharaoh said, "Lazy, that's what you are--lazy! That is why you keep saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.' 18 Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks." Ex 5:17-18 (NIV)

13. God’s ways are not our ways you brought troubleIs this why you sent me you have not rescued your people at all Moses returned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all." Ex 5:22-23 (NIV) you will see what I will doBecause of my mighty hand because of my mighty hand Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country." Ex 6:1 (NIV)

14. God’s way is His word I am the LORD God Almightybut by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to themI also established my covenant with themI have remembered my covenant God also said to Moses, "I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them. I also established my covenant with them … and I have remembered my covenant. Ex 6:2-5 (NIV) I am the LORDI will bring you out I will free youI will redeem you I will take you as my own peopleI will be your GodThen you will know that I am the LORD your God I will bring youI swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to JacobI will give it to youI am the LORD "Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out... I will free you …, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God… And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you.... I am the LORD.'" Ex 6:6-8 (NIV) discouragement Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage. Ex 6:9 (NIV)

15. God’s way – go and tell Go, tell Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his country." But Moses said to the LORD, "If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips. " Ex 6:10-12 (NIV)

16. God way is to equip and provide have made you like God to Pharaohsay everything I command youI will harden Pharaoh's heart I will lay my hand on Egypt I will bring out Then the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh,... You are to say everything I command you,... But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and though I multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt, he will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and with mighty acts of judgment I will bring out … my people the Israelites. And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it. And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it." did just as the LORD commanded them Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD commanded them. Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh. Ex 7:1-7 (NIV)

17. Counterfeit vs. “The Real Thing” Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. did the same things by their secret arts Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. just as the LORD had said Yet Pharaoh's heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said. Ex 7:10-13 (NIV)

18. The Plagues Exodus 7:14-10:29

19. The Plague of Blood Then the LORD said to Moses, By this you will know that I am the LORD "Pharaoh's heart is unyielding... Go to Pharaoh in the morning … take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake. Then say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to say to you: Let my people go,... But until now you have not listened. This is what the LORD says: By this you will know that I am the LORD: With the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will be changed into blood. The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink; the Egyptians will not be able to drink its water.'" The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt…and they will turn to blood…even in the wooden buckets and stone jars." did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded. He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood. Exodus 7:14-20 (NIV) But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret arts, and Pharaoh's heart became hard Ex 7:22 (NIV) Ex 7:22 (NIV)

20. The plague of frogs I will plague your whole country with frogs 'This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. If you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs... They will come up into your palace and your bedroom and onto your bed, into the houses of your officials and on your people, and into your ovens and kneading troughs. The frogs will go up on you and your people and all your officials.'" Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Stretch out your hand with your staff over the streams and canals and ponds, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.'" So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land. Ex 8:1-6 (NIV) But the magicians did the same things by their secret arts; they also made frogs come up on the land of Egypt. Ex 8:7 (NIV) But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said. Ex 8:15 (NIV)

21. The plague of gnats Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the ground,' and throughout the land of Egypt the dust will become gnats." All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats They did this, and when Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff and struck the dust of the ground, gnats came upon men and animals. All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats. Ex 8:16-17 (NIV) they could not But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not. And the gnats were on men and animals. The magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the LORD had said. Ex 8:16-17 (NIV)

22. The Plague of Flies confront I will send swarms of flies Then the LORD said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh…, 'This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me. If you do not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies, and even the ground where they are. I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live so that you will know that I, the LORD, am in this landI will make a distinction between my people and your people "'But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the LORD, am in this land. I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This miraculous sign will occur tomorrow.'" And the LORD did this And the LORD did this. Exodus 8:20-24a (NIV) Now pray for me Pharaoh said, "I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the LORD your God in the desert, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me." Ex 8:28 (NIV) But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go. Ex 8:32 (NIV)

