The Life and Legacy of Moses: Deliverer, Lawgiver, and Prophet

Moses

Moses is depicted in the Bible as the deliverer, leader, lawgiver, and prophet of Israel. He is the Hebrew prophet who liberated the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and served as their leader and lawgiver during their wilderness sojourn. The Hebrew name is Mosheh, signifying “drawn out,” while its original meaning originates from the Egyptian language, denoting “child” or “son.” The Egyptian translation indicates that Pharaoh’s daughter referred to him merely as a “child” upon discovering Moses. Moses was a member of the Levi tribe and the offspring of Amram and his wife, Jochebed. The other family members were Aaron and Miriam, his older brother and sister.

The life of Moses is segmented into three equal periods of forty years each: his time in Egypt, his exile in Arabia, and his leadership of Israel. Moses was a divinely inspired leader who established a nation from a population of oppressed and fatigued slaves. During the covenant ceremony at Mount Sinai, where the Ten Commandments were bestowed, he established the religious community referred to as Israel. As the interpreter of these covenant laws, he was the architect of the community’s religious and civil traditions. His narrative is recounted in the Old Testament, specifically in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. He was a descendant of the enslaved Hebrews, yet one whom the Lord would employ to liberate Israel from her oppressors.

Moses Early Life

Moses was born circa 1520 B.C. In Egypt, his birth, adoption, and the retribution for his compatriots occurred. During Moses’ birth, the decree mandating the execution of all male infants was in effect (Exodus 1:10,16), yet his mother managed to conceal him and kept him hidden for three months. When concealment was no longer feasible, she positioned him in a diminutive basket made of papyrus, likely stemming from an Egyptian belief that the plant offered protection against crocodiles. She positioned him among the Nile’s reeds and left his sister to observe the outcome. The Pharaoh’s daughter approached the river to bathe, observed the basket, and ordered it to be retrieved. The door was opened, and the child’s cry elicited compassion from the princess. She asserted her intention to rear it as her own (Exodus 2:1-9). Simultaneously, the Lord resolved that Moses should receive instruction in his formative years from his mother. This indicated that he was grounded in the faith of the Lord despite being raised as an Egyptian. The king’s daughter adopted the child, and for many years, Moses was regarded as an Egyptian (Exodus 2:10).

The Pentateuch presents this period as a void, whereas the New Testament depicts him as “educated in all the learning of the Egyptians” and “a man of power in words and deeds” (Acts 7:22). The discovery of the El-Amarna tablets demonstrates the extensive knowledge and utilization of writing across the East during the era of Moses, indicating that the young prince was likely proficient in hieroglyphics and Akkadian. Cuneiform, including alphabetic cuneiform like Ugaritic.

Moses Journey 

Moses, witnessing an Israelite being assaulted by an Egyptian and believing they were unobserved, killed the Egyptian and concealed the body in the sand. The following day, he attempted to mediate between two disputing Hebrews, but his assistance was declined, and he realized that his actions from the previous day were recognized. He realized that safety could only be attained upon his departure from Egypt (Exodus 2:11-15).

Moses’ exile occurred during the midpoint of his life, positioning him for his return to Egypt as a prophet of God. Moses escaped to Midian around 1480 B.C., near the Sinai Peninsula, and rested by a well, where he assisted several young women with their sheep. Consequently, they returned home, and upon informing their father, Jethro, he summoned Moses, who consented to reside with him and subsequently married his daughter, Zipporah (Exodus 2:16-21; 3:1).

Throughout his tenure as a shepherd, Moses acquired extensive knowledge of the Sinai Peninsula’s wilderness, gaining valuable insights into desert survival. He also acquired patience and the ability to shepherd sheep. These skills equipped him to guide the Israelites in subsequent years as he led them from Egypt through the Sinai Wilderness.

In the seclusion of the shepherd’s existence, Moses received his prophetic calling. The location of this event is the valley of Shoeib. Atop a mountain stood the desert thorn tree, its gnarled branches, dense with white thorns, extending over the rocky terrain. The angel of the Lord manifested to Moses in a flame of fire within the bush, whose dry branches would typically have ignited instantly, yet remained unscathed. The revelation to Moses concerned the eternal self-existence of the singular God and his mission to liberate his people. The Lord assured Moses of His presence, enabling him to lead the people to freedom.

Two signs indicated to him that he should undertake this divine mission: the staff transforming into a serpent and Moses’ hand becoming leprous and subsequently cleansed. If the populace does not believe him, one-third of the funds is guaranteed. The third was that the waters of the Nile would be transformed into blood. He subsequently returned to his father-in-law’s residence and obtained permission to visit his siblings. God manifested to him and guaranteed the demise of all individuals in Egypt who pursued his life. Moses subsequently commenced his journey accompanied by his wife and sons. Moses, threatened with death by Jehovah, was spared following the circumcision of his son. Subsequently, he received a sign of divine favor upon Aaron’s arrival, who encountered him at the mountain of God. Aaron accompanied him to Egypt and conveyed Jehovah’s words to the Israelites.

