MOSES, THE MAN OF GOD.

      (1). Date of his birth and death. Moses was born in Egypt two thousand four hundred and thirty-three years after the creation of Adam: It was (130 + 105 + 90 + 70 + 65 + 162 + 65 + 187 + 182 = 1056) one thousand and fifty-six years from the creation of Adam to Noah (Gen., 5:3-29). It was (500 + 100 + 2 = 602) six hundred and two years from the birth of Noah to the birth of Arphaxad (Gen., 5:32; 7:6; 11:10). It was (35 + 30 + 34 + 30 + 32 + 30 + 29 = 220) two hundred and twenty years from the birth of Arphaxad to the birth of Terah (Gen., 11:12-24). It was (130) one hundred and thirty years from the birth of Terah to the birth of Abram (Gen., 11:32; 12:1-4; Acts, 7:1-4). It was (100) one hundred years from [108] the birth of Abram to the birth of Isaac (Gen., 21:5). It was (60) sixty years from the birth of Isaac to the birth of Jacob (Gen., 25:26). It was (91) ninety-one years from the birth of Jacob to the birth of Joseph (Gen., 41:46, 53, 54; 45:4-6; 47:9). It was (110) one hundred and ten years from the birth of Joseph to his death (Gen., 50:26). It was (64) sixty-four years from the death of Joseph to the birth of Moses (Gen., 12:1-4; 21:5; 25:26; 41:46, 53, 54; 45:6; 47:9; 50:26; Ex., 7:7; 12:40, 41; Gal., 3:17). 1056 + 602 + 220 + 130 + 100 + 60 + 91 + 110 + 64 = 2433. Add to this the (120) one hundred and twenty years that Moses lived (Deut., 34:7), and you will have the date of his death.

      (2). First forty years of his life. The distinguishing incidents of this period of his life were, (a) he was concealed by his mother (Ex., 2:1,2); (b) he was placed in an ark of bulrushes (Ex., 2:3); (c) he was discovered by Pharaoh's daughter and named Moses because he was drawn out of the water (Ex., 2:3-10); (d) he was adopted by Pharaoh's daughter and educated (Ex., 2:9, 10; Acts, 7:20-22); (e) he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter (Heb., 11:24); (f) he visited his brethren (Acts, 7:23); (g) he slew an Egyptian (Ex., 2:11, 12; Acts, 7:24, 25); (h) his brethren failed to understand him (Ex., 2:14; Acts, 7:22-28); (i) he fled to Midian (Ex., 2:15; Acts, 7:29).

      (3). Second forty years of his life. The distinguishing incidents of this period of his life were, (a) he met the daughters of Jethro, the priest of Midian, at the well and watered their flocks (Ex., 2:16,17); [109] (b) he was invited into Jethro's house (Ex., 2:17-20); (c) he married Zipporah (Ex., 2:21); (d) the birth of his son Gershom (Ex., 2:22); (e) the death of the king of Egypt (Ex., 2:23-25); (f) and the appearance to him of the angel of God in the burning bush at Mt. Horeb (Ex., 3:1-16; Acts, 7:30).

