Week 2 of our Study of the Old Testament

Today we begin our discussions about Moses and Joshua. If you recall from last week’s discussion, we left off where Joseph and the Hebrew Children had been brought into Egypt, specifically in the land of Goshen. Goshen was a very fruitful area of Egypt. The time frame we will be covering will be from 1876 BC to 1380 BC. The two prominent men whom God will use to bring the nation out of slavery into Canaan, (the Promised Land) would be Moses and Joshua.
· During this period of ancient history, a new king ruled over the land of Egypt. Historians are generally divided on who was the monarch at this point in time, but most historians and archeologists agree that the king was either Amosis or Rameses II. We are not given much insight into how the Israelites came to be enslaved, but history does see this period of time as the golden age of Egypt. According to Flavius Josephus in Book 2 chapter 9 of the Book of Antiquities, we gather some insight. Josephus indicates that because of the Prosperity of Egypt, the Egyptians had become lazy. He indicates that this was the reason; the Hebrews became the slaves to the Egyptian Government. From a spiritual perspective, the timing was just right. Egypt was the most powerful nation on the earth at this time and no other nation could challenge Egypt. Because of the richness of the Nile Valley, Egypt was the ancient world’s granary. Egypt was also the most powerful military machine in the ancient world and the wealthiest. No one could challenge Egypt and survive. So there was a great proud spirit that reigned in the heart and minds of the Egyptian people. Couple this with a lazier faire attitude about work, and the enslavement of God’s people; you have the seeds planted that will reap a harvest of God’s judgment.
· Having laid the background for our discussion this morning, we are ready to begin our discussion of Moses. From what we know about the monarchy in Egypt and what the Bible tells us, we understand that the king had ordered the murder of the 1st born male children of the Hebrew people. His decree would be through the Hebrew midwives. Even though these women were under the king’s decree to murder the newborns, God moved in the hearts of these women to show compassion and mercy. Many newborn baby boys would be spared. When this scheme did not work, Pharaoh would order the Egyptian people to throw the babies into the Nile. Here we see the arrival of Godly woman named Jochebed who was married to a man from the tribe of Levi named Amram. They would have an older daughter by the name of Miriam. When Jochebed delivered a baby boy, she would hide him for three months. Then she fashioned a basket made of reeds. She lined the basket with pitch. She would lay the baby in the basket near the banks of the Nile. Pharaoh’s daughter, Thermuthis would come to the Nile to bathe. She had no children of her own. Although her name is not mentioned in the Bible, Josephus does mention her by name. Some archeologists believe that this woman would become Egypt’s female Pharaoh. Miriam would observe Thermuthis as she bathed and when the baby was discovered by Thermuthis, she would task Jochebed to nurse the baby. Thermuthis would give him the name Moses. In the native tongue of the Egyptians, the word Moses means “saved from the water”
· Moses would be raised in the Palace for the 1st 40 years of his life. Because of this favor, Moses would be given the best education and favors of the wealthy. At the age of 40, he kills an Egyptian who is mistreating another Hebrew. Because of this crime of murder, he must flee. When Moses arrives in the land of Midian, he encounters a group of young women who tend sheep. Another rival group of shepherds try to drive these women away from the water. Moses intervenes and as a token of gratitude, the father of the women, Reuel gives his daughter, Zipporah to Moses as a wife. Together they have a son named Gershom. The name means foreigner.
· At the age of 80, Moses has an encounter with God. Up to this point, Moses knew his nationality, but he had no relationship with God. So God calls Moses to himself. From this conversation we learn about God’s purity for when Moses approaches the burning bush that is not consumed, God tells Moses to remove his shoes because Moses is standing on holy ground. It is here that we learn about some of the names of God. The 1st name that God uses in Exodus 3:6 is the word אלהים 'ĕlôhîym el-o-heem' The word is a plural noun that has a singular meaning. The idea conveyed here is that God is Supreme above all. There on this mountain, God tells Moses to go back to Pharaoh and tell the king to let the people go so the people can come back to the mountain to worship God. In this conversation, Moses ask God what name should he be called by, The name God gives to Moses is היה אשׁר היה Yahweh. It literally means: “The Self Existent One.” It is interesting to note that Jesus uses the same word in John 18:5. So the appearance of Yahweh to Moses was in fact what Theologians call Theophany. Here we see the Lord Jesus appearing to Moses in the form a burning bush telling Moses to bring the people out of the land of Egypt.
· Moses would return to Egypt. Together with Aaron, his brother, Moses would go to Pharaoh and speak God’s terms to Pharaoh. Pharaoh would reply by adding burdens to the people. The confrontation between God and Pharaoh would continue to escalate until God would reign down plagues upon the Egyptian people. The accounts of these plagues are detailed in Exodus chapters 7 through 11. The plagues would include turning the water into blood, Frogs, Gnats, Flies, death of livestock, Boils on the people, Hailstorms, Locus swarms and finally the death of the 1st born son in the Egyptian households. Before Pharaoh lets the people go, God hardens the heart of Pharaoh. God had raised up this hard hearted man so that God could manifest his glory. (Romans 9:17). Prior to the death of the 1st born, God would institute an ordinance that is still practiced today. That is the celebration of Passover. The feast of Passover would eventually carry over into Christianity to celebrate as the “Lord’s Supper.”
For 430 years, the nation of Israel had been in Egypt. This would put the departure of the people around 1446 BC. As they leave Egypt behind, God performs another miracle. God parts the waters of the sea. In the Greek Septuagint, the word Red Sea is used, but in the Hebrew only the word sea is used. The actual place of the crossing of the sea is open for debate. The Scriptures do not tell us exactly where the crossing took place. However significant biblical archeological underwater surveys have been done and there have been Chariot wheels located in the Red Sea thanks to research done by the Wyatt Archeological Research Institute. (Link: http://www.wyattmuseum.com/red-sea-crossing-02.htm) Dr Wyatt found ancient chariot parts located Nuweiba, Egypt while diving there.

