Homesick: A Study of Psalm 90Sample

A Homesick Man

Psalm 90 starts like this: “Lord, through all the generations you have been our home!” (NLT) It’s a powerful statement that becomes more powerful when we consider who wrote it: Moses. You may be familiar with Moses’s story, but have you ever thought about his experience with home?

Moses was born into a family enslaved in Egypt, and as a baby, his life was under threat by Pharaoh. Through the courage and innovation of his mother and sister, Moses was spared. His mother was able to raise him for a time, but once he no longer needed to be nursed, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, who raised him as her own, apart from his people.

When he was older, Moses watched how the Egyptians treated the Hebrew people, and in anger, he killed an Egyptian who had been beating one of his people. The scandal forced Moses to flee. He began a new life in the wilderness, forming a family and learning to raise sheep, until God called him back. Moses led his people out of Egypt, and beautifully, he was able to do this with his sister Miriam and his brother Aaron by his side. Famously, the Israelites were not able to enter the home God had promised, and Moses spent another long season of life in the wilderness. Finally, because of Moses’s faithlessness toward Him, God did not permit Moses to enter the Promised Land. He died in the wilderness.

Think about it: Years living apart from his family of origin, years in a wilderness rebuilding his life, and then—though reunited with his people—years in the wilderness yet again, all without ever finding a true “home.” Undoubtedly, Moses was a man well-acquainted with homesickness. And yet, he wrote: “Lord, through all the generations you have been our home!”

What did Moses understand about God and home that we do not?

READ: In this study, you’ll read Psalm 90 each day with a theme in mind. Each theme will contribute to our understanding of home. Today, read Psalm 90 looking for anything about home. Read Psalm 32:7 in the same way. Then, take a moment to consider these questions:

1. How did Moses miss out on “home” during his life?
2. What kind of “home” did Moses experience because of his relationship with God?
3. What do you think Moses understood about God and home that we do not?