Moses spent forty years as a shepherd of flocks to prepare him to understand himself and to purify himself by emptying himself that the Lord could accomplish His will in him. The Lord did not take for His workmen mere machines in intellect or feelings. Both are essential to do the work, but these human elements of character must be purged from defects, not by talking of the will of God, but by doing His will. “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine” (John 7:17). Moses was under training to God. He endured a long process of mental training to fit him to be leader of the armies of Israel. (TDG 321.2) MC VC