Moses’ improbable life: It is a most improbable story. How can a boy born in a slave family become the greatest of all the Old Testament prophets? He overcame impossible odds to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage and to the promised land.
Moses’ improbable life: Should have been killed at birth
Moses (Moshe in Hebrew) was not expected to live. The Egyptians were aware that a “deliverer” was supposed to come. He was suppose to liberate the Hebrews, who had been enslaved for over 400 years.
Right before Moses was born, the Pharaoh ordered the death of all young male children. The Pharaoh wanted to make sure this deliverer would not emerge. Moses’ mother, Jochebed, placed him in a basket and sent him floating down the Nile River, to save him.
He was discovered by Pharaoh’s daughter and raised as her own. She named him Moses, which means “drawn from” in the ancient Egyptian language. That meant he would receive a quality education. This seemingly unexciting fact is vital to God’s plan.
God needed an educated man, one who could read and write. This unsuspecting prophet would go on to become a leader of an entire nation.
Moses kills an Egyptian
Even being raised and living his life in comfort was not enough to keep him free of trouble. Moses saw an Egyptian beating an Israelite and lost his temper. He attacked and killed the Egyptian. Knowing that he was in deep trouble, he quickly buried the man and fled.
Moses wound up in Midian. Meeting a local chieftain named Jethro, marring his daughter, and becoming a shepherd. From the wealth of the house of Pharaoh to the wilderness of Sinai. Moses was as far away from trouble as he could get. However, God found him.
Moses sees the burning bush
God appeared to Moses in a burning bush. He told him to go back to Egypt, face Pharaoh and demand that the Israelites be released. Of course, God won out and Moses returned and was joined by his bother Aaron.
1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”
5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father,[a] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
7 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.
8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.
9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:1-10)
Moses’ improbable life: Returns Egypt
Moses’ return to Egypt marked a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative. He embarked on a mission to liberate the Israelites from centuries of enslavement. Guided by divine command and armed with unwavering faith, Moses confronted Pharaoh with a powerful message: “Let my people go.”
Despite initial resistance a series of dramatic plagues that shook the Egyptian kingdom. Moses’ determination and the miraculous signs he performed ultimately compelled Pharaoh to release the Israelites. This momentous event led to the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. But it also set the stage for their journey towards freedom. Forging their identity as a nation under the covenant with God.
The 10 plagues of Egypt
Moses’ visits with Pharaoh were contentious and at times counterproductive. But God brought on 10 plagues to soften Pharaoh’s heart. Each worked to a degree, but Pharaoh would quickly change his mind.
What are the 10 plagues of Egypt?
- The water of the Nile and all other sources was turned to blood
- Millions of frogs covered the ground, inside and outside
- Lice infestation
- Flies darkened the sky and were everywhere
- Egyptian livestock struck with pestilence.
- The Pharaoh and Egyptians developed painful boils on the bodies
- On a clear day, with no clouds, hail came down
- Locusts came and ate all the crops
- Darkness covered the earth in daytime
- The first born children of Egypt would die
During the final plague, Pharaoh infant son died and he finally gave in and released Israel from bondage. Jewish children were spared. This was the first Passover, which continues to be a centerpiece of the Jewish religion today.
God parts the Red Sea and delivers the Commandments
The Jews assembled and left their bondage. When they got to the Red Sea they had no way to cross. By this time Pharaoh’s heart had hardened again and he sent his army to kill all of them. God, however, held the army back and parted the sea, giving the Israelites dry ground to cross into freedom.
Shortly after the crossing, God gave His 10 Commandments to all of Israel. The delivery of the Ten Commandments stands as a defining event in the biblical narrative. God bestowed a set of divine laws upon Moses atop Mount Sinai.
This profound moment marked the formal establishment of the covenant between God and the Israelites. Offering them a moral and ethical framework to guide their lives. The Israelites received not just rules but a profound spiritual blueprint, emphasizing principles of justice, reverence, and community.
The Ten Commandments remain crucial today. They encapsulate timeless moral principles that continue to have a large influence. They effect ethical standards, legal systems, and personal conduct across diverse cultures and religious traditions.
Moses’ improbable life: Wanders 40 years in the wilderness
For the next 40 years, Moses lead his people through the wilderness. He then led them to the Jordan River, where the promised land lay ahead. The 40 years spent wandering in the wilderness were a transformative. It was a period for the Israelites, marked by trials, growth, and deepening faith.
This extended journey was a time for the Israelites to shed their old ways and forge a new identity. They became a unified nation under God’s guidance. They had numerous challenges and moments of doubt. But their perseverance and divine support ultimately led them to the edge of the Promised Land.
As they finally crossed into this long-awaited territory, it symbolized the fulfillment of a divine promise. It was also the culmination of a profound journey of spiritual and communal development. Setting the stage for the establishment of their new homeland.
Moses dies before entering the promised land
The death of Moses marks a poignant conclusion to his pivotal role in guiding the Israelites. As he viewed the Promised Land, Moses’ life came to an end. Allowing him to see the fulfillment of the journey he had led for four decades.
His death, described with reverence and sorrow, signified the close of an era and the transition of leadership to Joshua. Joshua would lead the Israelites into their new homeland. Moses’ passing underscored his legacy as a central figure in their spiritual and national history. He is remembered for his unwavering faith and monumental contributions to their journey and covenant with God.
Conclusion
As the Israelites wandered through the wilderness, Moses not only led them with steadfast faith. He also undertook the profound task of writing the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament.
These texts, encompassing the laws, teachings, and narratives central to the Jewish and Christian faiths. They were crafted as a guiding framework for the Israelites’ spiritual and ethical life. They begin to set the stage for the birth and resurrection of Jesus.
The Torah’s creation during this period of transition and trial provided a foundation for the community’s identity and religious practices. Torah stood as a lasting testament to his role in shaping the spiritual and moral compass of the Israelite people. Ensuring that their journey through the wilderness would continue to inspire and guide future generations.