Moses, an Octogenarian
Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
Exodus 3:10
The first 80 years of Moses' life were a crucial preparation period for the monumental task of liberating the Israelites. Through his experiences as an Egyptian prince and a Midianite shepherd, he acquired the qualities necessary to lead the Israelites to freedom. Why?
The Egyptian schools provided Moses with his formal education. Such an education was premier in the ancient world. Ancient Egyptians who were educated learned to read at four. The pharaohs attended exclusive private schools with the children of government officials, the nobility, and bureaucrats. There, they learned to recognize and pronounce several hundred hieroglyphics, then arithmetic and, finally, writing. (ANCIENT EGYPTIAN EDUCATION | Facts and Details) Moses' education gave him valuable insight into Egyptian culture and uniquely suited him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. It is important to remember that he spent 40 years in the wilderness learning how to survive on the land. His education, wisdom, and experience made him the most appropriate leader for the Israelites. At the age of 80, Moses' life experiences enabled him to obtain a unique skill set that God used to navigate the Israelites for the next 40 years of complexities toward the Promised Land.
Therefore, a person’s age is irrelevant to a self-existing and self-sufficient Creator. God has unique ways of using anyone despite the age of the person. Age is not a factor in terms of wisdom or capability. Moses was able to lead the Israelites with the same authority and skill at the age of 80 as he had when he was younger. Never allow your age to deter your capability of God fulfilling a work in your life. Age is simply a number, and what truly matters is the heart and the will to serve God. Finally, Moses, an octogenarian, became a liberator for a nation, and he connected them to God in the wilderness.
