📖 Wahusika wa Biblia — Sehemu ya 6: Musa — Mtu Aliyeomba Kuuona Utukufu wa Mungu📖 Bible Characters — Unit 6: Moses — The Man Who Asked to See God’s Glory

Kati ya watu wote wa Agano la Kale, hakuna anayesimama juu kuliko Musa. Yeye ndiye mkombozi aliyewaongoza Israeli kutoka Misri, mpatanishi aliyepokea sheria pale Sinai, na rafiki ambaye BWANA alisema naye "uso kwa uso." Hata hivyo mtu ambaye Mungu alimtumia kwa ukuu namna hiyo alianza na orodha ya visingizio, na kilele cha hadithi yake si muujiza wa nguvu bali mtazamo mfupi wa wema wa Mungu. Maisha yake yanatupeleka kutoka kichaka kinachowaka jangwani hadi ufa wa mwamba ambapo utukufu wa Mungu ulipita.Of all the figures in the Old Testament, none stands taller than Moses. He was the deliverer who led Israel out of Egypt, the mediator who received the law at Sinai, and the friend with whom the LORD spoke "face to face." Yet the man God used so greatly began with a list of excuses, and the height of his story is not a miracle of power but a glimpse of God's goodness. His life carries us from a burning bush in the desert to the cleft of a rock where the glory of God passed by.

Somo: Musa — mkombozi aliyeuona utukufu wa Mungu.Subject: Moses — the deliverer who saw the glory of God.

Kiini cha Ujumbe: Mungu anayewaita wasiotosha na kutoa sheria yake pia anaufunua wema wake kuwa ndio utukufu wake.Proposition: The God who calls the inadequate and gives His law also reveals His goodness as His glory.

Tutafuatilia hatua nne katika maisha ya Musa.We will trace four movements in the life of Moses.

I. Kichaka Kinachowaka MotoI. The Burning Bush

Musa aliwahi kuwa mwana wa mfalme huko Misri, lakini baada ya kumuua Mmisri alikimbilia jangwa la Midiani, ambako alikaa miaka arobaini ya utulivu akichunga kondoo wa mkwewe. Alikuwa na umri wa miaka themanini, ndoto zake zikiwa zimepita zamani, alipoona kichaka kinachowaka moto bila kuteketea. Alipogeuka ili kutazama, Mungu alimwita kutoka katika moto: "Vua viatu vyako miguuni mwako, maana mahali hapo unaposimama ni nchi takatifu."Moses had once been a prince in Egypt, but after killing an Egyptian he fled into the desert of Midian, where he spent forty quiet years tending his father-in-law's sheep. He was eighty years old, his dreams long behind him, when he saw a bush that burned and was not consumed. As he turned aside to look, God called to him from the fire: "Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground."

Huko Mungu alimwagiza kuwakomboa Israeli — na Musa hakukimbia kutii; alikimbilia orodha ya sababu za kwa nini hangeweza. Mimi ni nani hata niende? Mungu akajibu, "Hakika nitakuwa pamoja nawe." Jina lako ni nani? Na Mungu akatoa jina lililo juu ya kila jina:There God commissioned him to deliver Israel — and Moses did not run to obey; he ran through a list of reasons he could not. Who am I that I should go? God answered, "I will certainly be with you." What is Your name? And God gave the name above every name:

Hawataniamini. Basi Mungu akampa ishara — fimbo iliyogeuka kuwa nyoka, mkono uliogeuka kuwa na ukoma kisha ukaponywa. Na hatimaye pingamizi la kweli:They will not believe me. So God gave him signs — a rod that became a serpent, a hand that turned leprous and was healed. And at last the real objection:

Mungu hakubishana kuhusu uwezo wa Musa. Aliuliza tu, "Ni nani aliyefanya kinywa cha mwanadamu?" (Kutoka 4:11). Mungu aliyekifanya kinywa hakika angeweza kukitumia. Musa alipoendelea kusihi, "Mtume mtu mwingine," Mungu alimpa Haruni ili aseme pamoja naye. Hapa kuna funzo kwa kila mwamini anayejiona hafai: Mungu hatafuti uwezo, bali utayari. Hufurahia kuwatumia wasiotosha ili nguvu ionekane waziwazi kuwa ni yake.God did not argue about Moses' ability. He simply asked, "Who has made man's mouth?" (Exodus 4:11). The God who made the mouth could surely use it. When Moses still begged, "Send someone else," God gave him Aaron to speak alongside him. Here is a lesson for every believer who feels unqualified: God is not looking for ability, but for availability. He delights to use the inadequate so that the power may plainly be His.

