Answers to Thoughts to Ponder in Moses: Called by God
Chapter 40: Moses’s Death Draws Near
Q1 - Why did the Israelites have to look upon the snake to live? What, if any, was the importance of the snake itself?
A1 - The healing power of the serpent on the pole lay not in the image, for that would have violated God’s command to have no images before him. Rather, it lay in the people’s faith in God to heal them. When they looked up to the image, they were looking up toward heaven, and they were trusting in God to save them from death.
Q2 - When Jesus came to earth centuries later, he found the people at that time were indeed “like sheep without a shepherd.” How did He treat the people who flocked to Him? How were He and Moses similar in their roles on earth? How did they differ? See Matthew 9:35–38 and Mark 6:30–44.
A2 - Moses was God’s appointed leader to bring the Israelites to a physical kingdom, the land of Canaan, which He had promised to Abraham centuries earlier. It was also through Moses that God had delivered His Law to the people. However, because Moses was fallible, he sinned and was not allowed to actually bring the people across into the Promised Land.
Jesus was God’s Son who came to earth to offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins, something which Moses was unable to do. He had compassion on the crowds who came to Him and presented to them the Good News of the kingdom, a spiritual kingdom which would never end. When He died on the cross and rose again on the third day, He fulfilled the Law. In so doing, He ushered in His eternal kingdom and established His New Covenant.
Q3 - How had God been preparing Joshua for his role as leader of the Israelites? What all did he do and witness during his apprenticeship?
A3 - Joshua had been closely associated with Moses for many years and was likely his confidant as well as his assistant. Of all people, he may have known Moses better than almost anyone else. Here are some of the things the scriptures tell us about Joshua:
He was the son of Nun from the tribe of Ephraim (Numbers 13:8).
He had been Moses's aide since his youth (Numbers 11:28).
He would stay in the tent which Moses had erected outside the camp (Exodus 33:11).
He was the one who went out to fight the Amalekites while Moses stayed on top of the hill with his staff raised toward heaven (Exodus 17:8–13).
God told Moses to write down as something to be remembered that He would completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven, and He wanted him to make sure that Joshua heard this (Exodus 17:14).
He accompanied Moses up the mountain when God delivered the Ten Commandments and His Law to him (Exodus 24:13).
He was sent as one of the twelve spies who explored Canaan (Numbers 13:16).
He, along with Caleb, encouraged the Israelites to go ahead and cross over into Canaan (Numbers 14:6–9).
Of the generation of men who had been counted in the first census, only Joshua and Caleb were allowed to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14:29–35).
In the second census, only Joshua and Caleb were left alive from among those who had been counted in the first census (Numbers 26:65).
He would be the one to succeed Moses and lead the Israelites into the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 1:38).
In him was the Spirit. God had Moses lay his hands on him before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him as his successor. God also told Moses to give Joshua some of his authority so the whole Israelite community would obey him (Numbers 27:18–23).
Chapter 41: God Gives Moses a Song
Q1 - The book of Psalms, with 150 chapters, is one of the longest books in the Bible. It is a of prayers, poems, and hymns written by various people over a period of years. At least some of the Psalms were meant to be set to music. Moses is credited with writing Psalm 90 and possibly others. Modern church songbooks often contain a variety of songs based on a Psalm or a portion of one.
Do you have a favorite Psalm? How does it speak to you? Under what circumstances do you find yourself singing or reciting it?
A1 - Answers will vary. It will be interesting to hear what the group members have to say. On a personal note, my grandmother, who was born in 1899 and lived through the Great Depression and several wars, would quote Psalm 37:25 (NKJV) as one of her favorites: “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.”
Q2 - Although songs and singing are mentioned many times in the Old Testament, the New Testament contains relatively few references to either. Concerning Jesus and his disciples, Matthew 26:30 (NKJV) states: “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” (Mark 14:26 gives a parallel account of this occasion.)
What event had just transpired? What event would soon occur? Why do you think they chose to sing a hymn at this particular time?
