The Call of Moses – Basic 6 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

Meaning of “call”

Call means when God chooses someone for a special work or mission. It is God’s invitation to serve Him in a specific way.

Examples of God’s Calls:

• Abraham – called to be father of nations
• Moses – called to deliver Israel
• Samuel – called to be prophet
• David – called to be king
• Isaiah – called to prophesy
• Disciples – called to follow Jesus
• Paul – called to preach to Gentiles

THE STORY OF THE CALL OF MOSES (Exodus 3-4)

Moses’ Background Before the Call:

• Grew up in Pharaoh’s palace
• At age 40, he killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew
• He fled to Midian desert
• Married Zipporah (daughter of Jethro, a priest)
• Became a shepherd
• Lived in Midian for 40 years
• He was now 80 years old

The Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1-3):

• Moses was tending his father-in-law’s flock
• He led the flock to Horeb (Mount Sinai), the mountain of God
• The Angel of the LORD appeared to him
• In a flame of FIRE from a BUSH
• The bush was BURNING but NOT consumed (not burning up)
• Moses said: “I will turn aside and see this great sight”
• “Why the bush does not burn”

God Calls Moses (Exodus 3:4-6):

• When God saw Moses turn aside
• God called: “Moses, Moses!”
• Moses answered: “Here I am”
• God said: “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet”
• “For the place where you stand is holy ground”
• God said: “I am the God of your father”
• “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”
• Moses hid his face – he was afraid to look at God

God’s Message (Exodus 3:7-10):

1. God Has Seen (v.7)

• “I have surely seen the oppression of My people in Egypt”
• “I have heard their cry”
• God is aware of our suffering

2. God Has Come Down (v.8)

• “I have come down to deliver them”
• “To bring them out of Egypt”
• “To a good and large land”
• “A land flowing with milk and honey” (Canaan)

3. God Sends Moses (v.10)

• “Come now, I will send you to Pharaoh”
• “That you may bring My people out of Egypt”
• This was Moses’ commission/call

Moses’ Objections:

Excuse #1: “Who am I?” (Exodus 3:11)

• Moses said: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?”
• He felt inadequate and unworthy
• God’s Answer (v.12): “I will certainly be with you”
• God’s presence is all we need

Excuse #2: “Who are You?” (Exodus 3:13)

• Moses asked: “When they ask Your name, what shall I say?”
• God’s Answer (v.14): “I AM WHO I AM”
• “Tell them I AM has sent you”
• God revealed His eternal, self-existent nature

Excuse #3: “They won’t believe me” (Exodus 4:1)

• Moses said: “They will not believe me or listen to my voice”
• God’s Answer: Gave him THREE SIGNS/MIRACLES

Excuse #4: “I’m not eloquent” (Exodus 4:10)

• Moses said: “I am slow of speech and slow of tongue”
• He claimed he couldn’t speak well
• God’s Answer (v.11-12): “Who made man’s mouth?”
• “I will be with your mouth and teach you”

Excuse #5: “Send someone else” (Exodus 4:13)

• Moses said: “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send”
• He was still reluctant
• God’s Response (v.14): God was angry
• But provided Aaron to speak for Moses
• Aaron would be Moses’ spokesman

Miracles performed by Moses in Egypt

The Three Signs to Moses (Exodus 4:2-9):

1. The Rod Became a Serpent (v.2-5)

• God asked: “What is in your hand?”
• Moses said: “A rod” (shepherd’s staff)
• God said: “Cast it on the ground”
• Moses threw it down
• It became a SERPENT
• Moses fled from it
• God said: “Reach out and take it by the tail”
• Moses took it, it became a rod again
• Purpose: So they would believe God appeared to him

2. The Leprous Hand (v.6-8)

• God said: “Put your hand in your bosom”
• Moses put his hand in his cloak
• When he took it out, it was LEPROUS (white as snow)
• God said: “Put it back”
• He did, and it was restored (normal again)
• Purpose: A second sign if they didn’t believe the first

3. Water to Blood (v.9)

• God said: “If they don’t believe these two signs”
• “Take water from the Nile and pour it on dry ground”
• “The water will become BLOOD”
• Purpose: A third convincing sign

The Ten Plagues in Egypt (Exodus 7-12):

After Pharaoh refused to let Israel go, God sent 10 plagues:

1. Water to Blood (Exodus 7:14-25)

• Moses struck the Nile with his rod
• All water in Egypt became blood
• Fish died, water stank
• Egyptians couldn’t drink it
• Lasted 7 days

2. Frogs (Exodus 8:1-15)

• Frogs came up and covered Egypt
• In houses, bedrooms, beds, ovens
• Pharaoh begged Moses to remove them
• Moses prayed, frogs died
• But Pharaoh hardened his heart

3. Lice/Gnats (Exodus 8:16-19)

• Aaron struck the dust
• Dust became lice on people and animals
• Egyptian magicians couldn’t copy this
• They said: “This is the finger of God”

4. Flies (Exodus 8:20-32)

• Swarms of flies filled Egypt
• But no flies in Goshen (where Israelites lived)
• Pharaoh promised to let them go
• Moses prayed, flies left
• Pharaoh hardened his heart again

5. Livestock Disease (Exodus 9:1-7)

• Disease killed Egyptian livestock
• Horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep died
• But Israelite animals were protected
• Not one died

6. Boils (Exodus 9:8-12)

• Moses threw ashes into the air
• Boils (painful sores) broke out on people and animals
• Even the magicians had boils
• They couldn’t stand before Moses

7. Hail (Exodus 9:13-35)

• Worst hailstorm in Egypt’s history
• Thunder, hail, fire mixed with hail
• Destroyed crops, trees, killed people and animals outside
• Only Goshen had no hail

8. Locusts (Exodus 10:1-20)

• Locusts covered the land
• Ate everything the hail left
• Darkened the land
• Pharaoh’s servants begged him to let Israel go
• Still Pharaoh refused

9. Darkness (Exodus 10:21-29)

• Moses stretched his hand toward heaven
• Thick darkness covered Egypt for 3 DAYS
• Egyptians couldn’t see each other
• But Israelites had light in their dwellings

10. Death of Firstborn (Exodus 11-12)

• God announced the final plague
• At midnight, every firstborn in Egypt would die
• From Pharaoh’s son to the prisoner’s son
• Also firstborn of livestock
• Only those with blood on doorposts would be spared
• (This became the Passover)
• This plague finally broke Pharaoh’s resistance

After the 10th Plague:

• Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron at night
• Said: “Rise, go out from among my people”
• “Take your flocks and herds and be gone”
• Egyptians urged them to hurry
• Israel left Egypt after 430 years

Purpose of the Miracles:

1. Prove God’s power
2. Show God is supreme over Egyptian gods
3. Deliver Israel from bondage
4. Reveal God’s glory
5. Make God’s name known in all the earth

Homework: List the 10 plagues God sent on Egypt.