Basi Musa akarudi Misri akasimama mbele ya Farao na neno hili, "Wape watu wangu ruhusa waende." Farao alikataa, na Mungu akatuma pigo juu ya pigo — mpaka usiku ule wa mwisho wa kutisha. Usiku huo kila nyumba ya Israeli ilipaswa kumchinja mwana-kondoo na kutia damu yake juu ya miimo ya milango, na pale damu ilipoonekana, malaika wa mauti alipita juu. Mwana-kondoo wa Pasaka, aliyechinjwa ili mzaliwa wa kwanza aishi, anaelekeza mbele kwa Kristo, "Pasaka wetu," ambaye damu yake huwahifadhi wote wanaomtumaini. Farao aliwaacha Israeli waende, kisha akawafuatia hadi ukingoni mwa Bahari ya Shamu. Huko Musa aliwaambia watu waliojaa hofu, "Simameni imara, mkauone wokovu wa BWANA," na Mungu akaifungua bahari, akawapitisha Israeli katika nchi kavu, kisha akayafunga maji juu ya jeshi la Misri. Mkombozi alikuwa amewatoa watu wake.So Moses returned to Egypt and stood before Pharaoh with the word, "Let My people go." Pharaoh refused, and God sent plague upon plague — until the final and terrible night. On that night every household of Israel was to kill a lamb and put its blood on the doorposts, and where the blood was seen, the angel of death passed over. The Passover lamb, slain so that the firstborn might live, points forward to Christ, "our Passover," whose blood shelters all who trust Him. Pharaoh let Israel go, then pursued them to the edge of the Red Sea. There Moses told a terrified people, "Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD," and God opened the sea, brought Israel through on dry ground, and closed the waters over Egypt's army. The deliverer had led his people out.

II. Mbao za MaweII. The Stone Tablets

Katika Mlima Sinai, Mungu alishuka katika moto na wingu, na mlima ukatetemeka. Huko aliwapa Israeli sheria yake kupitia Musa — Amri Kumi, zilizoandikwa kwa kidole cha Mungu juu ya mbao za mawe. Sheria ni takatifu, ya haki, na njema, lakini haikuweza kuokoa; iliweza tu kufunua kiwango na kuifichua dhambi yetu. Hata Musa alipokuwa akiipokea, watu waliokuwa chini walikosa subira wakatengeneza ndama wa dhahabu, na Musa aliposhuka na kuona ibada yao ya sanamu, alizivunja mbao chini ya mlima — picha ya sheria iliyokwisha kuvunjwa na dhambi. Karne nyingi baadaye Yohana angechora tofauti kuu:At Mount Sinai, God came down in fire and cloud, and the mountain trembled. There He gave His law to Israel through Moses — the Ten Commandments, written by the finger of God on tablets of stone. The law is holy, righteous, and good, but it could not save; it could only reveal the standard and expose our sin. Even as Moses received it, the people below grew impatient and made a golden calf, and when Moses came down and saw their idolatry, he broke the tablets at the foot of the mountain — a picture of a law already shattered by sin. Centuries later John would draw the great contrast:

