(Men God Made) Moses — Willie Mullan

Moses in the School of God

And the man we're looking at tonight is Moses. Yes, this day we're dealing with men God made. And I'm not trying to deal with every detail connected with these men. I'm just dealing with the training techniques of the teacher.

How God trained these men to be real men of God. And we're going to see Moses in the school of God this evening. You know, it's a very wonderful thing if you watch all the great men that God took, called and saved and put into the school.

You will find this, that not many mighty are called. I think if you go through all the great men of God, you'll find not many mighty are called. You will find that Elisha was taken from the plough, and that Amos was a fruit-gatherer and God called him.

Of course you know about Peter and James and John. You know that the book even says that they were all learned and ignorant men. And it is true that not many mighty are called. God is picking up the things which are not to bring to naught the things that are.

But just because we know these few phrases and because we could back it up by one person and another, don't let's ever get the idea that it says not any mighty are called. It says not many mighty, but it doesn't say not any.

Moses as an Educated Prince

Because when we come to Moses, he's the mighty man, it may tell you that he was trained and learned in all the wisdom of Egypt before God even called him. He was a prince, an Egyptian prince. And I think that's the least thing we've got to keep in our minds.

Because I know some of the weak fellows who lick their lips over not many mighty are called, and they're so pleased they come from the back street. But I don't think that God can take universally students, and I'm afraid you should be educated, you know.

Just let God do whatever he likes. If he elects to take a little fellow from the back street and make him a shining servant, and he graduates in the school of God, then you say hallelujah. But when God takes a prince like Moses, or a Hebrew scholar like Paul, you just learn to say hallelujah just the same.

Don't forget that little guy. Now Moses lived for one hundred and twenty years, and his life, it divides very nicely into three quarters. He was forty years in Egypt, and he was known to the whole Egyptian nation in those days as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.

And where we find that phrase in Hebrews chapter 11, in the old original, it's in inverted commas. Because it was a title. That was his title in those days. As he walked past, everybody bowed. And they said, the son of Pharaoh's daughter.

That was his title. And some of us say that he was forty years in Egypt learning to be something. And then the next forty was spent at the back side of the desert, and that's a strange word to use. Even desert would be enough.

But it's said that he was at the back side of the desert, and I say he was there for forty years. There is an argument about it, but I don't find any argument. He was there forty years learning to be nothing.

And it's great when you learn that you're nothing. Some of us, it takes a long time, because you always have sought a little idea of claim to you that you are something. And the more that God blesses you, the more you're tempted to think you are something.

And it's not until you learn that you're nothing, that God can move you into the next class. And he was forty years in the wilderness, of course, with the children of Israel. And what a pilgrimage that was for him, with the continual murmurings.

He was forty years learning that God was everything. You have graduated when you were there. So that's the life that we're looking at this evening. Now I want to begin with his mother and father, I think this is proper.

Moses' Parents and the Genealogy of Levi

It's written in the book of Exodus. And we're at Exodus chapter six, please. The book of Exodus, and we're at the sixth chapter. This is not really important, but I think it's good for the young people.

You see, as a teacher of a Bible class like this, I've got to always remember I've got quite a company of young people here, and they need to learn the very basic things. And we have all Bible students here, and we need to take them into the depths until the whole studies are planned along this line.

We're at the book of Exodus chapter six, verse sixteen. And these are the names of the sons of Levi, according to the generations. Gershon, and Kohath, and Malari. Now here are the sons of Gershon in verse seventeen.

And here are the sons of Kohath in verse eighteen. You see his first born name, Amram he was. If you go down to verse twenty it says,. And Amram took him Jochebed, his father's sister to wife, and she bared him Aaron and Moses.

So you have no bother with that, have you? That's quite easily done. You start with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. And Levi was one of Jacob's sons. And Kohath was Levi's son. And Amram was Kohath's son.

And Amram married this woman called Jochebed. And they had two sons. They had later on a daughter called Miriam. But the two sons are mentioned here, Aaron and Moses. And I know that Aaron was five years older than Moses.