      (4). Third forty years of his life. The distinguishing incidents of this period of his life were, (a) he was commissioned as the deliverer of his down-trodden brethren (Ex., 2:7-22; 3:1-6; Acts, 7:31-35); (b) he departed for Egypt accompanied by his family, with the benediction of Jethro (Ex., 4:18-20); (c) the Lord appeared to him and emphasized his commission (Ex., 4:21-23); (d) he met and saluted his brother Aaron (Ex., 4:27); (e) they laid their commission before their brethren and received their recognition (Ex., 4:29-31); (f) Pharaoh refused to release the Hebrews (Ex., 5:1-4); (g) the magicians acknowledged the power of God (Ex., 8:16-19); (h) he became great in the estimation of the Egyptians (Ex., 11:3); (i) the passover was instituted (Ex., 12:1-29); (j) Pharaoh gave his consent to the departure of the people (Ex., 12:31-36); (k) the miracle at the Red Sea (Ex., 14:9-22); (l) the destruction of the Egyptians (Ex., 14:23-31); (m) the song of triumph (Ex., 15:1-19); (n) the miracle at Marah (Ex., 15:23-26); (o) the falling of the manna (Ex., 16:1-15); (p) the keeping of a Sabbath (Ex., 16:16-35); (q) the miracle at Rephidim (Ex., 17:1-7); (r) the war with Amalek (Ex., 17:8-16); (s) the visit of Jethro and the return of his family (Ex., 18:1-6); (t) he [110] accepted Jethro's counsel and organized a judiciary (Ex., 18:13-26); (u) the arrival at Sinai (Ex., 19:1); (v) the Lord's covenant with the people (Ex., 19:3-8); (w) the proclamation of the ten commandments (Ex., 20:1-17); (x) the ascent into the mount where he spent forty days and nights (Ex., 24:1-18); (y) he received the pattern for the tabernacle (Ex., 25:1-40); (z) he destroyed the idolatrous worship inaugurated by Aaron (Ex., 32:1-33); (a) he set up his tabernacle or tent apart from the people (Ex., 33:1-11); (b) he beheld the passing glory of the Lord (Ex., 33:12-23); (c) the second visit into the mount and the renewal of the tables of stone (Ex., 34:1-28); (d) the shining of his face (Ex., 34:29-35); (e) the request for material to build the tabernacle (Ex., 35:1-35); (f) the setting up of the tabernacle (Ex., 40:1-38); (g) he acted as priest at the consecration of Aaron and his sons (Lev., 8:1-36); (h) he numbered the people (Num., 1:1-46); (i) the consecration of the Levites (Num., 8:1-26); (j) the second passover (Num., 9:1-15); (k) the departure from Sinai (Num., 10:11-13); (l) seventy elders were appointed to assist him (Num., 11:16-30); (m) he was antagonized by Miriam and Aaron (Num., 12:1-13); (n) he sent twelve spies into Canaan (Num., 13:1-16); (o) the rebellion in the camp, and the sentence of death passed by the Lord (Num., 14:1-35); (p) the rebellion of Korah (Num., 16:1-40); (q) the plague in the camp of Israel (Num., 16:41-50); (r) the budding of Aaron's rod (Num., 17:1-13); (s) he sinned at Meribah (Num., 20:1-13); (t) the death of Aaron [111] (Num., 20:22-20); (u) his brethren were bitten by fiery serpents (Num., 21:1-9); (v) the conquest of the Amorites (Num., 21:21-35); (w) he was antagonized by Balak and Balaam (Num., 22:1-41; 23:1-30; 24:1-25); (x) whoredom and idolatry in the camp of Israel (Num., 25:1-15); (y) the second enumeration (Num., 26:1-65); (z) the appointment of the successor (Num., 27:15-23); (A) war with the Midianites (Num., 31:1-54); (B) he gave the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh the privilege of taking up their abode on the east side of the Jordan (Num., 32:1-42); (C) he wrote the journeyings of the children of Israel (Num., 33:1-49); (D) he described the borders of the land of promise (Num., 34:1-29); (E) he rehearsed the law in the plains of Moab (Deut., 1:1-5); (F) he emphasized the law in reference to vows (Deut., 23:21-23); (G) he begged the Lord to allow him to enter into the land of promise, but his request was refused (Deut., 3:21-28); (H) he finished recording the law and deposited the book in the ark of the covenant (Deut., 31:24-26); (I) he composed his last song (Deut., 32:1-44); (J) he gave his parting benediction to the tribes (Deut., 33:1-29); (K) he ascended to the summit of Pisgah, and beheld the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Deut., 34:1-4).

      (5). Leader. He stood at the head of the Hebrew nation as its leader for forty years (Ex., 7:7; Deut., 29:1-5; 34:1-7; Acts, 7:30-36).

      (6). Priest. He acted as priest during the temporary worship at Mt. Sinai (Ex., 24:1-8), and at the consecration of Aaron and his sons (Lev., 8:1-30).

      (7). Poet. [112] He composed, (a) the song of triumph when they crossed the sea (Ex., 15:1-19), (b) a song of gratitude in the wilderness (Num., 21:15-18), (c) his farewell song (Deut., 32:1-44).

      (8). His character. Moses' character was many-sided. There are incidents in his life that exhibit every trait of the high, the pure, the noble: (a) His refusal to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter and his choice to suffer affliction with the people of God establishes the fact that he greatly loved his brethren (Ex., 2:11, 12; Heb., 11:23-27); (b) his attempt to be excused from the leadership of his people proves that he was a man of humbleness of mind (Ex., 3:7-22; 4:1-13); (c) his address to the people at the Red Sea, while the Egyptians were sweeping down upon them, establishes the fact that he was a man of extraordinary faith (Ex., 14:13-18); (d) his sitting to hear all the complaints of Israel and passing judgment upon them from morning until night proves that he possessed great perseverance (Ex., 18:13); (e) his acceptance of the advice of his father-in-law in reference to the government of the people establishes the fact that he was progressive (Ex., 18:17-27); (f) his conduct at Mt. Sinai in the destruction of the golden calf and its worshipers proves that he was aggressive (Ex., 32:19-28); (g) his fervent petition to the Lord to spare Israel even when God promised, on their destruction, to make of him a great nation proves his utter unselfishness (Ex., 32:9-13); (h) his refusal to rebuke Eldad and Medad for prophesying proves that he was free from envy (Num., 11:27-29); (i) his [113] prayer to the Lord to forgive his sister Miriam when she had grievously sinned against him proves that he was meek and forgiving in an eminent degree (Num., 12:1-13); (j) his conduct in suppressing the insurrection inaugurated by Korah establishes the fact that he was a man of extraordinary courage (Num., 16:1-40).

