The NIV 365 Day Devotional
Moses: An Instrument of God
Moses was God’s chosen deliverer for the enslaved Israelites. His life divides into three forty-year periods: growing up in Egypt, living as a runaway in Midian, and leading the Israelites from Egypt to the promised land.
Moses was dramatically saved from Pharaoh’s order to kill all the Hebrew baby boys(Ex 2:1–10). He was raised by Pharaoh’s very own daughter. When he grew up, he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. Thinking no one was around, Moses killed the Egyptian, but his actions were seen and word spread about what he had done. Eventually word of his actions reached Pharaoh, and Moses fled to Midian.
In Midian, Moses married Zipporah, the daughter of a Midianite priest. He lived as a shepherd until God called him to lead his people out of Egypt (Ex 3:1–10). With the help of his brother, Aaron, Moses confronted Pharaoh. God demonstrated his power in a series of plagues that led to the Egyptians wanting the Israelites to leave (Ex 7–12). The final victory over the forces of Egypt took place when Moses led the Israelites across the Red Sea on dry land. When the Egyptians pursued them, the waters closed up behind them, killing the Egyptian army (Ex 14:26–28).
Moses led the people to Sinai, where he received God’s instructions for Israel. Upon arriving at the promised land, the people rejected God out of fear of the Canaanites, which led to them wandering in the wilderness for another 38 years. When Moses himself failed to follow God’s clear instructions, God said that he would die before setting foot in the promised land (Nu 20:12). God brought Moses up Mount Nebo, and after Moses looked over the promised land, he died at the age of 120.
God told Moses he would raise up a prophet like him in the future, who would tell the people God’s commands (Dt 18:18). This prophecy pointed to Jesus Christ, the New Moses, who interpreted and taught God’s law (see Mt 5–7).
APPLICATION Moses was called to a monumental task, one he never could have done without God’s power within him. Like Moses, we are called to obey God through faith in each circumstance. God will never tell us to do something that he does not intend to accomplish through us. We can follow God’s will confidently, knowing that all things he calls us to are possible (Php 4:13).
Taken from the NIV Application Bible.