So there you are. But you've got that, that's quite easy. Now it says something about his presence in Hebrews chapter eleven. Let's go there just to get this tidied up a little bit. We're at this letter to the Hebrews.

And we're at the eleventh chapter. And we're at verse twenty-three. By faith Moses, when he was born, was fed three months of his parents. I want you to get the hold of that. You know his parents had real faith in God.

In this great picture gallery of faith here in Hebrews eleven. Where all the great exponents of faith are seen. These parents, Amram and Jochebed. They're mentioned here. By faith Moses, when he was born, was fed three months of his parents.

Because they saw he was a proper child. And what does that really mean? And they were not afraid of the king's commandments. In those days Pharaoh king of Egypt was commanding that all the male children born to these Hebrew slaves would be slaves.

But these two had faith. And they were filled with faith and they had no fear. And it's a great thing when you have faith and no fear. David got to a place when he graduated where he said, I will trust and not be afraid.

In his early days he talked about, when I am afraid I will trust in me. But in his latter days he talked about trusting and not being afraid. Now I know that there's quite a little bit said about his parents there.

Jochebed's Faith and Courage

But let's go back to the book of Exodus for a moment. And we're at the second chapter. Exodus and we're at chapter two. Verse one. And there went a man of the house of Levi and took to wife a daughter of Levi.

And now you know that the man was Ammon and the daughter he took was Jochebed. And we're back to the same couple. And the woman conceived. And there a son. And when she saw, what saw the she fear? And when she saw him that he was a goodly child.

What are we thinking about when we say goodly child? And in the other place proper child. She hid him three months. And when she could no longer hide him. She took for him an ark of bulrushes. And dabbed it with slime and with pitch.

And put the child in. And she laid it in the fledge by the river's bank. And his sister, that's Miriam I was telling you about stood afar off. To wit what would be done to him. I want you to get your eyes on his mother now.

You see somebody on one occasion tried to make it out that here are two different passages. And there's a contradiction. I can't see the contradiction. I'm perfectly sure that Amram was behind the woman in everything she did.

But I'm perfectly sure she was the leader. I don't see any bother with that at all. People try to make contradictions out of nothing. Now the woman was a great woman that's all. And he was big enough to go in with all she was doing that's all.

And that's why he bruises her love to say his parents. But now we're getting more light that's all. And we find that she, she was the real worker. She had perception. And she had passion. And she's determined to protect.

And she's the one that makes the plans. I don't see anything wrong with this at all. You know once upon a time I preached at a conference far from here. There are many marvellous mothers in this book.

And that's quite a story you know. Maybe one Sunday morning I may be called back to do that again. And there are many marvellous mothers in this book. You're getting your eyes on Jocko bed this evening.

And if you let your mind work can you get some more Hannah? Yes she was a great woman. Yes. I think that John Mark's mother was a great woman too. Because when they put Peter in prison and he got out of the prison and stood in the dark and wondered what he would do.

He came to the decision I will go to John Mark's house. And his mother had the house full. Where many were gathered together praying exactly the same. Because you know about Timothy's mother don't you?

Yes. His grandmother was called Louis. And his mother was called Eunice. And faith was in them both. All saints faith which was in my grandmother Louis. And in my mother Eunice. And I don't want to go up this sideline tonight because there's a whole lot of things I can say about these mothers.

And I'll take up the time on that clock. You know John Wesley's family and all the old messengers here will be delighted in this. They had 19 children in the family. And Susanna Wesley was like Jocko bed she was the leader of the family.

And it was Susanna Wesley that indoctrinated these boys and girls of hers. With the great truth of the gospel. Yes John Wesley was number 15 in that family. And I was number 17 in ours. It's a good job that they didn't practice doing away with children in those days.

The Dignity of Life and the Call of Jeremiah

Because that's where I think this sin is horrible. John Wesley and I would have been blotted out. Wouldn't have mattered so much about me. But it would really have mattered a lot about him. Remember they're going to have a baby.

