Moses, known as the servant of God, is a figure of profound significance, marked by a title that reflects his faithful obedience to divine commands. At the age of forty, Moses made a monumental decision to forsake the wealth, power, and status of Egypt to align himself with the oppressed Israelite slaves. This act, while heroic and noble in intent, was also impulsive and premature, as he acted without seeking God's guidance. Observing an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body, fearing discovery and the wrath of Pharaoh. This fear and concern for others' opinions revealed that his actions stemmed from strong preferences rather than true convictions, leading to his flight to Midian. For the next forty years, God prepared Moses for his destined role. During this time in the wilderness, tending sheep, Moses underwent a transformation. The once rash and self-reliant man became humble, aware of his weaknesses, and reliant on divine direction. By the time God called him at the burning bush, Moses hesitated, questioning his worthiness and ability to confront Pharaoh. His initial impetuosity had dissolved into a profound recognition of his limitations compared to Egypt's might. God patiently addressed Moses' doubts, assuring him of divine presence and providing signs and support through Aaron, demonstrating a commitment to equipping His servant for the task ahead. This period of preparation was crucial, aligning Moses with God's timetable rather than his own. When he finally returned to Egypt, Moses no longer acted on personal strength but sought God's counsel, showing a marked change in his approach. As the narrative of the plagues unfolds, Moses grows in confidence, directly carrying out God's commands without fear or hesitation, no longer concerned with eloquence or personal inadequacy. He stood before Pharaoh, convicted that his actions were divinely ordered, displaying a resolve that nothing could touch him until God willed it. Moses' journey from acting on human strength to becoming a vessel of divine will illustrates the importance of being in harmony with God's purpose. At forty, his efforts were futile because they lacked divine backing; forty years later, his transformed convictions bore fruit in the liberation of Israel. This transformation, shaped by years of divine discipline and humbling experiences, turned Moses into a faithful servant, deeply attuned to God's mind and will in every action.

God chose Moses before he was born and patiently prepared his mind, heart, and body for eighty years. He was trained physically to rule with a king's authority and humbled for sacrificial service through hardship and shame. Yet the preparation was not finished when he confronted Pharaoh, marched out with a high hand, or crossed the Red Sea. It was completed in God's presence at Mount Sinai. Even after his first forty days there, Moses' thinking was not fully in line with God's. He lost his temper and smashed the tablets written by God's own hand, much as he had killed the Egyptian forty years earlier. He also asked to be blotted out of God's book in place of the people, and God answered that He would blot out whoever sinned against Him. During his second forty days and nights, Moses became more like God through His Spirit and shared His glory. He bowed in worship, no longer saw himself as separate from or above stiff-necked Israel, and asked God to pardon their sin and take them as His inheritance. By the end he knew in his own heart that this was the work of God alone, and that God uses and prepares whomever He will. He understood the plan and purpose behind the words, not just the words themselves. His face radiated, so that the Spirit within him shone out to Israel. In the same way, God is preparing His elect now and shaping them for service and for glory in His Family.