Who Was the Prophet Moses?

Moses is one of the most significant figures in the religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He is considered a prophet, lawgiver, and leader who played a central role in the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, their subsequent journey through the wilderness, and the establishment of the laws that would govern their society.

Who was Moses?

Moses was born to Hebrew parents in Egypt during a time when the Israelites were enslaved. According to the Bible (Exodus), his birth was marked by the Pharaoh’s decree to kill all male Hebrew babies. To save him, Moses’ mother placed him in a basket on the Nile River, where he was found and adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter. He grew up in the Egyptian royal household but later fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian taskmaster who was mistreating a Hebrew slave.

Moses spent many years as a shepherd in the land of Midian, where he encountered God in the form of a burning bush on Mount Horeb (also called Sinai). God commanded Moses to return to Egypt to free the Israelites from slavery.

Miracles Performed by Moses:

1. The Burning Bush (Exodus 3):

   • Moses encountered a bush that was burning but not consumed by the flames. In this miraculous event, God spoke to Moses and called him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

2. The Plagues of Egypt:

   • God, through Moses, sent ten plagues upon Egypt to convince Pharaoh to release the Israelites. These included turning the Nile River into blood, locusts, frogs, darkness, and the death of the firstborn in Egypt (the last plague).

3. Parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14):

   • One of the most famous miracles attributed to Moses is when he parted the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to escape the pursuing Egyptian army. The waters parted, and the Israelites walked through on dry ground, while the waters returned to drown the Egyptian soldiers.

4. Water from the Rock (Exodus 17 and Numbers 20):

   • On two separate occasions, when the Israelites were thirsty in the desert, God commanded Moses to strike a rock, from which water miraculously gushed forth to quench their thirst.

5. The Manna and Quail (Exodus 16):

   • When the Israelites were hungry during their journey in the wilderness, God provided manna (a form of bread) from heaven and quail for meat to sustain them.

The Defeat of Pharaoh:

Moses was instrumental in leading the Israelites out of Egypt after Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he refused to let them go. The ten plagues culminated in the death of Pharaoh’s firstborn, after which he finally allowed the Israelites to leave. However, he later changed his mind and pursued them to the Red Sea, where Moses parted the waters. The Egyptian army was drowned when the waters returned to their normal state.

The Children of Israel and the Ten Commandments:

After escaping Egypt, Moses led the Israelites through the wilderness toward the Promised Land. At Mount Sinai, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, a set of moral and religious laws that became the foundation of the Israelites’ covenant with God. These laws are central to Jewish, Christian, and Islamic ethical teachings and include commandments like “Thou shalt not kill,” “Honor thy father and mother,” and “Thou shalt not steal.”

Moses also received other laws, instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle (a portable sanctuary), and the guidelines for the Israelites’ worship practices.

The Promised Land:

Moses led the Israelites for 40 years in the wilderness, but due to a lack of faith at one point, he was not allowed by God to enter the Promised Land (the land of Canaan). Instead, Moses viewed the Promised Land from Mount Nebo before he died. He appointed Joshua as his successor to lead the people into the land.

Moses’ Appearance on the Mount of Transfiguration:

In the New Testament (Matthew 17, Mark 9, and Luke 9), Moses appears in the Transfiguration of Jesus, where Jesus is transfigured and appears radiant. Moses and Elijah, two great prophets from the Hebrew Scriptures, appear alongside Jesus, symbolizing the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah) and affirming Jesus’ divine mission.

Famous Quotes by Moses:

1. “Let my people go.” (Exodus 5:1)

   • Moses speaks to Pharaoh, demanding that he release the Israelites from slavery

2. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5)

   • A key verse that forms part of the Shema, a central declaration of the Jewish faith, and a commandment that Jesus later affirmed.

Death of Moses:

Moses died on Mount Nebo at the age of 120, and God Himself buried him in an undisclosed location. His death marked the end of the Exodus journey, and Joshua took over as the leader of the Israelites, leading them into the Promised Land.

Moses is remembered as a foundational figure in monotheistic religion, revered for his role in the liberation of the Israelites, the establishment of God’s covenant, and his unwavering leadership in guiding the people of Israel through their trials.