God looked at Jeremiah and said, Before I found thee in the womb, I knew thee. And God pitied you as you put your hand to it to destroy it. Wanted to get the hold of those truths. You know I read with delight how she used to set the children down, Susanna Wesley.

And tell them all about God. And then I used to go back and see my old mother. I shall always be proud of my mother. And when I was just about 10 years of age. And I remember this distinctly. This old memory of mine is pretty good.

And I was sitting on the floor. I don't know exactly what I was doing. I remember I was on my bare feet. And I had an old pair of trousers on. And a jersey they called it. Cardigan if you like. With holes in it all over.

I remember her saying she was a great sewer. She controlled this fancy sewing. When she stopped she said, Willie, I want to talk to you. I have a feeling in my heart. That God wants you for something.

Now if you had seen me just then. You wouldn't have thought anybody wanted me for anything. And I'm sure I must have upset her intuition. If that's what it was. When I was 16 I used to come home drunk every night.

Never mind about what the devil tried to do to me. You see she had something. And I tried to get to the bottom of this proper child. And this goodly child. And the only way I can get is this intuition.

That this woman saw something in the child. And she said to Amran, We are not just foreigners we fellow. We are Christian. Never mind about the king. Never mind about his wrath. Thank God for mothers.

Thank God for good mothers. My mother was poor. But I remember things now that I'm so proud about. When I get home to heaven and see the Savior. Then I shall hug her tight. And if I had her tonight. I'd make a queen out of her.

If you had got a good mother. Would you go home and look after her? I hear about Christians with a mother and a home. And they never go near. I'll go and blush. I mean to talk to you. I don't need you around the corners to get truth across.

Moses Chooses the People of God

Yes that's enough for his mother and father won't it. Yes they want you to get down to the moment of his decision. Let's get across that. Go back to Hebrews chapter 11. Hebrews 11. And we're at verse 24.

By Japh Moses. And this is his own take this time. When it says in verse 23. By Japh Moses. When he was born the third three months of his parents. He's talking about his parents. You don't think a baby is born of faith do they?

But when he comes to verse 24. We're talking about his own faith. By Japh Moses. When he was twenty years. I wonder what we mean by that. Well you know what we mean now don't you? Yeah you can get married now without a license when you're over sixteen.

And you have a vote now. You'll be able to use it one of these days. Oh don't let me get into the voting business. Lord spare me. Yes. Now I think it's a bit more than that when we look back there. We might say that the fellow has come to years.

And sometimes I would use it as an illustration. Even in the present day teaching of the gospel. Sixteen, eighteen, twenty, twenty one. And I think it was a bit more in those days. Or you think it meant then when he was coming to years.

Well I can tell you it meant he was nearly forty. That's what I can tell you. But I need to prove all that shouldn't I? But we'll get round to that in a moment. But he came to a decision then. By Japh Moses when he was twenty years.

Recuse. That was the thing that this faith did. Recuse to be called. And this is where the phrase comes in. The son of Pharaoh's daughter. And it should be in these invested commas. He's dropping his title for good.

He's not going to belong to Egypt. Or be a prince in Egypt any more. And this choice went a bit more further than that. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God. Well let's simply stand with the people of God.

Rather to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God. Than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Now here's the bit that fills me. Esteeming this faith of his.

That refused and choosed and took its stand with the people of God. Esteemed the reproach of Christ. Oh what did he know about Christ all the way back there? I'm afraid he knew a whole lot. Ah you know he knew by the offerings.

That the Christ of God was coming. And he knew by even the scriptures that was. There then. That reproach would be on his head. And if you were going to be on God's side. Then you'd have to bear the reproach of Christ.

It's wonderful. This was the day he met Christ. See back there don't make any mistakes with us. This was the day he placed his faith in the Christ of God. And turned away from Egypt. I am the treasures of Egypt.

