Lesson 242: “Moses, the Prayer Warrior"
We all remember the Hebrew baby pulled out of the River Nile and raised by an Egyptian princess for forty years. We know he fled from Egypt and spent forty years in the desert “disguised” as a shepherd. The forty years learning the ways of Egypt and forty years tending sheep was essential training for the man God chose to “bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt” (Ex. 3:10). Moses, reluctantly, obeyed God’s command! He prepared, trained, taught, led and dragged the people out of bondage. The Israelites were frightened, confused and helpless, just like the sheep Moses was in charge of in the desert. One difference! The sheep did not complain night and day about being led to better ground (at least not in a language Moses could understand).
After crossing the Sea, leaving the Egyptian army swallowed up beneath it, they were finally free to travel the short distance into the Promised Canaan. However, Moses’ problems convincing Pharaoh to loose his hold on the Hebrew Children were minor compared to what he was about to face. The disoriented, murmuring, ever complaining people quickly turned against their leader and became disobedient to the Lord. Moses’ teachings fell on deaf ears! In his “sermons” he never taught the Israelites that they were justified by obeying the Law. Early in his first book he stated that Abraham was justified by faith in the Lord (Gen. 15:6) and he tried desperately to teach the people faith. He explained that the full extent of fellowship with God and the enjoyment of life would depend on their obeying God’s Commands. Though no one could be justified by the Law, a believer could be blessed under the Law. So the life of the nation was to consist of her obeying the Lord through the instructions of Moses.
This obedience, along with the blessings, COULD be passed down from one generation to the next since godly parents “usually” produced godly children. Now we are getting the picture of why the original Israelite nation missed out on the promised blessings of going into Canaan and why their male children all had to be circumcised before they and their families could enter the Land (Jos. 5:2-8). One of the most heart-breaking events recorded in the bible is the fact that God denied Moses, a man who devoted his life to fulfilling God’s promise for Israel, would never see it to completion (Deut. 3:26-29, Num. 20:12). There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses but he only got to “look on” the Promised Land (Deut. 34:1-12), but he disobeyed God. Moses did not “speak to the rock” as God instructed but “struck the rock”. Being at the breaking point of his endurance and patience, calling the people rebels, he struck out in anger, drawing attention to his own authority and power rather than showing the people how the Lord was able to bring water through His miracle.
Through all his trials, Moses never stopped loving God and he never stopped feeling responsible for the Israelites, writing three chapters (Deut. 31-33) reminding, encouraging and praying for the ones he turned over to Joshua. His death was upon him! He gave his last sermon in the form of a song (Deut. 32:1-43) and his blessings in the form of prayers. He stated his wishes to God for each tribe, drawing out their unique talents or characteristics. There are only eleven tribes mentioned here as the tribe of Simeon was later absorbed by Judah and it is omitted (Jos. 19:1-9).
The wish for the tribe of REUBEN to live suggested the tribe would face a stronger enemy or a flaw in character that might bring disaster (Gen. 49:3-4). Since JUDAH marched at the head of the tribes (Num. 2:9) she was first in battle. Moses prayed for her military success by God’s strength. The tribe of LEVI was entrusted with God’s priesthood and their faithfulness was praised; especially for their impartial administration of God’s judgment in the matter of the golden calf (Ex. 32:25-29). Moses prayed for supernatural understanding of their skills to carry out God’s work. Moses prayed for security and peace of BENJAMIN. He showed God’s love for Benjamin reflecting back to his father’s (Jacob) love (Gen. 44:20). The prayer for JOSEPH was for material prosperity and then for military success. ZEBULUN and ISSACHAR, are mentioned together as they were in Jacob’s blessings (Gen. 49:13-15) and in the song of Deborah (Jud. 5:14-15). They were to rejoice in the blessings of God in their daily work and lives.
GAD would be given the land east of Jordan that they requested, because they fought “like a lion” in the conquest of Canaan. The metaphor of DAN being a lion’s cub may be a prayer for his strength yet to come. The Hebrew word “Bashan” is snake meaning Dan was still “timid” in the face of danger. The blessing/prayer for NAPHTALI described the geographical location. Like Ephraim, Manasseh and Asher this tribe would enjoy the favor of God. ASHER means blessed and happy and Moses prayed his feet be bathed in oil, which would be an extravagant act in excess to normal anointing. Iron and bronze indicated the tribe’s military security. Moses ended his blessings/prayers with praises to the Lord, Israel’s Deliverer. Having such a powerful God would assure Israel victory in Canaan IF they continued to serve Him.
Though Moses was being disciplined for his act (Num. 20:1-13) by not being allowed to enter the Promised Land, he died in faith on the Mountain and the Lord Himself buried His honored servant. The book of Deuteronomy ends with the prophecy of “another Moses” who would be given to Israel. This Day arrived when the Lord Jesus Christ came as a Servant and the very Son of God, surpassing even Moses (Heb. 3:1-6). The Song of Moses still points forward to the Day when his prayers will be answered and “all of Israel will be saved” (Rom. 11:26)!
“SCRIPTURE MADE EASY”
By Polly Gwinn
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