23. The Plague on Livestock If you refuse the hand of the LORD will bring a terrible plague on your livestock But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: "Let my people go, so that they may worship me." If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them back, the hand of the LORD will bring a terrible plague on your livestock in the field--on your horses and donkeys and camels and on your cattle and sheep and goats. But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.'" the LORD did it And the next day the LORD did it: All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites died. Ex 9:1-4 & 6 (NIV) Yet his heart was unyielding Pharaoh sent men to investigate and found that not even one of the animals of the Israelites had died. Yet his heart was unyielding and he would not let the people go. Ex 9:7 (NIV)

24. The Plague of Boils Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering boils will break out on men and animals throughout the land." So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on men and animals. 9:8-10 (NIV) The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians. Ex 9:11 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said to Moses. Ex 9:12 (NIV)

25. The Plague of Hail confront I will send the full force of my plagues against youso you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth I have raised you up for this very purposeI might show you my powerthat my name might be proclaimed in all the earth Then the LORD said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning, confront Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go… or this time I will send the full force of my plagues against you … so you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. For by now I could have … wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. You still set yourself against my people... Therefore, … I will send the worst hailstorm that has ever fallen on Egypt... Give an order now to bring your livestock and everything you have in the field …, because the hail will fall on every man and animal that has not been brought in and is still out in the field, and they will die.'" Ex 9:13-19 (NIV) The only place it did not hail was the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were. Ex 9:26 (NIV) Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. "This time I have sinned," he said to them. "The LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. Pray to the LORD, for we have had enough thunder and hail. I will let you go; you don't have to stay any longer." Ex 9:27-28 (NIV) He and his officials hardened their heartsPharaoh's heart was hard just as the LORD had said When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he sinned again: He and his officials hardened their hearts. So Pharaoh's heart was hard and he would not let the Israelites go, just as the LORD had said through Moses. Ex 9:34-35 (NIV)

26. The Plague of Locusts I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officialsI may performthat you may tell your children and grandchildrenI dealt harshlyhow I performed my signs that you may know that I am the LORD Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these miraculous signs of mine among them that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the LORD." Exodus 10:1-2

27. The Plague of Locusts 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me I will bring So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, "This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?... If you refuse to let them go, I will bring locusts into your country tomorrow. They will cover the face of the ground so that it cannot be seen. They will devour what little you have left after the hail... They will fill your houses and those of all your officials and all the Egyptians--something neither your fathers nor your forefathers have ever seen from the day they settled in this land till now.'" Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh. Ex 10:3-6 (NIV)

28. The Plague of Locusts have sinned against the LORD your God and against you forgive my sin once moreprayyour But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you. Now forgive my sin once more and pray to the LORD your God to take this deadly plague away from me." Moses then left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD. And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind, which caught up the locusts and carried them into the Red Sea. Not a locust was left anywhere in Egypt. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go. Ex 10:16-20 (NIV)

29. Plague of Darkness Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness will spread over Egypt--darkness that can be felt." So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived. Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, "Go, worship the LORD. Even your women and children may go with you; only leave your flocks and herds behind." Ex 10:21-24 (NIV) But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he was not willing to let them go. 28 Pharaoh said to Moses, "Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die." Ex 10:27-28 (NIV)

30. The Plague on the First Born (Exodus 4:23) I will bring one more plague Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel hot with anger Now the LORD had said to Moses, "I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely. Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold." (The LORD made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh's officials and by the people.) So Moses said, "This is what the LORD says: 'About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh…to the firstborn son of the slave girl…and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt--worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any man or animal.' Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. All these officials of yours will come to me…saying, 'Go, you and all the people who follow you!' After that I will leave." Then Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh. Ex 11:1-8 (NIV) so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt but the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart The LORD had said to Moses, "Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you--so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt." Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country. Ex 11:9-10 (NIV)

31. The Passover Lamb without defectyear-old males without defect Ex 12:5 (NIV) take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. Ex 12:7 (NIV) blood will be a sign for you I will pass over youThe blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. Ex 12:13 (NIV) he will see the blood and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you downWhen the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. Ex 12:23 (NIV)

32. Things to Remember God has a plan – and it’s not the one we have in mind God can use us in his plan if we submit (Moses) God can use us in his plan if we resist (Pharaoh)

33. What about you?