An inward call to serve God is a call from the Creator of the universe, the sovereign Creator of the heavens and the earth. When we grasp this fact we have a stabilising conviction in our ministry.

When God first called Moses to serve Him, Moses appeared to live in the palace of Pharoah’s daughter. He received his education in Egypt—Acts 7:22, "And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words [an able speaker], and in deeds [a leader]." He, to some degree, was aware of his calling of God. "By faith" he refused to be adopted into the royal Egyptian family—Hebrews 11:24, "By faith Moses when he was come of years, refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter." His life seemed to be in focus and ready for God to use him, but in God’s eye, he was not ready. He witnessed a struggle between an Israelite and an Egyptian. He took matters into his own hands and killed the Egyptian. When he was discovered, he thought that his fellow Israelites would have realised that God intended to use him to deliver them—Acts 7:25, "For he [Moses] supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not." The Israelites were not ready and Moses was not ready for God’s burning bush call. The fact that Pharoah sought to slay Moses and that he feared the people, were the reasons Moses fled to the land of Midian. Moses took a rather common job there taking care of sheep for Jethro, who became his father-in-law.

In God’s plan, Moses, 40 years later, led his sheepfold to the backside of the desert to the foot of a mountain in Horeb. While there, God called Moses, then about 80 years old, in a most unusual way, out of a fire in a bush that was not consumed. The burning bush caught the attention of Moses—Exodus 3:4-5, "And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he [God] said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." Your call to serve the Lord is a "holy calling." Remember always that your call is not from an earthly source, but is from the sovereign God who created the heavens and the earth.

About 1500 years after the call of Moses, the Apostle Paul wrote 2 Timothy 1:9—God "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." Our holy calling is the result of God’s grace, and according to His purpose. The immediate response of Moses to God’s call is understandable, humanly speaking—Exodus 3:11, "And Moses said unto God, [1] Who am I that I should go unto Pharoah," and "[2] that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?"

While Moses was in Egypt he had been somewhat brazen and somewhat self-assured but well-educated, according to Acts 7:22. Now after 40 lowly years in Midian, no longer feeling self-sufficient, he very naturally said, "Who am I that I should go to Pharoah and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" God understood completely every detail concerning every Egyptian and every Israelite, including Pharoah, and He knew Moses whom He chose to call. God said concerning the Israelites—Exodus 3:7, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry …"—Exodus 2:24-25, "And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them."

God was preparing Moses during his 40 years in Midian, in strange and unfamiliar surroundings in God’s way, for the ministry to which God called him. Moses came to the place where he realised that he was unable in himself to accomplish the call. You know the rest of the account; the meetings with Pharoah, the miraculous signs, and the amazing change of the attitude of the Egyptians, and the Passover event.

Moses was well-educated according to the educational standards of Egypt, which education may have been helpful to him in attending to details as he led about 2 million Israelites from Egypt to the entrance of Canaan—Acts 7:22, "And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and in deeds." The very basic and most important qualification for the leadership of Moses and for us all is that we believe and obey God’s words. Exodus 4:14 states, "And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses." Moses, after receiving God’s call did not readily believe that God would equip him with the ability to speak God’s Word. God had just said in Exodus 4:12, "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say."

God gave an important answer to a question Moses asked—Exodus 3:13-14, "And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." In verse 15, God said, "this is my name for ever"—I AM THAT I AM. God is saying that He is what He is without anything or without anyone else. In other words, He IS what He IS, and as Matthew Henry said, "He is what ever He was and ever will be." The writer of Hebrews said, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day and for ever" (Heb 13:8). Matthew Henry also said, "Being self-existent He cannot but be self-sufficient, and therefore all-sufficient and the inexhaustible fountain of being and blessing." Our God, who calls us, enables us and accomplishes His purpose through us as our Sovereign Lord—Colossians 1:16, "all things were created by him and for him." He is our God, the Creator: the I AM who has called us unto His service. Our call is a holy calling.

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament refer to Moses as a faithful servant of the Lord—Numbers 12:7, "My servant Moses … is faithful in all mine house." Hebrews 3:2, referring back 1500 years also identifies Moses as a faithful servant, says, "Moses was faithful in all his house." We learn much from the Life of Moses. God took special notice of the daily activities of Moses—Numbers 12:3, "Now the man Moses was very meek, above all men which were upon the face of the earth." God said in Numbers 12:8, "With him will I speak mouth to mouth." Here is what Matthew Henry states, "Moses was a man of great integrity and tried fidelity. He is faithful in all his house. That is put first in all his character, because grace excels gifts, love excels knowledge, and sincerity in the service of God puts a greater honor upon a man and recommends him to the divine favor more than learning abstruse speculations and an ability to speak with tongues." Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible, which we know as the Pentateuch and the Torah. Jesus said, "he [Moses] wrote of me" (John 5:46). Note also the words of Philip under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in John 1:45, "We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Jesus said in Luke 24:27, "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." Paul reminds us in Romans 15:4, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

Moses had seen the greatness of God so often over the years, since his call at the backside of the desert. God’s miraculous power was revealed constantly, the parting of the Red Sea, the supply of manna and the quails, the military victories, the healing of the serpent’s bites, etc. These are recorded for our learning today. God’s grace and care for His people were daily in evidence to the children of Israel.