I am the treasures of Egypt. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches. Than the treasures in Egypt. For he had respect unto the recompense of the poor. And I think you can see the moment of his decision.

Moses' Self-Reliance and Flight to Midian

Now let's go back to Exodus chapter 2. We just have to go back and forwards to get this proper. Now we can see his father and mother. And we know when he was born. And we know all that happened to him and how he was brought up.

And learned in all the wisdom of Egypt. And how when he was come to years he refused to be called the son of his daughter. And went in Exodus chapter 2 and went away down at verse 11. Exodus 2 verse 11.

And it came to pass in those days when Moses was gone. Now the thought of faith as we get in this book you have to watch it. Because you might put your own interpretation on that and you are not allowed.

You might think he was 12. You might think he was 16. I am afraid you have to get a clearer on that and I will do it for you in a moment. I will tell you he was 40. And it came to pass in those days when Moses was gone.

That he went out all through his garden and looked from their gardens. And he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew. One of his brethren. And he looked this way and that way. And when he saw there was no man he threw the Egyptian.

Hidden in the sand. I want you to get this mistake of his. You see he is a grown man now. And he has placed his faith in Christ. Now he thinks that he is going to liberate the whole nation. On his own.

This is not faith at all you know. This is being a fanatic. And there is a whole lot of Christian faith now. So many things. So many things. So Moses thought. I am afraid he was all wrong. I am afraid he was terribly wrong.

Do you know how I know he was wrong? When you are right you don't look this way and that way to see if anybody is coming. That's the way some of the believers look into the bookies. Stand on the street and look this way and that way.

You know you are wrong. Your conscience is working. I am telling you he is wrong. I am telling you his conscience is talking to him. I am telling you that this is not bigotry at all. This is carnal. And the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.

You don't do it that way. And we have so many in which we problem with others. And they want to do it this way. That's all wrong. Terribly wrong. That's not faith at all. Now I want to tell you this. The book didn't even please his brethren.

Oh maybe they would say hallelujah while you are killing the Egyptians. But watch this. It says. Verse 13. When he went up to check and said behold two men of the Hebrews strove together. And he said to him that did the wrong.

Therefore smitest thou thyself. And he said who made thee a prince and a judge over us? Intendest thou to kill me as thou killest the Egyptians? And Moses prayed and said surely this thing is known. Now then Pharaoh heard this thing.

He sought to slay Moses and Moses had to flee away into the land of Midian. You see God the Lord stood back and allowed him in his carnality. Allowed him to be the fanatic that murdered the Egyptians.

And it's still a block on his conscience to this world. I want you to get the hold of this. That God allowed this to happen but God was guiding him. Oh there are so many who can never see this permissive will of God and this directive will.

God was going to put them into another class now. He's taking them to the class. The university of the back side of the desert. And he moves you there sooner or later. That was the outcome of this. He had to flee.

The Wilderness as God's Training Ground

And you will find that it's set here in chapter 3. We're at Exodus chapter 3. Now Moses took the flock of Jethro his father-in-law the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back side of the desert.

And I believe that if you're going to be any good for God at all. I believe you have to come to this classroom. You know while Paul was a Hebrew of the Hebrews. And while he was a chosen veteran you know.

Oh he had to spend three years in Arabia alone in the desert. Just getting things right. Can I talk to the young preachers coming up. Will you sit up and listen for a moment or two. Because this is for your good.

You see I came to this platform as far as I know it's the same old reading desk. I came to this the first time in my life. About 41 years ago. And I can remember you know I lived in Utah Nards. I had an old car.

I didn't even own a bicycle. I had hired in the money for the ticket to come here. Young car. Good looking. Yes. Has to say something right. Yes. And I remember getting the train in Utah Nards. And coming to the station in Belfast.

And getting out and walking over the bridge. And going to Great Victoria Station. And buying a ticket for Logan. I had never seen Logan in my life. When you were brought up the way I was brought up. And you had no money.

