Confidence

Moses was a brave but impulsive man. His courage led the people of Israel out of 400 years of bondage through the desert and across the Red Sea. He frequently conversed with God in Egypt and throughout the wilderness wanderings. There were times when his impulsiveness displayed itself negatively. He killed an Egyptian who was beating an Israelite. In anger he bashed the first tablets of the Ten Commandments on the ground. He once hit a rock instead of speaking to it as God had commanded. A search of Exodus will lead to the discovery of other times when he manifested either great courage or hasty impetuousness.

Throughout the entirety of his adult life, the confidence of Moses was revealed. This aplomb was most evident when God first announced that Moses was His choice to confront the leaders of Israel and Egypt with the Exodus plan. Moses stepped up to the plate rashly intending to talk God out of such a nonsensical notion. He began with "Why me, Lord?" He followed that with questions about his not knowing God's name, the people not trusting him, and his poor oratory skills. Finally his confidence wilted as he blurted out, "Oh, Master, please! Send somebody else!"

The when it's all said and done summary of the life of Moses is revealed (Hebrews 11: 24-28 MSG), "He chose a hard life with God's people rather than an opportunistic soft life of sin with the oppressors...anticipating the payoff." That payoff is explained, "He had his eye on the One no eye can see, and kept right on going." Had there been a tombstone with his epitaph, it might have read, "MOSES! Courageous and Confident Leader of God!"