Moses and Humility
<Return to Sermon Outlines>
-Introduction
-Idea for series/theme for 2013 – “Character” (1. looking at various “characters” in the
scriptures; 2. looking at Christian “character”).
-Tonight’s lesson: combination of both approaches
-Last week, I began one of the lessons with Romans 12:3. Let’s begin there again.
-Thinking Highly of Moses
-As I said in one of last week’s lessons, we have always had individuals of which we think
highly –individually, personally, spiritually.
-That certainly was the case for the Jews in the days of Christ.
-For whom did they express a high regard? Abraham (i.e. John 8); David (i.e. Luke 6:1-5).
-Obviously, I’m not trying to take anything away from Abraham or David. But, when I think
about having a high regard for those of the O.T., a name that comes to mind quickly is, Moses.
-Abraham –75x in 71 N.T. verses (20 red letter); David – 59x in 54 N.T. verses (14 red letter)
-What about Moses? – 80x in 79 N.T. verses (19 red letter) –Obviously, a number of these are
going to be directly linked to the Law – i.e. Jn 7:19, 22-23; Luke 5:14, Mk. 7:10, etc.
-Moses – A True Leader
-How significant is it when God specifically chooses an individual for a role/task?
-Job – to endure incredible difficulties; Abraham – to be the recipient of precious promises;
Saul/Paul – to whom Jesus would appear – “one untimely born” (1 Cor 15:8), etc.
-When his people were in Egyptian bondage and needed a leader, God chose Moses.
-Moses life:
-40 years in Egypt – per David Deffenbaugh – “Moses’ first forty years in Egypt lead him to
be highly qualified to be completely useless to God.”
-Yet, this is the period of his life containing the ingredients and opportunity from which
we would probably most expect leadership to result. Moses was probably expected to
become a leader – but not the type of leader for God.
-40 years in Midian – shepherd
-It was at the end of this period that God assigned Moses a monumental, leadership task.
-40 years as a leader in service to God
-Think about that for a moment.
Not only did God choose Moses to be a leader but to be a leader for 4 decades.
-2013– 40 = 1973 (Nixon era) – Nixon took office in 1969. So, had he been our nation’s
leader for 40 years, we would be heading into the 4th year of the post-Nixon era.
-So, for a “long-term” leader, God chose Moses.
-And, we must remember, it was into his hands, that God placed the Law – the Law that the
people would remain under for approx. 1,500 years.
-Oh and Moses wrote the first 5 books of the Bible.
-The Meekness/Humility of Moses
-Yet, when I think about Moses, I have a favorite verse: Num. 12:3 (humble, NASB).
-ESV translates this word in various places as meek, humble and lowly.
-Don’t ever confuse meekness with weakness. It takes strength to be meek/humble.
-meek – (www.m-w.com) – “enduring injury with patience and without resentment…”
-Think about the murmurings and accusations Moses endured.
-Num 14:1-3, 11-12, 15-16
-Num 12:3 – a little closer look
-Num 12:1-9
-example of comedian and the men who walked on the moon
-Moses could say, “God and I talk.”
-Heb 11:24-27
-What a man! What a leader!
-Closing
-I originally began putting this lesson together to focus on humility more so than focusing on
Moses.
-As I worked on the lesson, the opposite unfolded. But, that’s ok.
-So, here’s what you can do: Find some passages dealing with humility and spend some
time considering them.
-Phil 2:5-10 - Invitation
<Return to Sermon Outlines>
-Introduction
-Idea for series/theme for 2013 – “Character” (1. looking at various “characters” in the
scriptures; 2. looking at Christian “character”).
-Tonight’s lesson: combination of both approaches
-Last week, I began one of the lessons with Romans 12:3. Let’s begin there again.
-Thinking Highly of Moses
-As I said in one of last week’s lessons, we have always had individuals of which we think
highly –individually, personally, spiritually.
-That certainly was the case for the Jews in the days of Christ.
-For whom did they express a high regard? Abraham (i.e. John 8); David (i.e. Luke 6:1-5).
-Obviously, I’m not trying to take anything away from Abraham or David. But, when I think
about having a high regard for those of the O.T., a name that comes to mind quickly is, Moses.
-Abraham –75x in 71 N.T. verses (20 red letter); David – 59x in 54 N.T. verses (14 red letter)
-What about Moses? – 80x in 79 N.T. verses (19 red letter) –Obviously, a number of these are
going to be directly linked to the Law – i.e. Jn 7:19, 22-23; Luke 5:14, Mk. 7:10, etc.
-Moses – A True Leader
-How significant is it when God specifically chooses an individual for a role/task?
-Job – to endure incredible difficulties; Abraham – to be the recipient of precious promises;
Saul/Paul – to whom Jesus would appear – “one untimely born” (1 Cor 15:8), etc.
-When his people were in Egyptian bondage and needed a leader, God chose Moses.
-Moses life:
-40 years in Egypt – per David Deffenbaugh – “Moses’ first forty years in Egypt lead him to
be highly qualified to be completely useless to God.”
-Yet, this is the period of his life containing the ingredients and opportunity from which
we would probably most expect leadership to result. Moses was probably expected to
become a leader – but not the type of leader for God.
-40 years in Midian – shepherd
-It was at the end of this period that God assigned Moses a monumental, leadership task.
-40 years as a leader in service to God
-Think about that for a moment.
Not only did God choose Moses to be a leader but to be a leader for 4 decades.
-2013– 40 = 1973 (Nixon era) – Nixon took office in 1969. So, had he been our nation’s
leader for 40 years, we would be heading into the 4th year of the post-Nixon era.
-So, for a “long-term” leader, God chose Moses.
-And, we must remember, it was into his hands, that God placed the Law – the Law that the
people would remain under for approx. 1,500 years.
-Oh and Moses wrote the first 5 books of the Bible.
-The Meekness/Humility of Moses
-Yet, when I think about Moses, I have a favorite verse: Num. 12:3 (humble, NASB).
-ESV translates this word in various places as meek, humble and lowly.
-Don’t ever confuse meekness with weakness. It takes strength to be meek/humble.
-meek – (www.m-w.com) – “enduring injury with patience and without resentment…”
-Think about the murmurings and accusations Moses endured.
-Num 14:1-3, 11-12, 15-16
-Num 12:3 – a little closer look
-Num 12:1-9
-example of comedian and the men who walked on the moon
-Moses could say, “God and I talk.”
-Heb 11:24-27
-What a man! What a leader!
-Closing
-I originally began putting this lesson together to focus on humility more so than focusing on
Moses.
-As I worked on the lesson, the opposite unfolded. But, that’s ok.
-So, here’s what you can do: Find some passages dealing with humility and spend some
time considering them.
-Phil 2:5-10 - Invitation
<Return to Sermon Outlines>
