Biblical Essay: Moses
Serial 2 Exodus 3:6 - 3:22
Moses
And she named him Moses, and said, “Because I drew him out of the water.”
Bibles Versions Used
The International Inductive Study
New American Standard
Quick Recap
Moses was a shrewd man, curious, open-minded, full of conviction, and possessed a strong sense of self-worth.
Verses 3:7 - 3:22 of Exodus are very interesting because God essentially removes all mystery from this story. Well at least for us, dramatic irony at work.
Exodus 3:20 So I will reach out with my hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go.
God repeatedly shares the mission with Moses, there is reference to the Israelites being freed from Egyptian bondage in the following verses:
Exodus 3:8
Exodus 3:10
Exodus 3:12
Exodus 3:17
Exodus 3:20
Why would God feel the need to repeat this message this many times in what amounts to one distinct conversation?
Moses was shrewd and educated, God wasn’t repeating it because Moses was dumb.
I see four factors at play:
First, Moses is intimidated, and rightfully so. We’ve made the burning bush seem non-threatening in the way we re-tell this story. Can you imagine seeing a fire proof bush, on fire? In addition to hearing God speak from said bush? I dare say few of us would keep our wits.
Second, Moses misunderstands his role in the mission. Remember Moses comes to the aid of those in need (he murdered the Egyptian and he saved Reuel’s daughters from the shepherds), but what God is proposing is impossible for Moses to do, absolutely impossible… for Moses
Third, Moses wasn’t paying close enough attention to God’s use of the pronoun ‘I’. Why would that be? Well, in a word, trust. From what I can tell, this is the first time Moses has plotted a rescue mission with God. He doesn’t yet trust God. God is predicting the future, describing the impossible, and essentially telling Moses all you have to do is deliver a message, that’s it.
Fourth, the Israelites were Egyptian captives for hundreds of years, this, if it were to happen, would be, well…unbelievable. It would be different from anything Moses had ever known.
God repeated the goal of the mission so many times because this was a pep talk, and Moses was decidedly unenthused.
God: “We got this Moses!”
Moses: “Do we though?”
At the end of Exodus 22, God doubles down… “So you will plunder the Egyptians.” Plunder was not mentioned before as God and Moses discussed the mission. So now, not only are the Israelites escaping, they’re also getting away with the loot.
This would be a great place to insert a meme of God telling Moses to “Hold my beer”.
Here’s the entirety of verse 22…
Exodus 3:22 But every woman shall ask her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house for articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. So you will plunder the Egyptians.