When Jews and Christians think of Moses, they will most likely describe him as the greatest leader and prophet of all time. Christians would make an exception for Jesus who is also the Son of God, but Moses would follow close behind. And Moses was indeed a great man called by the Lord God to lead the descendants of Jacob out of the land of their servitude into a place promised to them and their ancestors. But God's choice of Moses to do this thing is a bit of a mystery to my mind.
Moses was no ordinary man to be sure. He was the son of Hebrew slaves that had been reared in the King's household. He enjoyed privilege and the best education; something that was most likely denied to the Hebrew slave population. But he was also a Hebrew and He knew this. The condition of his people in Egypt frustrated him. He even killed an Egyptian for excessive cruelty to one of his people. When this became known, Moses had to flee Egypt for the desert.
His journey ended in the tents of Jethro and the Midianites, where he met his wife and became a shepherd. For 40 years Moses tended sheep in the Sinai with no one but his family and his wife's tribe as support. I'm sure it was very different from life in Egypt. It actually sounds kind of peaceful and serene.
It's my thought that only an introvert could accept such a life. It would destroy an extrovert. Nevertheless, the Lord God chose Moses to lead His people out of Egypt. The event took place on the slopes of a mountain where Moses spied a bush that burned with fire but was not consumed. He left his shepherding duties to see what this was about.
The rest is history. The God of all creation approached him with a job offer through this burning bush.
The amazing thing is that Moses, rather than submitting immediately in fear to the theophany, began to question God. He was an 80 year old man with a good life out there in the desert. Why should he take of on such a dangerous adventure?
He asked/said to God:
"Who am I that I should go...."
"What if they ask me what your name is..."
"What if they (Israelites) do not believe me..."
"I have never been eloquent....I am slow of speech..."
“Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”
These are the kinds of things that any introvert will put forward to avoid being put in a leadership position. Fortunately, God was not tricked. He was actually getting a bit angry at Moses, but Moses continued to press the issue. He did not want to do this thing, but he did finally submit to God's will.
God empowered him to do what needed to be done. He and the Lord became close friends and together they lead their people out of Egypt and toward nationhood. It was a hard road, but Moses finally achieved what God put Him up to when he was 120 years old, and then God took him home.
Moses makes one more appearance in the days of Jesus. He and Elijah appear at the transfiguration with Christ as God proclaims His pleasure with the work of His Son.We do not know if Moses or Elijah said anything, but God was quite please at that moment. His great plan was coming to completion...just goes to show you...we never know who God will use.The quiet guy might be the one.
