Biblical Essay: Moses
Serial 1
Moses
And she named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.”
All references are taken from the New American Standard Bible version.
Introduction
Moses was a Hebrew, a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was born in Egypt because that’s where the Israelites migrated (more on that in the story of Joseph, perhaps a future essay), and stayed.
Exodus 1:7 … the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them.
Exodus 1:13 - 14 The Egyptians used violence to compel the sons of Israel to labor; and they made their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they violently had them perform as slaves.
Exodus 1:12 But the more they oppressed them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out.
Exodus 1:15 Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives…and he said, “When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, the she shall live.”
Exodus 1:22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people saying, “Every son who is born, you are to throw into the Nile but every daughter, you are to keep alive.”
Commentary
In the Judeo-Christian faith Moses is a big deal. God chooses Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, and Jesus spoke with Moses at the transfiguration.
As we go through the book of Exodus there are going to be a lot of examples highlighting Moses’s importance as a Biblical figure. It’s easy to lose sight of the fact that Moses was just a man.
The First Attention Grabber
Here’s the first thing that caught my attention reading through chapter 1 and part of chapter 2, of Exodus. It is a masterpiece in humanizing a character who would go on to become a figure larger than life.
At the beginning of this story Moses is absolutely helpless. The only reason he lives is because Hebrew midwives, his mother, his sister, and the daughter of Pharaoh all decided to ignore a direct order from Pharaoh himself. Moses wasn’t supposed to survive.
There is no Moses story without the actions of these women.
If you’re thinking, ‘well of course his mom and sister would save him’, then go back and read the book of Genesis. Family ties didn't necessarily mean loyalty, and there are plenty of stories to illustrate that point.
Pharaoh’s daughter took pity on a crying boy, in a basket, on the Nile, even though her dad ordered his death.
Two midwives refused to help Pharaoh execute the Israelites’ sons.
Like all the rest of us, Moses first played a ‘supported cast’ role in the story of his life.
The Second Attention Grabber
Moses was not a pacifist. Now remember, Moses was adopted into the royal family. His adopted grandfather was Pharaoh of Egypt. Yet, he never forgot he was a Hebrew.
I’m not sure if the mistreatment of his fellow Israelites wore him down, or if he saw something especially heinous but Moses was triggered the day he killed an Egyptian man for beating two Israelites.
This was certainly not a premeditated attack, it was done out of anger and not with much thought. He ran when it was brought to his attention that his act wasn’t very conspicuous.
What makes this interesting to me is that this is Moses’ first recorded act of volition, and it leads to him fleeing Egypt as a fugitive, so as not to be punished. How’s that for an opening act?
Rash, unplanned, and damaging, we’ve been there, though maybe not quite as extreme.
Final Observation
Chapter one, and part of chapter two, of Exodus teaches us something very important about Moses. They remind us that he’s human.
First, he’s portrayed as a defenseless baby whose life was spared by the women in his life.
Second, he’s depicted as a passionate non-pacifist who commits a crime of violence and is forced to flee for his own well being.
What a human beginning for one of the most revered Biblical characters.