Moses’ Education

  • “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. 7 Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house.  8 I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?” (Num. 12:6-8)
Introduction. As revealed above, Moses was among the greatest of God’s servants. God considered him to be so faithful He gave him special revelations that should have alerted Miriam and Aaron of the folly of trying to slander him. Although learning about the journey that led him to this position forces us to compare the account in Exodus to what is later revealed by the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, it is a rich and rewarding story.

Once learned, what led Moses to such faithfulness can become the motivation for us and also something to be taught diligently to our children. What makes Moses such a fascinating servant is because, from all outward signs, he would be in the category of those most likely not to succeed. He was taken from his own home at a very early age, raised by Pharaoh’s daughter in all the opulence and decadence of an idolatrous and wicked nation, and given an education from Egyptian schools where God and His people were seen as enemies. Clearly there was nothing in this that would have prepared him for the task of becoming one of God’s most trusted servants. Yet he rose above it all even though his birth had come at very unfortunate moment. While Aaron, who was only three years older, had escaped Pharaoh’s edict, Moses was caught in it.
  • So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.” (Ex. 1:22).
Three months after his birth, Moses parents saw that he could no longer be hidden and the threat to his life was severe. Yet they did all in their power to save him, and not just because of their love for him as their son. God revealed that it was their faith that led them to hide him and their trust in God that led them to not fear the kings command.
  • By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command. (Heb. 11:23; Ex. 2:1-4).
When the risk to his life was so grave, they had to hide him in the Nile among the reeds while Miriam kept watch. At that moment, God’s providence intervened. One of Pharaoh’s daughters came to that very spot to bathe. Seeing Moses floating in the reeds, a maid was sent to retrieve him.

Moses’ sister, seeing an opportunity, asked if she would like someone to nurse this child until he was weaned. Moses’ own mother was then brought to the river and Pharaoh’s daughter hired her to raise Moses until he is weaned. Although the estimates of how long this would be range from three years until perhaps five or six, what is obvious is that Moses’ knowledge of Israel and of the reproach of Christ would have been learned in these early years.

Once he was taken into the home of Pharaoh’s daughter and trained in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, there would have been no classes on Israel and its history. Whatever information he used to create the faith that allowed him to make the most important decision in his life would have been given by his mother and father at that time or, if there were any, in subsequent visits.
  • By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. (Heb. 11:24-26).
It was the Holy Spirit through Stephen’s inspired sermon that we learn the important details about this time in Moses life. He sums up that time from being weaned until the time for the decision:
  • “Pharaoh's daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son. 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.” (Acts 7:21-22)
This continued until he was forty years old.  Whether the decision had been made earlier, or at that moment, when he saw an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite, he made the irrevocable decision. What is fascinating is that Moses saw himself in that action as becoming the deliverer of Israel.
  • “Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel.  24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. 25 For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand.” (Acts 7:24-25).
Clearly Moses mind was filled with something very different than what he learned when he was educated as a royal Egyptian. Though probably equivalent to our own college degree, this education played no role in this most important decision of his life. He had to learn about his role as deliverer from God’s own word, since it was by faith. When we look at God’s promise to Abraham, we can easily see why Moses parents would have taught him that the time had come.
  • “Then He said to Abram: ‘Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. 14 And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions.’” (Gen. 15:13)
Moses by faith, recognized that the time had come. He wanted to share ill treatment with God’s people and willingly gave up the passing pleasures of sin because he wanted to share the reproach of Christ. So, in his heart when he killed that Egyptian, he thought he would become that deliverer.

Clearly, there were two competing visions. The vista from Egypt’s wisdom revealed the “treasures of Egypt” and the ease and prosperity of being in the household of Pharaoh. Its only enticement was “the pleasures of sin for a season.” This powerful vista has tempted and destroyed multitudes. But Moses saw the unseen. That is the difference! That is what we must give our own children and keep fresh in our own mind.

Only the “eyes of faith” could reveal the other panoramic vista seen by those who “walk by faith and not by sight.” It was from this perspective Moses could see the “recompense of reward” and the “greater riches” gained through “the reproach of Christ.” It is clear that for forty years Moses saw both. But then came the day when he chose to “hate the one and love the other” and “hold to one, and despise the other.” (Mt. 6:24). When that day came it was his faith and not Egypt’s wisdom that won the day.

What was the source of this faith? Since all faith comes “by hearing the word of God” (Rom 10:17) clearly at the same time Moses was learning the wisdom of Egypt, he also knew God’s wisdom. Perhaps his mother had taught him as she nursed him, passing on his heritage as Abraham’s seed. If so, then he was like Timothy who “from a babe” had “known the sacred writings which are able to make wise unto salvation.” (2Tim. 3:15). Perhaps he had continued contact with his sister Miriam, his brother Aaron, and his family, and it was they who changed his destiny.

“There is nothing new under the sun.” At this moment somewhere in America a young man or woman stands looking at the same vistas as Moses. Competing against the “wisdom of America” gleaned from a college education is the “faith” learned, either on their mother’s knee, or through reading the Scriptures. Each will pass a similar moment and make the same or opposite decision.

Conclusion.  The “wisdom of America” have made many today “mighty in word and deed.” Clearly there are great benefits from this wisdom. But the “wisdom of America” like that of Egypt is worldly and secular, and at some point will bring us into conflict with God’s word. Only our training in the Word of God from godly parents, the Lord’s church and our own efforts can bring “faith by hearing” that will bring us to God’s favor.

​Moses made the right choice long ago. The wisdom of Egypt has failed and crumbled into dust long ago. Yet, Moses will abide forever because he saw what faith revealed. We must make our own choice today. America’s wisdom will fail just as surely as Egypt’s. In the end only our faith will survive. What choices have we made up to this moment in our life?