Men and Women of God - Part 2

By: Martin Connolly | Date: 2025-11-14

Men of and Women of God – Part 2

 

Brief snapshots to encourage men and women to action.

 

Moses

Moses is perhaps one of the most well know characters in Scripture. Yet, do we really know the man? His life starts in an extraordinary way. Set afloat on the Nile he is by divine providence found by an Egyptian – a daughter of Pharoah.  The name she gave him was most likely, Mose. This the Egyptian for son. This became the Hebrew mo?sheh (drawn [out of water]. Later Jewish commentaries would give him ten other names.

            He grew up in a very privileged home. He must have been aware of his being a Hebrew, as Scripture says,

 ‘..he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people’ (Exodus 2:11).

 He had an influential status, being the ‘son’ of Pharoah’s daughter. It raises the intriguing question, ‘did he ever do anything to help the Hebrew slaves?’ What we do know is that on see the slave being beaten he murdered the Egyptian. Does this show a hot temper, when with his authority he may have found another solution? The incident causes him great trouble and fear becomes his bedfellow. He has to flee Egypt.

            Here he helps some daughters of a Midianite priest - Reu'el [friend of God]. This suggests he served and worshipped the Semitic God El. His actions lead him to marry Zipporah, Reuel’s daughter. Eventually, the Theophany, the Angel of the Lord, calls Moses and declares His intention to bring Israel out of Egypt. Moses does not readily accept this charge. Why would they listen to him? God tells Him to use the title, a derivative of Yahweh. Even after this, Moses still wants to avoid going back to Egypt.

 “Then Moses answered, "But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, 'The LORD did not appear to you.'" (Exodus 4:1)

 The Lord then demonstrates His power that will aid Moses to carry out the task using Moses’ staff. The Lord causes Moses’ hand to go leprous and then heals it. Still Moses continues to try and avoid the task,

“But Moses said to the LORD, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either heretofore or since thou hast spoken to thy servant; but I am slow of speech and of tongue."” (Exodus 4:10). 

 The Lord gets angry with Moses and concedes that he can use Aaron as his mouthpiece. At this point, we can now surmise that Moses is a rash, fear-filled man who, despite chasing away some shepherds, is still filled with the terror of Egypt and his own people. Can God still use him? Of course, God does and Moses carries out the supervision of the Israelites out of Egypt. Another incident which shows the character of Moses is seen in Exodus 4:24. The Lord, it says, wanted to kill Moses! This can be explained by understanding the Midianites were descendants of Abraham and carried on the rite or circumcision. Obviously, Moses had neglected or refused to carry out this on one of his sons. Moses had two sons - Gershom, the first-born, and Eliezer. It is most likely the younger Eliezer was circumcised. This is explained by another Midianite/ Ishmaelite practice. In this a son was not circumcised until 12 years of age. Gershom was probably circumcised in this tradition. However, Moses was now on a holy mission and he needed to do things God’s way, not that of a foreign people. Moses still did not do it and it is left to Zipporah to do the job. Her, being a Midianite, knew the rite of circumcision and its practice.

Then in the wilderness we see again the rash Moses. Angry with the people Moses asks God for water. He is told to strike the rock once to get water. Instead, he strikes it twice. This causes hm the privilege of leading the people into the Promised Land. (Numbers 20:12).

Despite all his flaws Moses was a man of God and did the work of God without fear in front of Pharoah. He trusted God at many points in the wilderness and demonstrated that his love and faith in God, rose above his short-comings. He does finally get to see the Promised Land, when he meets Jesus on the mountain. (Mark 9:4)

          Lessons from this life

 a.    Our ending is more important than our beginning.

 b.    God will demonstrate His power in our calling and anointing no matter what others might say. (God’s answers to Moses fear of the people)

c.    God can handle our weakness and failings.

d.    God’s Love covers a multitude (1 Peter 4:8)

e.    God’s grace overcomes in every circumstances and Moses character is changed and he ends in glory – even meeting Jesus!

 Rahab

 Rahab was a woman of ill-repute – a prostitute. An unlikely hero of Scripture. Two Jewish men were sent to spy out the land before the Joshua led the people into the promised land.

She lived in Jericho, and had heard of the Jews and how Yahweh had looked after them. The reason for going to this particular house, was not for her services as a prostitute. The Targum of Jonathan. A Jewish text, tells us she was an innkeeper, an obvious place for the spies to go to. She confirmed the people of Jericho were terrified of Joshua and the people of God. She said to the spies,

 “Now then, swear to me by Yahweh, that as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a sure sign, and save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death." Jos 2:12 -13

             In this she confirms that she had faith in Yahweh and that He would bring victory to His people. She hid the spies and when the King of Jericho sent men to look for them, she did not betray them. This is further confirmed as she married Salmon, a prince of the tribe of Judah. In fact, her history is even greater than that!

Salmon and Rahab had a child – Boaz. He became the husband of Ruth, who gave birth to Obed. In turn Obed’s son was Jesse, the father of King David.

“..and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse..” Matthew 1:5

And as Isaiah prophesied,

 “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” Isaiah 11:1 

 This, of course, refers to the Messiah, Jesus. This woman of so low an origin, is raised to honour because of her faithfulness. Hebrews records her as a hero of faith,

 

“By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given friendly welcome to the spies. Hebrews 11:31

 James also makes mention of her,

 “And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?” James 2:25 

 We therefore see a woman, Rahab, who stands as a beacon of faith.

 Lessons from this life

 a.    Learning that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

 b.    That service to God’s people will be rewarded.

 c.    That no matter of past reputation or a sinful life, God in the Christ can redeem the sinner.

d.    That faith and good works, prepared by God, are a spiritual match.

e.    That, as Rahab was rescued from disaster and death, sinners will be rescued from the penalty of sin and death, by the grace and mercy of God in Jesus.