1

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

A Bible Study SeriesExploring the Concept of

Overcoming!

Session 3: Moses, Part I

Book of ExodusMoses’s Identity and Calling

4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory thathas overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes theworld? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 5:4-5

2

The Urban Dictionary defines an “overcomer” as...A warrior, someone who battles no matter what task is ahead, someonethat not only regains strength from his weaknesses but also sees life in away no others can. Someone who has been through it all, and did it with asmile on their face. The true definition of an overcomer is a warrior.

The Word of God says...

Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Him who strengthensme.”

Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil withgood.”

1 John 4:4 says, Little children, you are from God and have overcomethem, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

John 16:33 says, “I have said these things to you, that in me you mayhave peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I haveovercome the world.”

Our Guiding Questions:1. What did Moses do?2. What did God do?3. What was the result?

Bible verses from the ESV coypright 2001

3

The Book of Exodus:

Moses’ Birth and Identity2 Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she becamepregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hidhim for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got apapyrus basket[a] for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the childin it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.

Exodus 2: 1-3

8 At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant ofthe Lord to stand before the Lord to minister to him and to bless in his name, tothis day.

Deuteronomy 10:8

A three-month period also figures in some matters. Moses’ mother was able toconceal her baby for three months (Exod 2:3; cf. Acts 7:20; Heb 11:23) and theark remained at the house of Obed-Edom for three months (1 Chron 13:14). Inkeeping with this the third month is often mentioned as one in which somesignificant action or event took place. Thus three months after Judah visited thesupposed shrine prostitute, he learned that she was really his daughter-in-lawTamar who was pregnant with his child (Gen 38:24). Asa’s reforms were celebratedin Jerusalem in the third month of his fifteenth year of reign (2 Chron 15:10).Support for the priests of Hezekiah’s day was gained by means of a tithe whichbegan “in the third month and finished in the seventh month” (2 Chron 31:7).Ezekiel received a message from the Lord concerning the fate of Egypt in the thirdmonth of the eleventh year of his exile (Ezek 31:1) and the Lord revealed throughAmos, “I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away”(Amos 4:7).In the New Testament record Jesus’ mother Mary visited Elizabeth, Zechariah’s wife,and stayed for three months (Luke 1:56). Paul stayed in Ephesus for three monthsand “spoke boldly” in the synagogue there (Acts 19:8), and subsequently stayedthree months in Greece (Acts 20:3). Still later after the ship that was carrying himto Rome to stand trial was wrecked in a storm, he and his captives stayed on theisland of Malta for three months (Acts 28:11).

Bible.org

What can we assume about Moses’ identity in God’s eyes?

How is Moses’ infancy a prophetic view of his role as an overcomer?

4

Moses is Named

7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrewwomen to nurse the baby for you?”8 “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. 9 Pharaoh’sdaughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” Sothe woman took the baby and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she tookhim to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses,[b] saying,“I drew him out of the water.”

Exodus 2: 7-10

The name “Moses” may be Egyptian for “son” or perhaps Hebrew for “drawn from water.” Analternate meaning might also be “deliverer.”

For further study of the meaning of the name “Moses” visit:https://www.bibleodyssey.org/en/people/related-articles/was-moses-name-egyptian

What can we conclude from the naming of Moses about God’s plan for him?

Is Moses’ very name meaningful to his experience as an overcomer? How?

5

Moses Knew His Identity

11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and lookedon their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of hispeople.[c]

Exodus 2: 11:

Moses was raised in the court of Pharaoh. Yet he knew who his “people” were. What does this tell us aboutMoses’ identity?

Moses Begins a New LifeAfter Moses killed an Egyptian, he feared for his life, so he fled. Yet heimmediately filled the role of “deliverer” and overcomer:

15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled fromPharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drewwater and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. 17 The shepherdscame and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them,and watered their flock.

Exodus 2: 15-17

What does this verse say about Moses’ character?

How does an overcomer approach an obstacle or challeng? What connection is there between taking actionand overcoming?

6

Moses Meets God in the Burning Bush3 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian,and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb,the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fireout of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it wasnot consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why thebush is not burned.” 4 When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called tohim out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Donot come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you arestanding is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God ofAbraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for hewas afraid to look at God.7 Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are inEgypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know theirsufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptiansand to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing withmilk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, thePerizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people ofIsrael has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which theEgyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring mypeople, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am Ithat I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 Hesaid, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you:when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on thismountain.”13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘TheGod of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ whatshall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”[a] And he said, “Say this tothe people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say thisto the people of Israel: ‘The LORD,[b] the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham,the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my nameforever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. 16 Goand gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of yourfathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “Ihave observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, 17 and I promise that Iwill bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, theHittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowingwith milk and honey.”’ 18 And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders ofIsrael shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of theHebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days' journey into thewilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’ 19 But I know that the king ofEgypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand.[c] 20 So I will stretch outmy hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he willlet you go. 21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; andwhen you go, you shall not go empty, 22 but each woman shall ask of her neighbor,and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing.You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder theEgyptians.”

