THE LIFE OF MOSES AS AN EXAMPLE TO ALL CHRISTIAN

MOSES

INTRODUCTION

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Moses means Drawn out of water.
From Genesis to Revelation, people are constantly leaving cosy, comfortable places to follow God's will. Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees to go to a land he had never seen. Jacob left Canaan to find relief from famine. Four hundred years later Jacob's descendants. Samuel left his mother to serve the temple. David left his family to serve Saul. Jesus left heaven to come to earth. James and John, Andrew and Simon left their respective family fishing Enterprise to follow Jesus. Matthew left his tax collection booth to become a disciple. Jesus left the disciples to go back to heaven, but he promises to return. Saul, who became Paul, left a promising career as a rabbi to become an apostle to the gentiles. When Christ come back his church will leave to meet him in the air.

THE PRICE MOSES PAID

I wanted to explore all the things we have to leave behind to follow Jesus but as I began to explore my own life, I found that my experience pales in comparison to that of Moses. Let's look closely at the life of Moses and you will see what I mean.

• He left the household of his adopted mother, the daughter of Pharaoh.
• He left the treasures of Egypt.
• He left the land of Egypt.
• He left his father-in-law in the wilderness to deliver the Hebrews from slavery.
• He left the comfort of the palace.

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Moses left behind a huge list of positives in exchange for negative treatment for God's sake. When he refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter, he walked out on the woman whom he had regarded as his mother for forty years. He also left behind prestige and honour. His Egyptian name, Moses, placed him in the bloodline of the Pharaohs. Someday he may have rules Egypt or at the very least, he would have enjoyed a position of prominence and comfort. When he turned his back on the royal family he left behind riches. Even the "pleasures of sin" have more to do with the lavish lifestyle of the Egyptians than with what we commonly see as sin.

Moses life did not improve after he chose to be counted with the Hebrew slaves. Never again did he have a solid roof over his head. For forty years in Midian and for forty years more leading the children of Israel across the Sinai, he lived in tents. In exchange for riches, he received disgrace; for pleasures of Egypt, he received mistreatment, both from the Egyptians and from his own countrymen.

Moses could not forget what it cost him to serve the Lord. His name continually reminded him of all that he left behind. Abraham got a new name after he strated serving God, a name that looked forward to all Good had in store for him. Not Moses. The Lord never changed his name. He didn't give him a more appropriate Hebrew name.

LIVING BY FAITH

Moses gave up a lot to follow God but we never hear any regret on his part. He didn't have time to look back because he was too busy looking ahead; his heart longed for something permanent.

Today so many Christians risk their own lives especially christians in islamic nations. They face daily persecutions. If they openly confess their faith in places like the Communist China, they will be relegated to second-rate jobs and opportunities. How much more those of us here with enough freedom to serve him the way he deserves yet what are we willing to sacrifice? Many of us wouldn't even step out under the rain to worship him.

Moses remind us of the cost of following Christ, but he also assures us that it is bargain in light of what we gain. May God open our eyes to understand the cost of following Christ and be willing to give all it takes to achieve this purpose, Amen.