Topical Bible: Moses: Character of Impatience of

◄ Moses: Character of Impatience of ►

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Moses, a central figure in the Old Testament, is often remembered for his leadership and faithfulness. However, his character also reveals moments of impatience, which are significant in understanding his life and ministry. This impatience is evident in several key episodes throughout the biblical narrative.

1. The Egyptian Taskmaster (Exodus 2:11-12): Moses' impatience first surfaces when he witnesses an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. In a moment of rashness, he kills the Egyptian and hides his body in the sand. This act of impatience leads to Moses fleeing Egypt, as it becomes known and Pharaoh seeks to kill him. The Berean Standard Bible recounts, "One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his own people and observed their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. After looking this way and that and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand."

2. The Burning Bush (Exodus 3-4): When God calls Moses from the burning bush to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses exhibits impatience through his reluctance and repeated objections. Despite God's assurances, Moses is impatient with the idea of his own inadequacy, saying, "Please, Lord, send someone else" (Exodus 4:13). This impatience with God's plan results in God's anger and the appointment of Aaron as his spokesperson.

3. Striking the Rock (Numbers 20:7-12): Perhaps the most notable instance of Moses' impatience occurs at Meribah. The Israelites are complaining about the lack of water, and God instructs Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water. Instead, Moses, frustrated with the people's constant grumbling, strikes the rock twice with his staff. The Berean Standard Bible records God's response: "But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 'Because you did not trust Me enough to honor Me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them'" (Numbers 20:12). This act of impatience ultimately prevents Moses from entering the Promised Land.

4. Intercession for Israel (Exodus 32:19-20): When Moses descends from Mount Sinai and sees the Israelites worshiping the golden calf, his impatience is evident in his immediate reaction. He throws down the tablets of the covenant, breaking them, and then burns the calf, grinds it to powder, and makes the Israelites drink it. This impulsive act underscores his frustration and impatience with the people's unfaithfulness.

5. Leadership Challenges (Numbers 11:10-15): Moses' impatience is also seen in his interactions with God regarding the burdens of leadership. Overwhelmed by the people's complaints about manna, Moses expresses his frustration to God, saying, "If this is how You are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in Your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin" (Numbers 11:15). His impatience with the situation reflects the immense pressure he felt as a leader.

Moses' character of impatience, while a flaw, also highlights his humanity and the immense challenges he faced. These episodes serve as reminders of the importance of patience and trust in God's timing and plans.

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Exodus 5:22,23
And Moses returned to the LORD, and said, LORD, why have you so evil entreated this people? why is it that you have sent me?
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Exodus 6:12
And Moses spoke before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not listened to me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?
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Exodus 32:19
And it came to pass, as soon as he came near to the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mount.
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Numbers 11:10-15
Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.
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Numbers 16:15
And Moses was very wroth, and said to the LORD, Respect not you their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.
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Numbers 20:10
And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
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Numbers 31:14
And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle.
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Library

Prayer and Importunity (Continued)
... Laxity, faint-heartedness, impatience, timidity will be fatal ... before God, left its
mighty impress on Moses. ... aforetime, but never did his character attain the ...
/.../bounds/the necessity of prayer/vii prayer and importunity continued.htm

The Waters of Meribah
... There is such a thing as national character persistent through ... and as a test for
both Moses and Israel. ... to procure the condonation of one moment's impatience? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the waters of meribah.htm

A Night on the Lake
... them that day but He whom Moses had foretold? ... reveal Himself in His true character,
and make ... They forgot their disaffection, their unbelief, their impatience. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 40 a night on.htm

History of Public Speaking
... orations in Deuteronomy, by Moses, are highly ... His high personal character, simplicity
of life ... Originality, self-reliance, impatience, aggressiveness, persistence ...
/.../kleiser/successful methods of public speaking/history of public speaking.htm

The Institution of Deacons, and the History of Stephen.
... application, to stigmatize the opinions and character of their ... and that the institutions
of Moses would retain ... not hear it mentioned without impatience and rage ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture viii the institution of.htm

Attributes of Love.
... borne in mind, that neither patience nor impatience, in the ... his hand, he passed by,
and let Moses see only ... Holiness, or moral harmony of character is, then, an ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xv attributes of love.htm

Miracles.
... Moses, Christopher Columbus, Mahomet, have only triumphed over ... outburst,[4] a fit
of impatience, in which the ... say, at times, that the character of thaumaturgus ...
//christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/chapter xvi miracles.htm

Ninth Sunday after Trinity Carnal Security and Its vices.
... a manifestation of anger and impatience, an unwillingness ... Having by Moses delivered
them from temporal ... and similar disorders, the terrible character of which ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/ninth sunday after trinity carnal.htm

The Shepherd, the Stone of Israel
... So many aspects of His character, so many remembrances ... But our folly, our stupidity,
our impatience, our absorption ... when He has passed by, like Moses from his ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the shepherd the stone of.htm

The Doctrine of Arbitrary Scriptural Accommodation Considered.
... Paul bears to the Evangelical character of what is hero ... It shews that the language
of Moses to Israel ... an event not yet accomplished, the impatience of Unbelief ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/sermon vi the doctrine of.htm