7

Exodus 3Exodus 3This chapter of the Bible is one of the most intimate interactions between God anda human being in scripture.

For each of the following statements, think and pray about what this says about ourability to overcome!

God appeared to Moses:

God establishes himself as Holy:

God explains a problem:

God gives Moses a purpose:

8

Moses Overcomes His Fear

4 Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to myvoice, for they will say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you.’” 2 The LORD said to him,“What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” 3 And he said, “Throw it on theground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ranfrom it. 4 But the LORD said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—sohe put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— 5 “that theymay believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God ofIsaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” 6 Again, the LORD said to him,“Put your hand inside your cloak.”[a] And he put his hand inside his cloak, and whenhe took it out, behold, his hand was leprous[b] like snow. 7 Then God said, “Put yourhand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when hetook it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. 8 “If they will not believeyou,” God said, “or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. 9 If theywill not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take somewater from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall takefrom the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”

Exodus 4: 1-9

What do you notice about Moses’ willingness to obey God?

How does God prepare Moses for difficulties or rejection? How does this help us overcome?

9

Moses Expresses His Shortcomings

10 But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past orsince you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and oftongue.” 11 Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makeshim mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 12 Now therefore go,and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” 13 But he said,“Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” 14 Then the anger of the LORD was kindledagainst Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I knowthat he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he seesyou, he will be glad in his heart. 15 You shall speak to him and put the words in hismouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you bothwhat to do. 16 He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth,and you shall be as God to him. 17 And take in your hand this staff, with which youshall do the signs.”

Exodus 4: 10-17

How and why do we object when God gives us direction?

How does this passage show God’s love for his chosen ones?

10

God Sends Moses Back to Egypt....with a catch....

21 And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you dobefore Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I willharden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall sayto Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say toyou, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go,behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”

Exodus 4: 21-23

In this case, God takes direct action to put obstacles in the way of Moses. Yet He also gives Mosesa way past that obstacle. What does this teach us about God’s provision to overcome?

11

The Israelite People are Challenged; Moses Doubts

Pharoah places a burden on the people, too. But unlike the Lord, he cannotequip the people to overcome that burden. They had to keep making thesame number of bricks, but were not given the materials needed to actuallymeet that quota. Instead, the people start to get angry with Moses andAaron.

22 Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, “O Lord, why have you done evilto this people? Why did you ever send me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh tospeak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have notdelivered your people at all.”

Exodus 5: 22-23

6 But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh;for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand hewill drive them out of his land.”

Exodus 6: 1

How does the Lord God equip his people to overcome?

What happens when we question God’s promises? How is this part of overcoming?

Why do you think God allows us to question Him and then shows us the way He will deliver?

12

The Plagues

The Lord sent 10 plagues upon Egypt and Pharaoh. For each one, Mosesacted as the spokesperson for God. With the words, “Thus says the Lord,”Moses speaks to Pharaoh with authority. Through all this, Moses wasobedient.

(Exodus 7-11)

Discuss and speculate on the connection between obeying God and being an overcomer!

The Passover

It is the LORD's Passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt thatnight, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man andbeast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I amthe LORD. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are.And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall youto destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

Exodus 12: 11b - 13

The Lord allowed His people to overcome His judgement. This is deliverance. We overcome whenGod acts. This is a type of overcoming that relies 100% on what God does. Is there a connectionbetween deliverance and the type of overcoming we do when we act (equipped by God)?

13

Pharaoh Lets the People Go

10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, andbehold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly.And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, “Is itbecause there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die inthe wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Isnot this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may servethe Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptiansthan to die in the wilderness.” 13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not,stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for youtoday. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never seeagain. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Exodus 14: 10-14

Have you ever questioned God? Have you wondered why He would bring you into something thatfeels worse than what He just delivered you from?

What was Moses’ response to the people? Do you respond that way when obstacles and challeng-es stand in your way?

What was Moses’ formula for overcoming?

14

OVERCOME!The beginning of Moses’ life and journey is linked to his identity. How does our identity empowerus to overcome?

God is ever present and ever faithful! How does God demonstrate this throughout Moses’sjourney?

How does God equip YOU to be an overcomer? Is is similar to what he did for Moses?

Next month, we’ll look at Moses in the wilderness!