Musa anasimama kama mpatanishi wa sheria; Kristo anakuja kama mtoaji wa neema. Paulo anaiita sheria kiongozi, au mlezi, aliyetumwa kutuleta kwa Kristo. Sheria haikuwa kamwe neno la mwisho la Mungu, bali kiongozi anayeelekeza mbele kwa Yule ambaye peke yake angeweza kuishika na kuitimiza. Pale Sinai Mungu alitoa pia mfano wa maskani, kwa maana Mungu yule yule aliyetoa sheria alitamani kukaa kati ya watu wake — na shauku hiyo ingepata utimilifu wake Neno alipofanyika mwili akakaa kwetu.Moses stands as the mediator of the law; Christ comes as the giver of grace. Paul calls the law a schoolmaster, or tutor, sent to bring us to Christ. The law was never God's last word, but a guide pointing forward to the One who alone could keep it and fulfill it. At Sinai God also gave the pattern of the tabernacle, for the same God who gave the law desired to dwell among His people — and that longing would find its fullness when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

III. Unionyeshe Utukufu WakoIII. Show Me Your Glory

Musa, aliyewahi kukaa miaka arobaini ya utulivu akichunga kondoo jangwani, sasa alipewa fursa ambayo hakupewa mtu mwingine yeyote: alisema na Mungu uso kwa uso, kama mtu asemavyo na rafiki yake. Hata hivyo alitaka zaidi. Alitoa ombi la ujasiri kuliko yote katika Maandiko yote:Moses, who had once spent forty quiet years tending sheep in the desert, was now given a privilege granted to no one else: he spoke with God face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. And yet he wanted more. He made the boldest request in all of Scripture:

Jibu la Mungu limejaa ajabu. "Huwezi kuuona uso wangu; kwa maana binadamu hataniona akaishi" (Kutoka 33:20). Basi BWANA akamficha Musa katika ufa wa mwamba, akamfunika kwa mkono wake mwenyewe, akaruhusu mgongo wake tu uonekane utukufu wake ulipopita. Lakini angalia kwa makini kile ambacho Mungu alisema angekionyesha. Si ghadhabu yake. Si nguvu yake tupu.God's answer is full of wonder. "You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live" (Exodus 33:20). So the LORD hid Moses in the cleft of a rock, covered him with His own hand, and let only His back be seen as His glory passed by. But notice carefully what God said He would show. Not His wrath. Not His raw power.

Utukufu wa Mungu ni wema wake. Na utukufu wake ulipopita, alilitangaza jina lake mwenyewe: "BWANA, BWANA, Mungu mwenye rehema, mwenye neema, si mwepesi wa hasira, mwingi wa rehema na kweli." Ufunuo ulio angavu kuliko yote wa Mungu alivyo hauji katika ngurumo bali katika rehema. Kama Bengel alivyosema, "Utakatifu ni utukufu uliofichwa, na utukufu ni utakatifu unaong'aa nje" — utukufu ni wema mtakatifu wa Mungu uliofunuliwa, basi.God's glory is His goodness. And as His glory passed, He proclaimed His own name: "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth." The brightest revelation of who God is comes not in thunder but in mercy. As Bengel put it, "Holiness is hidden glory, and glory is holiness shining forth" — glory is simply God's holy goodness unveiled.

Sasa tunauona wema huo kwa sehemu tu, kama kipofu anavyongoja kuona. Kuna hadithi inayosimuliwa sana ya Mwingereza mmoja aitwaye William Montague Dyke, aliyepoteza uwezo wa kuona akiwa na umri wa miaka kumi. Akiwa kijana alipenda, na kabla ya harusi yake alifanyiwa upasuaji ambao ungeweza kuyarudisha macho yake. Kama hadithi inavyosimuliwa, alisisitiza kwamba bandeji zibaki mahali pake mpaka sherehe, ili uso wa kwanza kabisa ambao angeuona maishani uwe uso wa bibi arusi wake. Madhabahuni daktari mpasuaji alizikata bandeji, macho yake yakaona, na akimtazama alisema, "Wewe ni mzuri kuliko nilivyowahi kuwaza." Iwe ni kweli au imepambwa katika undani wake, inaonyesha jambo la kweli la ajabu: siku moja bandeji zilizo juu ya macho yetu wenyewe zitaondolewa, nasi tutauona uso wa Kristo.We see that goodness now only in part, the way a blind man waits for sight. There is a widely told story of an Englishman named William Montague Dyke, who lost his sight at the age of ten. As a young man he fell in love, and before his wedding he underwent surgery that might restore his eyes. As the story goes, he insisted that the bandages remain in place until the ceremony, so that the very first face he would ever see would be the face of his bride. At the altar the surgeon cut away the bandages, his sight held, and looking at her he said, "You are more beautiful than I ever imagined." True or embellished in its details, it pictures something wonderfully true: one day the bandages over our own eyes will come off, and we will see the face of Christ.