I would like to refer to two accounts in the leadership of Moses that God chose to record, which were recorded I believe for our learning and warning as ministers of the Word of God.

The Israelites had completed a very difficult 11-day trip from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea. Especially note that God had led the way miraculously with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. God had a clear command with a specific promise through Moses to the people—Deuteronomy 1:21, "Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged." God had already led them all the way from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea, nevertheless, the elders of the people said, according to Moses, Deuteronomy 1:22, "And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come." This was an amazing request by a delegation of elders in light of God’s clear command to Moses. God’s miraculous way was the best way. It was visible and supernatural. God’s Word also records the disappointing response of Moses—Deuteronomy 1:23, "And the saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of a tribe." Moses went along with the delegation, instead of taking a stand for the Word of God. God allowed them to go their way, knowing the hearts of the committee.

The account in Numbers chapter 13 begins with God, surely knowing the consequences, telling them to go ahead. "And the Lord spake unto Moses saying," and verse 2, "Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel." The 12 spies after 40 days brought back their reports. There were 10 that brought back an "evil report," which affected the whole congregation. Numbers 14:2, "And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron." Numbers 14:4, "And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt." They did not believe that God meant what He said. They contradicted God’s Word. He as a result decreed that any man over 20 at that time would not enter the Promised Land. In Numbers 14:29, God said through Moses, "Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me." Numbers 14:33, "And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness." Numbers 14:34, "After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise." The punishment was severe and actually took place. God’s Word was clear. The unbelief and murmuring were real. The majority of the people were wrong. Joshua and Caleb were right.

The majority of the Israelites and likely all the elders of the congregation liked the suggestion that a select group be designated to study the next step in moving into the land of Canaan. As I have read over the years, debates and discussions over ecumenical issues, the tendency of organisations is to form a committee to "study and analyse" problems. In committees that deal with problems there is a real inclination to seek peace at any price. Moses at the time was pleased with the suggestion that the delegation of elders made to spy out the land and determine the best way to enter the land. God was not pleased with the analysis of the report that the 10 delegates made, which encouraged the unbelief and the murmuring of the people. God’s displeasure with the unbelief of His Word resulted in the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness until all those who were over 20 years old at the time had died. This became the reason Moses spoke and wrote the book of Deuteronomy. Hebrews 3:17 says, "But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?" Hebrews 3:18-19, "And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."

Numbers 20 recorded a lesson Moses learned the hard way. He failed to believe that God meant exactly what He said. He failed to believe God’s words. The account begins with Numbers 20:7-8, "And the Lord spake unto Moses saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron, thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink."

The next two verses record the partial obedience of Moses to the very words of the Lord—Numbers 20:9-10, "And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them (note the human tone of the next words), Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?" At that time Moses and Aaron were no doubt upset with the murmuring of the people. They called the people "ye rebels" which they were. But then they focused the attention on themselves. "Must we fetch water out of this rock?" Numbers 20:11 records the result of the reasoning of Moses, "And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also."

Why did Moses smite the rock rather than speak to the rock as the Lord specifically commanded. In today’s language many would say "no big deal." Moses could have reasoned first of all that the Lord created the special rod that he held and besides he remembered that God instructed him to smite the water of the Egyptian river (Exod 7:17) and He also instructed him to smite with the rod the dust of the Egyptian land (Exod 8:16). After all, Moses could have also reasoned that God had ordered him to smite the rock in a similar situation in Horeb (Exod 17:6) to provide water for the people. Therefore to them there really was no significant difference between the words speak and smite and that the Lord probably meant smite when He said speak—of such is the logic of the natural man. Furthermore, Moses and Aaron could claim that they were under pressure by the unbelief, the murmuring and charges brought by the people. Numbers 20:3 says, "And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!" The first blow to the rock by Moses produced no water. That was his effort. With the second blow, God produced His miracle. This account reveals that here was a time Moses focused attention on himself as he was ministering to the people. Moses and Aaron both were, spiritually speaking ready to take credit for the miracle. They said, "must we fetch you water out of this rock?" The Lord revealed their sin when He said—Numbers 20:12, "And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron. Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them." They took to themselves personal glory and failed to glorify the Lord. "Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." What a temptation it is to take just a little credit for the miracles the Lord performs in our ministries. God means what He says.

