Ex. 2:11-22; Acts 7:17-29, Faith that Fails

Now let’s return to Moses.  The Israelites were enslaved by a Pharaoh who didn’t know Joseph.  We aren’t sure if the Pharaoh was Thutmose II (my choice) or Ramses II.  But for the sake of argument (since both were great builders) let’s note some of the accomplishments of Ramses (according to historians) that were accomplished by the people of Israel:

·       21 obelisks (think the Washington Monument).

·       7 temples in Thebes.

·       1000 ton temple of Rameseseum.

·       Temple in SE Egypt with 65’ statues of Pharaoh.

·       Hall of Karnak with 134 columns, some 169’ high, able to hold 100 men.

·       All built by slave labor.

Life was bitter for Israel.  And then Pharaoh started killing babies.  Enter Moses.  By our passage today he had grown up.  Perhaps, as some think, he was raised by Hatshepsut, the only female “king” of Egypt.  Whatever, he had a good education, a religious education, a medical education, astrology, social training, training in speaking, leadership, the arts and so on.  All his needs were met and most of his wants.  Stephen the first martyr put it this way in Ac. 7:21-22: Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son.  And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.

But, of course, Moses also had training in the home of his true mother and father.  He knew his background, his heritage, and his real “brethren” were (2:11).  He also knew his special calling (Ac. 7:25), the one related to his being a “beautiful” child at birth.  When he came to the aid of his fellow Israelite, and killed the Egyptian, he thought he was fulfilling his destiny.  Instead, Moses attempt to deliver Israel was premature (40 years early), motivated by passion (2:11), was an act of pride or self-will, and was couched in popularity (concern with what others thought; he looked both ways before taking action, 2:12).

But here’s the real failure.  Remember the 4 aspects of faith: sense of need, understanding God’s will, dedication to God and then action!  Moses took action, but lacked dedication to God, was iffy on understanding God’s will (he knew he was the deliverer but had no idea how God wanted to do it).  But mostly: he lacked a sense of need.  He had no broken spirit … broken and contrite heart (Ps. 1:17), no self-denial before taking up his cross (Mt. 1:24), no poverty of spirit (Mt. 5:3).  F. B. Meyer described it thus: to be vacant of self and waiting for God.  To have no confidence in the flesh; to be empties of self-reliance; to be conscious of absolute insufficiency; to be thankfully dependent on the life-energy of the living God.

How does God get the glory if I am full of myself?  How can it be “faith” in God if I’m doing it in my own strength?  God will need to deal with this first.