Moses’ challenges were alleviated by God’s assurances; however, due to his continued reluctance to accept the mission, Aaron was permitted to serve as his spokesperson (Exodus 3:2-4:17). Shortly after his return, Moses, aided by Aaron, incited the Hebrews to insurrection and implored Pharaoh, “Release My people, that they may celebrate a feast to me in the wilderness” (Exodus 5:1). The Pharaoh dismissed the request of the unidentified deity referenced by Moses and Aaron. In Exodus, Pharaoh declares, “Who is the Lord, that I should heed His command to release Israel?” “I do not recognize the Lord, nor will I permit Israel to depart” (Exodus 5:2). He expressed his disdain for the God of the Hebrews by intensifying the subjugation of the slaves, leading to the populace’s discontent with Moses. Moses did not conclude his mission as a result of that. He cautioned Pharaoh regarding the repercussions that would ensue for his kingdom should he decline to release the Israelites. Ten devastating plagues afflicted the land of Egypt (Exodus 7:14-12:30), with the tenth plague being the most severe and terrifying.

The definitive demonstration of God’s authority to liberate the populace was the extermination of the firstborn in all of Egypt during the Passover night of Israel (Exodus 11:1-12:30). That night, when Moses commenced leading the slaves to freedom, God struck down the firstborn of Egypt while sparing the firstborn of Israel through the application of the Passover lamb’s blood. Under divine guidance, he did not guide the people along the most direct route to the Promised Land. Following the departure of the Hebrews, Pharaoh’s army pursued them to the Red Sea, menacing their destruction prior to crossing. A column of cloud and fire intervened between the Israelites and the Egyptians, safeguarding the Israelites until their escape was secured. When Moses extended his hand over the sea, the waters parted, allowing the Israelites to cross to the opposite shore. As the Egyptians pursued, Moses once more extended his hand over the sea, resulting in the waters engulfing the Egyptian army (Exodus 14:19-31).

Moses guided Israel from the Red Sea to Marah, where the bitter waters were rendered palatable (Exodus 15:23), then to Elim, which featured twelve springs and seventy palm trees (15:27), and finally to the wilderness of Sin, where the populace craved bread and received quail and manna (Exodus 16). Moses guided them to Rephidim, where the rock of Horeb produced water (Exodus 17:1-7), and where the support of Aaron and Hur for Moses’s hands emboldened the Israelites to triumph over the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-16).

Upon arriving at Sinai, Moses heeded the call of Jehovah and ascended the mountain of God, receiving the directive for the people to prepare for divine revelations from God (Exodus 19:1-13). On the third day, he guided the people to the base of the mountain, where he received the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19:14-20:17). He subsequently officiated the ceremony to ratify the covenant (Exodus 24:1-8), reciting all the “words of the Lord” (Exodus 24:3). Exodus 32 presents a vivid account of Moses’ righteous indignation towards Israel’s sin of idolizing the golden calf, prompting him to shatter the stone tablets. The magnificence of Jehovah was disclosed to him, and the tablets of the law were reinstated (Exodus 34:1-4). A covenant was established with Israel (Exodus 34:10-27), and following a subsequent forty-day sojourn on the mountain, Moses returned to the populace. Moses subsequently oversaw the construction of the Tabernacle and its arrangement for worship.

Conclusion 

For four decades, the welfare and responsibility of the Israelites weighed heavily on Moses’s mind and heart. The individuals were encamped in Moab, anticipating the directive to cross the Jordan into the promised land. Moses transgressed at Meribah by failing to sanctify Jehovah before the people (Numbers 20:12), thereby forfeiting the privilege of entering Canaan. By divine command, he bestowed blessings upon the people and subsequently ascended Mt. Nebo, a summit of Pisgah, which afforded a vista of the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Subsequent to the granting of this favour. Jehovah buried Moses after his death. Deuteronomy indicates that his burial site is “in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor,” in an undisclosed grave (34:1-6) circa 1400 B.C. Moses regarded it as unusual for him to be the founder and representative of his people. The Hebrew people endured approximately 400 years of enslavement in Egypt. This refers to God’s proclamation to Abraham that his progeny would endure hardship in a foreign land for 400 years (Genesis 15:13). At the conclusion of this period, God initiated the liberation of His people from bondage by bringing forth Moses. Knowledge of Moses’ private life is minimal, and his personal character is nearly indistinguishable from his public role. His contributions to Israel and humanity establish his position among the eminent figures of the world. The life I have delineated as that of the leader of Israel is concurrently the life of the author, the lawgiver, and the prophet.

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