The birth of baby Moses

Exo 2:11  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. 

We have here the beautiful story of the birth of baby Moses. The life of Moses can be equally divided into 3 parts, each part spanning a period of 40 years. Moses spent his first 40 years in Pharaoh’s court where he got his education. He spent the next 40 years in the land of Midian as a shepherd. He spent his final 40 years as shepherd of God’s people.

Moses, though lived in Pharaoh’s court, did not forget his root, having his mother as his nanny (Exodus 2:7-9). The scripture wrote: "When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel” (Acts 7:23, ESV). He had the desire to deliver his people from the Egyptian bondage. But he did not know how to go about doing it. He thought by killing the enemies could save the Israelites (Exodus 2:11-12). But how could one man take on the whole army of Egypt? God had to show Moses that violence would not work. Moses had to depend on God and not on his own strength.

His rejection by his own countrymen paved the way for him to become their future leader and deliverer (Exodus 2:14). He was forced to flee Egypt. He escaped to Midian where he met his wife and started a family.

We will never understand the journeys in our lives until we are old when we sit back and recall all those events. Some events were sad and some were happy. The sad ones happened for a purpose. Then, we begin to realise that without those sad events, we may not arrive where we are today.

Moses’ life was preserved from a baby for a purpose. God saw in that tiny bundle of flesh a man whom He could use to deliver His people. Moses did not disappoint God. Forty years as prince of Egypt and living among royalties did not stain his character. Sure, his mother was his nanny and she surely would have told him that he was a Hebrew. But he had to make a choice – to continue living the life of royalty or to suffer with his people. God was right about His choice of this man for we read: “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” (Hebrews 11:24-26).

Moses made a choice to renounce his ties with the Egyptian people and become identified with Israel. He went from "son of Pharaoh’s daughter" to "slave." Was it a wrong choice? His friends in Egypt would call him a fool. His status in the court of Pharaoh could potentially have led him to a point of great personal wealth, power and privilege, but he cast them all off to be with his people.

The world will call him a fool. But Moses had better vision than those folks. He made the choice because he knew the limitations in joy which the pleasures of sin can produce. He knew the pleasures of this world are but for a season (Hebrews 11:25). He looked beyond the temporary joy of immediate gratification of sensual pleasures to see the eternal happiness of service to God. He was willing to experience suffering for the time being in order to take hold of the eternal reward (Hebrews 1:26).

Jesus says: “A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). Moses knew it and chose God. He saw the riches of heaven that far exceeded the riches of this world. He chose the heavenly treasures over the treasures of Egypt.

How about you? What is your choice? Are your treasures in heaven or on earth: “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6:20).

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.