A2 - Jesus and His disciples had just partaken of the Last Supper. Soon, Judas would betray Him, and He would be crucified. Jesus understood the events that would soon occur, and singing a hymn likely encouraged Him and His disciples and helped them focus their minds on God. It would be interesting to know which hymn they sang and if it came from the book of Psalms.
Q3 - The account of Paul and Silas being thrown in prison is given in Acts 16:16–40. Verse 25 (NKJV) states: “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”
What impact do you think their singing had on Paul and Silas themselves and on their fellow prisoners? How do you know God heard their songs and prayers?
A - Singing a hymn helps us focus our thoughts on God. Depending on the hymn, we can praise God, ask for His blessings, or communicate with Him in other ways. While we don’t know which hymns Paul and Silas were singing, these hymns likely offered them comfort and solace after being beaten with many stripes and chained down in stocks in the depths of the prison. The hymns they sang also served as a means for them to communicate their faith to the other prisoners, something which these people may never have witnessed before.
Hymns are a form of prayer to God, and we know that God loves to hear from His children. In the case of Paul and Silas, the prison doors flew open and the chains miraculously fell off them and the other prisoners. When the jailer realized that none of the prisoners had escaped, he knew that Paul and Silas were responsible for these events and came trembling before them. He asked what he should do to be saved, and after hearing the Word of God, he and all his family were baptized. He took Paul and Silas to his home, washed their wounds, and fed them. Truly, the Word of God is a powerful force that can change the hearts of people.
Chapter 42: The Death of Moses
Q1 - When Moses begged God to be allowed to cross over into the Promised Land, certainly part of his reason was his desire to see what had been the focus of his forty-year journey. But also, he wanted to continue to accompany the Israelites because he was fearful for them, that they would not do well without his leadership. How had God already planned for the continuance of their leadership? If Moses had been allowed to cross over, how might things have been different?
A1 - Moses was already 120 years old when the Israelites reached the border of Canaan. Even if he had been allowed to cross over, he would not have been able to lead them much longer. It’s doubtful that his being alive a few more years could have changed the course of events.
Just as God had prepared Moses for years for his leadership role, so He had also been preparing his successor. Joshua spent much of his life accompanying Moses, assisting him, and being close to the presence of God. Early in the Israelites’ wilderness journeys, Joshua had shown his leadership skills when he led the battle against the Amalekites. When the time came, Joshua was well prepared to step into the role God had planned for him.
It was difficult for Moses to relinquish his role after devoting so many years of his life to leading and caring for the Israelite people. He could only view life from his perspective, but fortunately, God was able to look down the course of time and see the big picture. God had already set in motion the means for continuing the leadership of His people and conquering the land of Canaan.
Q2 - Do you think Moses was fearful as he climbed Mount Nebo, knowing that he would die there? If you had an appointed time to die, how might you live your life differently?
A2 - Moses developed a closeness with God to a degree that few other humans have ever done. God Himself spoke of His close relationship with Moses in Numbers 12:6–8 when He disciplined Miriam and Aaron for speaking against Moses's wife. God also revealed His glory to Moses to the extent that is possible for humans to witness (see Exodus 33:18–23 and Exodus 34:5–9). While it’s hard to say what Moses felt as he climbed the mountain toward his death, certainly he was as prepared to meet his Maker as he could have been.
Q3 - God would speak to Moses face to face, as with a friend. When did Moses's relationship with God begin to develop? How did Moses foster that relationship? What can you do to further develop your relationship with God?
A3 - Although Moses must have learned of God from his parents and others from the Israelite community, it was not until he encountered God speaking to him from the burning bush on the mountain that he personally came to know Him. After God finally convinced him that he was to be the leader of the Israelite people, he accepted his role and tried his best to fulfill it. Even though he would become discouraged and cry out to God, he did not turn from his role. He listened to God and obeyed Him. He fell on his face before God on many occasions and prayed to Him often. He always trusted that God would do what He said He would do.
Even though we live under the New Covenant, Moses still serves as a wonderful example to us today. By his faith in God and his obedience to His Word, he was able to draw near to God. In so doing, he also became a friend of God.
James gives us a blueprint for how we can draw near to God in James 4:6b–8a (NKJV): “‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”