You didn't travel the country. I'd never seen Logan. But I was going to Logan for this church to preach on a Sunday morning. And I had to look out of the window at all the wee stations. And you have got Dunmurry and Finnishy.

And Richburg. And the Maze and Moira. And I really thought I was going to America you know. It was so wonderful. How far away the Lord had taken me. And then I came to the station down here. It was Logan.

And I saw the word and I got on. And Billy Dewey met me. This is Dewey here now. And he's in heaven. And he was a great green man. And he was a deacon in the meeting here. And I can see this green man.

I didn't know he was Billy Dewey. But he knew me. Hard hat on. Walking up and down. And I'll tell you how he met me. Just the heart out and the smile. And this is what he said. I hope you have a good day boy.

Always said boy at the end of the line. It was great. I had never trained a country man. A real man. This is what I was looking for. If they had sent Lord Logan I would have went home again. But this is the man that met me and cared for me.

And many hundreds of times afterwards. And I came here. And I came in fear and trembling. But I did so well. That they asked me to come and preach at the conference which was only in the day or two. And that scared me.

And I knew that old Tucker was coming to the conference. And I knew that old Tucker and I were going to preach together. You know I couldn't hardly believe that. He was my father in the faith and I thought he was wonderful.

And I was preaching to him. And I preached first. Preached from the text. Turn up again oh God and cause thy faith to shine. And we shall be saved. And I believe God came in and moved and helped me. Helped me tremendously.

So tremendously. That John McGill, Tom Terence took me into the little back hall up there. It was there then. He said we would like you to think of coming here as a pastor. And that was about the finish of it.

I didn't want to come as a pastor. Oh I didn't want to do that. He said now if you give us your word that you would consider it we'll put it before the meeting. And I said don't you do that until I consider it.

And when I went home I was nearly crying. And I thought this is more than about it. And I went upstairs and I said Lord you know all about it. He was a wee fellow and I didn't know anything about it. And I came to the conclusion it was all wrong.

And it was wrong. Let me say that boldly now. And it was 15 years. 15 years after that. And 15 years later. 25 years ago. I came as a pastor. But had I come 40 years ago I wouldn't have been here 40 weeks.

But you wee fellows take your time wouldn't you. God is not in a hurry. You're always in a hurry. God has given you gifts. And you can preach, bless you. And you get it over and you're getting new messages.

And it's flowing through you. Sure I'm so pleased. Well take your time. God is in no hurry. 15 long years it was. No it was 40 years.

And I beg of you let us put him back for 40 years.

That will teach him a thing or two. Oh I wish we would let God drive us free. An old fellow said to me once. He said you know you talk about 120 years. And I know it was 120 years. And I know he was 40 years in the wilderness.

With the children of Israel. But there is no where in this book that it says he was 40 years in Egypt. And 40 years in the back side of the desert. You're just walking about. I said did you read through the book.

He says yes. I have read every word in Exodus. Leviticus. Numbers. Deuteronomy. And 40 is not mentioned again. You're very sure you read it. Yep. I said it's just a pity of you. Because you're just opening your mouth now.

And letting me see how great an ignoramus you are. Because sometimes when you try to be clever and open your mouth you know.

You get back to the old text.

They're threatening themselves to be wise. They become foolish. Now let me show it to you and see if some stupid creature like this comes along. I don't say things I couldn't prove you know. You see what he forgot is this.

And this is something I want to say to you. That old flock is going to beat us tonight. I shall just go on the matter about it. You see we forget that the day of Pentecost came. And we forget that the Holy Ghost came and filled men.

And we forget that when men were filled. The Spirit of God taught the early teachers especially the prophets. Things that were not even recorded in the Old Testament. Oh yes. And now that they're all out into the light and they're recorded in the New Testament.

We don't get any more of this sort of light. But they got it then. Now you watch me. Because you can read through Exodus and Leviticus. And Numbers and Deuteronomy looking for all the facts and you're not finding them.