      (9). His great opportunities. Moses enjoyed immense advantages, (a) he was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians (Acts, 7:22); (b) he received a commission directly from Jehovah (Ex., 3:7-12); (c) he enjoyed the privilege of talking with the Lord face to face (Num., 12:6-8) during his sojourn for eighty days and nights in Mt. Sinai (Ex., 24:12-18; 31:18; 34:1-28); (d) he had a glimpse of the personality of Jehovah (Ex., 33:12-23); (e) he had no successor as a prophet (Deut., 34:10); (f) he is compared to the Messiah only (Deut., 18:15, 18; Acts, 3:22).

      (10). Messianic prophecies. There are ten passages in the writings of Moses that refer to Jesus Christ (Gen., 3:14, 15; 12:1-3; 18:18, 19; 22:15-18; 26:1-5; 28:10-15; 49:8-10; Num., 24:17; Deut., 18:15, 18).

      (11). His disobedience. Moses was honored above all his contemporaries, and in many respects stands above every generation, and yet God shut him out of the land of promise on the account of one sin (Num., 20:1-13).

      (12). Important observation. Beware!

      (13). Historian. He not only gave the law but he gave the history of his people and the history of the world, in brief, from the beginning. That he received the revelations that are attributed to him, there can be no doubt. [114] Over and over again it is asserted that "the Lord spake unto Moses"; the book of Joshua endorses him (Josh., 1:7); his book was in existence in the days of Josiah (Deut., 31:24-26; II. Kings, 22:1-11); he was recognized in the days of Malachi (Mal., 4:4); and John the apostle asserts that the law came by Moses (John, 1:17).

      (14). Sources of his information. Apart from the fact that Moses had direct communication with the Lord, it is easy to see that he could have received the history of the early ages through only a few persons: Adam was (130 + 105 + 90 + 70 + 65 + 162 + 65 = 687) six hundred and eighty-seven years old at the birth of Methuselah (Gen., 5:3-21). Adam lived (930) nine hundred and thirty years (Gen., 5:5), or (930 - 687 = 248) two hundred and forty-three years after the birth of Methuselah. Methuselah lived (969) nine hundred and sixty-nine years (Gen., 5:27), or (969 - 243 = 726) seven hundred and twenty-six years after the death of Adam. 969 - 726 = 243. Adam and Methuselah were contemporary two hundred and forty-three years. Again, Methuselah was (187 + 182 + 500 = 869) eight hundred and sixty-nine years old at the birth of Shem (Gen., 5:25-32). Methuselah lived (969) nine hundred and sixty-nine years (Gen., 5:27), or (969 - 869 = 100) one hundred years after the birth of Shem. Shem lived (602) six hundred and two years (Gen., 11:10, 11), or (602 - 100 = 502) five hundred and two years after the death of Methuselah. 602 - 502 = 100. Methuselah and Shem were contemporary one hundred years. Again, Shem was [115] (102 + 35 + 30 + 34 + 30 + 32 + 30 + 29 + 205 + 25 = 552) five hundred and fifty-two years old at the birth of Isaac (Gen., 11:10-32; 12:1-14:24; 21:5). Shem lived (602) six hundred and two years (Gen., 11:10, 11), or (602 - 552 = 50) fifty years after the birth of Isaac. Isaac lived (180) one hundred and eighty years (Gen., 35:28), or (180 - 50 = 130) one hundred and thirty years after the death of Shem. 180 - 130 = 50. Shem and Isaac were contemporary fifty years. Again, Isaac was (60 + 91 = 151) one hundred and fifty-one years old at the birth of Joseph (Gen., 25:26; 41:46-54; 45:6-11; 47:9). Isaac lived (180) one hundred and eighty years (Gen., 35:28), or (180 - 151 = 29) twenty-nine years after the birth of Joseph. Joseph lived (110) one hundred and ten years (Gen., 50:26), or (110 - 29 = 81) eighty-one years after the death of Isaac. 110 - 91 = 29. Isaac and Joseph were contemporary twenty-nine years. It was only sixty-four years from the death of Joseph to the birth of Moses, and probably many of those who knew Joseph were alive in the days of Moses (Gen., 12:14; 21:5; 25:26; 41:46, 53, 54; 45:4-6; 47:9; 50:26; Ex., 7:7; 12:40, 41; Gal., 3:17). Here is the chain: Methuselah was contemporary with Adam two hundred and forty-three years; Shem was contemporary with Methuselah one hundred years; Isaac was contemporary with Shem fifty years; Joseph was contemporary with Isaac twenty-nine years.

      (15). His death. He died on Mt. Pisgah, and was buried by the Lord in a valley in the land of Moab, and his grave was forever hidden from human sight [116] (Deut., 34:1-7).

      (16). Entrance into the promised land. Prohibited from entering the promised land with his brethren on the account of sin, he at last stood upon the mountain in the beloved country in company with Elijah, Peter, James, John and the Lord Jesus (Matt., 17:1-13).

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