Moses had lessons to learn that he did not know that he needed to learn. Moses wanted deeply to enter the land that God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That desire was ever with him together with the consuming desire to obey and serve God. We must read the heartfelt request of Moses as the children of Israel nearly completed the 40 year journey and were close to entering the Promised Land—Deuteronomy 3:25-27, "I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter. Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan."

Moses felt God’s punishment deeply, but he knew and declared that God was "right." Moses said in his last words to the people in Deuteronomy 32:4, "Just and right is he." God’s way is always the best way. Even though Moses did not enter the Promised Land, the God of creation personally buried his body and assured him of eternal life in glory. We see the assurance of this when Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus in the land, on the Mount of Transfiguration. We too shall be with the Lord. "The Bible tells me so." God means what He says.

God commanded Moses to write a song which would be a testimony of God’s attributes, care and judgement, contrasted to the indifference of His people, the Israelites. God especially desired that the below age 20 group at Kadesh Barnea, now 40 years older, would read and memorise the song, the last words of Moses to the people. God said in Deuteronomy 31:19, "Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel." Deuteronomy 31:22 tells us, "Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel;" and Deuteronomy 31:30, "And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended."

Moses introduced his words as the words of the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Deuteronomy 32:1 says, "Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth." David said in Psalm 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork." The words of David are similar to the heartfelt expression of Moses in the introduction to his song.

Moses then expressed the need for the Word of God daily in our lives. Deuteronomy 32:2 says, "My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass." All of us, whether in the pastoral ministry or not, daily need the light rain, the dew, and the showers that come from God’s Word. Moses perhaps reflecting on his own ministry is saying that God’s Word by his mouth, the doctrine, must drop on everyone just as the small rain falls on the tender herb and as a shower of rain falls upon the grass of the field. Our preaching of the Word must be from a personal conviction from the heart as well as from the head. Moses states his settled conviction in Deuteronomy 32:3, "Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God." He resolved at Meribah never again to fail to sanctify [glorify] the Lord in the eyes of the people.

Moses also in the introduction of his song said of God, "He is the Rock." Jesus who is God manifest in the flesh is also called the Rock. The Apostle Paul said, referring to the children of Israel on their 40-year journey—1 Corinthians 10:4, "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." The Jesus whom Paul preached was God "manifest in the flesh," the same God whom Moses said was great, who was right, and who was just. He referred to God as the Rock, speaking of His unchanging sovereignty, our sure foundation, and the Author and Preserver of His Word. Moses after 40 years serving God, said in his last words to the people—Deuteronomy 32:3, "ascribe ye greatness unto our God." God is great, God is just, and God is right.

Moses spoke clearly and with conviction to the assembled children of Israel. He especially wanted the 60-year old and younger crowd to hear his song. Note the next two statements he made after calling God "the Rock"—Deuteronomy 32:4, "his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgement." What an accurate and important statement! In our ministries, questions are raised from time to time, that tend to reflect on the attributes and sovereignty of God. We are aware of the spiritual problem and so did Moses. He rested in the knowledge that God’s ways are always perfect and that his ways are always according to his infinite knowledge and always according to His accurate and infallible judgement. Isaiah, the prophet of God, referring to the Word of God emphasised the difference between the thoughts and ways of God and the thoughts and ways of man. Isaiah 55:9-11, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts … So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

Moses also in the introduction to his song called God a "God of truth" (Deut 32:4). Jesus made essentially the same statement in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." God through the Son created everything that exists in the universe. As the Designer and Creator, He alone knows everything about everything all the time and all at the same time. As the Creator, He alone can say, "I am the truth." What a privilege and what a fact that we are called personally by the Creator of the universe and called according to His grace to accomplish His purpose.

As Moses arrived near the entrance to Canaan Land, I am sure that he reflected on the divine intervention of God during the 40-year journey. He was quick to declare to everyone that God’s work is "perfect" and that always "just and right is He." God is Great and God is Right. Moses was a faithful servant of the Lord.

Our calling to serve the Lord is a heavenly calling. It is a call by the sovereign God, Creator of the heavens and the earth. God means exactly what He says. His words are eternal, unchanging, settled in heaven, preserved, and committed to us today as faithful stewards.

Our God who calls us means what He says. He is sovereign, He is great, and He is right, always. What a privilege and honour to serve Him. What a blessed hope we have. The day will come when we will actually be with our Lord, which is "far better."