They're not there. I'll tell you where to find it. You see when Stephen stood before the Sanhedrin. And they're aware of Acts chapter 7. Have a look at it now. The Acts of the Apostles. And we're at chapter 7.

Stephen's Spirit-Given Account of Moses

Yet as he stood before the Sanhedrin. You know he was filled with the Spirit. Actually it goes further. Matthew says he was full of the Spirit of God. And the Holy Ghost gave them light that was not seen before.

And we have this recorded. And the book is finished. And all that God wants to say is dead. And you're not allowed to argue now. There's no use of you coming to tell me that the Holy Ghost has given you gifts.

They're all in this book now. And you're not arguing. But this is how it was going then. Here's Stephen standing before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. And it says this. Blessed Scripture. It's time to save time now.

He's talking to him. He says in which time Moses was born and was exceeding fair. And nourished up in his father's house three months. And when he was cast out. Sarah's daughter took him up. And nourished him for her own son.

Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. That's where we get that from. And was mighty in words and in deeds. And when he was full, 40 years old. It came into his heart to visit his brother and the children of Egypt.

And seeing one of them suffer wrong. I'll tell you he was 40 years old before he made the decision. Did you get the hold of that? Because that's the first copy in case you like the old critic that I met.

Now seeing one of them suffer wrong he defended him. And avenged him that was oppressed and smote the Egyptians. For he supposed his brethren would have understood. How that God by his hand would deliver them.

But they understood not. It's just intimating that Moses was getting the feeling in his heart. That God was going to use him. But nobody else had it but him. And the next day he showed himself one to them as they stole.

And would have set them at one again saying. So you are brethren why do you wrong one to another? But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away saying. Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? Wilt thou show me as thou didst the Egyptians yesterday?

Then Moses prayed at the same. Was a stranger in the land of Midian. Then he begot two sons. And when forty years were expired there was not another forty. You see when I got to there the old fellows looking at me soft looking.

They should have looked at this book and hit them on the head with it. Please don't come criticizing if you don't know. Because I haven't time to deal with some of you stupid ones. You get fed up listening to it.

You don't know the book. If you don't know please learn you don't know. He was forty years old when he made the decision. He was forty years at the back side of the desert. I don't need to go on with this do I?

Watch down the chapter a little bit. When he got to the burning bush then said the Lord to him. Verse thirty three. Put off thy shoes from my feet. For the place where thou standest is holy ground. I have seen I have seen the affliction of my people.

This Moses whom they refused say. Who made thee a ruler and a judge? The same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer. By the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. He brought them out after that he had showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea.

And in the wilderness. Forty years. There's your other forty. It's a great pity of some of you fellows. Yes you know he was forty years at the back side of the desert. Yes God appeared to him then. God sending him back to do the job now.

And I think you can see his million days and nights there and will not waste any more time. You know when God called him. Let's go back to Exodus to this burning bush. And we're in Exodus chapter three just now.

Moses' Inadequacy Before God's Call

God is speaking to him also for this burning bush. And here's what God said to him in verse eleven. Well this is what Moses said back to God. Verse ten is where God says. Come now therefore and I will send thee unto Pharaoh.

That thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. And Moses said unto God who am I? That I should go unto Pharaoh. You know he's just standing there. God sending him. But he's trying to answer back.

He's trying to say you know I'm nobody. Don't send me. Oh if God's working in your heart young man. Or young woman. God knows what it's about. Just leave him alone. Just you obey him and stop arguing.

You see verse thirteen. And Moses said unto God. Behold when I come unto the children of Israel and say unto them. The God of your fathers has sent me unto you. And they shall say to me. What is his name?

What shall I say unto them? He's trying to say you know I don't know the thing to say. I have no message. Oh the Lord will look after you. A little fellow said to me once. You know I'd be afraid to go out into the work of the Lord.

How would I get messages for the next twenty five years? I have taken the last handful of meal out of the barrel. For twenty five years. It'll do another twenty five. Don't you worry. And if I had to preach for all eternity.