· Due to God’s mighty hand, the people of Israel would be taken out of Egypt to Mount Sinai. There God would give them his Laws through Moses. It is here God would give the 10 commandments. There would be many obstacles to overcome for the people because of the influence of idols. In fact the temptation to give into Idol worship would manifest itself while Moses was receiving the 10 commandments from God. Even Aaron, Moses’ brother would fall into the trap of paying homage to a Golden calf.
The book of Leviticus is probably one of the most important books of the Old Testament. The companion book to Leviticus is the book of Hebrews in the New Testament. Leviticus deals with the Laws and Rituals of sacrifice that the Hebrew children would observe. It would also deal with the Holiness of God and the fact that man was far from holy. Only the priest could enter the presence of God to make intercession for the people. All these rituals would foreshadow the coming Messiah. The most important chapter in Leviticus in Leviticus chapter 16. This is the Day of Atonement. It is still observed by the Jewish people to this day. It is called Yom Kippur. It was the day in which the people would “afflict their souls” and the only time of the year that the High Priest would enter into what was known as the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies was so sacred that the High Priest would have bells tied to his robe and rope around his waist. The reason for this was because if God pronounced judgment on the High Priest, the other priests would know because the ringing of the bells would have ceased and they would then drag the body of the High Priest out of the Holy of Holies.

· After the people receive the Laws of God, they prepare to leave Sinai. This is where the book of Numbers picks up. Numbers chapters 1-9 cover the journey to Canaan. The census that was taken indicates that there were over two million people that came out of Egypt. Yes Goshen had been very good indeed and the Hebrew people had come from fewer that a hundred in Genesis chapter 50 to over two million in 430 years.
· In Numbers chapter 12, we read about an interesting event that takes place. Moses had married an Ethiopian woman. Miram and Aaron had spoke against Moses because of this marriage. Because Miram and Aaron had a racist heart, God cursed Miram with Leprosy. There is a life lesson here. Everyone stands equally before the Holy Triune God and God shows no partiality. But God is just and will not tolerate injustice or a xenophobic attitude in his presence. God certainly does command that believers are not to marry unbelievers, but this woman was a believer otherwise Moses would be in disobedience to God.
· Chapter 13 deals with the spying out of the land. God tells Moses to select twelve men to enter the land. When the spies report back, only two men were willing and able to obey God and take the land. These two men were Joshua and Caleb. Both of these men would play an important role in the foundation of the nation. Both men are 40 years old at this time in their lives. Because the rest of the spies were unwilling to believe God, their unbelief would cost them dearly. An entire Generation would wander and die in the wilderness. The New Testament writer of the book of Hebrews clearly explains this to us: “Hebrews 3:12-19 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME." For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. Only Joshua and Caleb would be allowed to enter into the Promised Land.
· The rest of the book of Numbers deals with wanderings of the nation. It is hear that God would raise up a New Generation that would be brought into the Promised Land.
· The book of Deuteronomy deals mainly with several dissertations and reminders that Moses would challenge the people before they would enter into the Promised Land. Chapters 1 though 4 cover the History to the people. Chapters 5-28 covers the renewing of the Laws and covenants that the people had made. Chapters 29-30, Moses will challenge the people to remember their vows before God. Chapters 31 through 34 will cover the death of Moses. Moses was God’s friend (James 2:23). It was fitting that Moses’ friend would be the one to perform Moses’ funeral. Moses had lived to be 120 years old. He did not suffer from cataracts or all the maladies of Old Age.
· The book of Joshua is a book of Military conquest of the land of Canaan. It is also a record of the dividing up of the land between the twelve tribes. Joshua and Caleb are both 80 years of age when this military campaign takes place. God would part the waters of the Jordan River to allow the people to enter the land. This was a reminder of the miracle that God had performed in Egypt. Although we might consider the commands of God harsh, the land had been corrupted by sin and God commanded that all the indigenous people in the land were to be killed. God wanted a pure nation. The 1st battle that takes place is the battle of Jericho. It is here that God crumbles the mighty walls of Jericho. Everything in the city was to be destroyed; yet one man would succumb to the temptation of avarice. That temptation would cost both he and his family their lives. His name was Achan.
· Chapters 6-12 of the book cover the military campaigns of conquering the land. Chapters 13 though 24 focus on the parceling of the land to the 12 tribes. Chapter 24 deals specifically with Joshua’s testimonial before he dies. Like Moses before him, he challenges the people. Probably on of the most cherished quotes for the book of Joshua is Joshua 24:15. “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” So who will you serve this day?