From Beginning to Forever: A Study of the Grand Narrative of ScriptureНамуна

The stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph teach us how God works through unexpected people to accomplish His plans. He doesn’t choose people because they meet some standard of morality or excellence, but rather in His sovereignty, God chooses whomever He wants. We will see the same to be true with Moses. God asked him to step into a significant leadership role that required courage and fortitude. But Moses lacked both of those qualities. He was a man living in hiding, fearful of taking on the divine mission he was given.

After four hundred years, God answered the Israelites’ cries and sent Moses to help deliver them out of slavery. God had promised Israel a life of blessing and physical fruitfulness in the land of Canaan.

After the devastating tenth plague, Pharaoh told Moses and the people to get out immediately (Ex. 12:31-32). So they did. But later, Pharaoh regretted his decision. He gathered his troops and pursued the Israelites, catching up to them at the edge of the Red Sea.

Read Exodus 14:10-14.

After reminding Israel of her guaranteed deliverance by the power of God, Moses lifted his staff, and God parted the Red Sea (Ex. 14:21). Then Moses guided Israel across on dry land.

The people of Israel were now free and walking toward the land of promise. But on their way there, they stopped to meet with God at Mount Sinai. There, God made another covenant with Israel through Moses. Through this covenant, God gave instructions on how to live as His people—loving Him and loving each other.

Read Exodus 20:1-17.

By keeping the law, Israel would be able to honor the covenant made with God. This covenant established the terms of the Israelites’ relationship with God and helped them live out their divine design as image bearers in God’s kingdom community.

The book of Numbers details Israel’s journey through the wilderness to the promised land. For forty years, Moses led the Israelites, navigating their seasons of obedience and disobedience with God. But by God’s grace, they finally made it to the shores of the Jordan River, a body of water on whose opposite shore was the promised land of Canaan.

Moses ended Deuteronomy by recounting all the blessings Israel would experience if the Israelites obeyed God’s rule and all the harsh consequences they would experience if they disobeyed. Many of the promises God made to Abraham were about to be fulfilled.