IV. Nchi ya AhadiIV. The Promised Land

Kwa miaka arobaini Musa aliwaongoza watu wakaidi jangwani, akivumilia manung'uniko yao na kuwaombea tena na tena. Mungu aliwalisha mana kutoka mbinguni na kuwatolea maji kutoka mwambani, akiwapatia kila hitaji njiani. Watu walipoumwa na nyoka, Mungu alimwambia Musa amwinue nyoka wa shaba juu ya mti, ili kila amtazamaye apate kuishi — picha ambayo Bwana Yesu baadaye angeidai kuwa yake: "Na kama vile Musa alivyomwinua yule nyoka jangwani, vivyo hivyo imempasa Mwana wa Adamu kuinuliwa." Hata hivyo, Musa mwenyewe hakuwa mtu mkamilifu. Kwenye maji ya Meriba, watu walipodai maji, Mungu alimwambia auambie mwamba; badala yake, kwa hasira, Musa aliupiga mara mbili. Maji yalitoka, lakini kwa sababu hakumheshimu Mungu mbele ya watu, aliambiwa kwamba hatawaingiza katika nchi. Basi Musa alitumia miaka yake ya mwisho akiwaongoza kuelekea nchi ambayo yeye mwenyewe hangeingia kamwe.For forty years Moses led a stubborn people through the wilderness, bearing their complaints and interceding for them again and again. God fed them with manna from heaven and brought water out of the rock, providing for every need along the way. When the people were bitten by serpents, God told Moses to lift up a bronze serpent on a pole, that everyone who looked to it might live — a picture the Lord Jesus would later claim as His own: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up." Even so, Moses himself was not a perfect man. At the waters of Meribah, when the people demanded water, God told him to speak to the rock; instead, in anger, Moses struck it twice. The water came, but because he had not honored God before the people, he was told he would not lead them into the land. So Moses spent his last years leading them toward a land he himself would never enter.

Kutoka kilele cha Mlima Nebo aliruhusiwa kuiona ikiwa imetandazwa mbele yake, lakini alifia huko, katika nchi ya Moabu, ahadi ikiwa machoni pake badala ya mkononi mwake, na Mungu Mwenyewe akamzika. Hata hivyo hadithi yake haikuishia mlimani pale; karne nyingi baadaye alisimama pamoja na Kristo juu ya Mlima wa Kugeuka Sura, hatimaye ndani ya nchi, katika utukufu. Kanaani ya duniani ilikuwa kivuli tu cha makao ya kweli na ya kudumu:From the top of Mount Nebo he was permitted to see it stretched out before him, but he died there, in the land of Moab, with the promise in view rather than in hand, and God Himself buried him. And yet his story did not end on that mountain; centuries later he stood with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration, inside the land at last, in glory. The earthly Canaan was only a shadow of the true and lasting home:

Kutoka kichaka kinachowaka moto hadi ufa wa mwamba, maisha ya Musa yanasimulia hadithi moja: Mungu hukutana na wasiotosha, huwapa neno lake, na huufunua wema wake. Kile tunachokiona sasa kwa sehemu tu, siku moja tutakiona uso kwa uso. Mungu aliyemwonyesha Musa mgongo wake atatuonyesha uso wake katika nafsi ya Mwanawe.From the burning bush to the cleft of the rock, the life of Moses tells one story: God meets the inadequate, gives them His word, and unveils His goodness. What we now see only in part, we shall one day see face to face. The God who showed Moses His back will show us His face in the person of His Son.