Bible Character • Old Testament

Moses

Deliverer of Israel and Lawgiver

c. 1526-1406 BC

Moses was the great prophet and leader who delivered the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and received God's Law on Mount Sinai. As the author of the Torah's first five books, Moses shaped Israel's identity as God's chosen people and established the covenant relationship that would define their nation.

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Biography

Born during a time when Pharaoh ordered all Hebrew male babies to be killed, Moses' mother hid him for three months before placing him in a basket on the Nile River. Pharaoh's daughter discovered and adopted him, raising him as a prince of Egypt. Moses received the finest education and training Egypt could offer, yet he never forgot his Hebrew heritage.

At age forty, Moses witnessed an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave and killed the Egyptian in defense. When his act became known, Moses fled to Midian where he became a shepherd, married Zipporah, and lived in obscurity for forty years. This period of wilderness training prepared Moses for his greatest calling: delivering God's people from bondage.

God appeared to Moses in a burning bush on Mount Horeb, calling him to return to Egypt and demand that Pharaoh release the Israelites. Despite his initial reluctance and feelings of inadequacy, Moses obeyed. Through a series of ten devastating plagues, God demonstrated His power over Egypt's gods and Pharaoh's hardened heart. The final plague, the death of the firstborn, led to the institution of Passover and Israel's release from slavery.

Moses led approximately two million Israelites out of Egypt in the Exodus, one of the most significant events in biblical history. When Pharaoh's army pursued them, God parted the Red Sea, allowing Israel to cross on dry ground while destroying their enemies. In the wilderness, Moses mediated between God and the people, receiving the Ten Commandments and detailed laws for worship, justice, and community life.

For forty years, Moses led Israel through the wilderness, dealing with constant complaints, rebellion, and challenges to his leadership. He interceded for the people when they sinned, organized their camp, appointed judges, and recorded God's words and deeds. Despite seeing countless miracles, the generation that left Egypt failed to trust God and was condemned to die in the wilderness.

Moses himself was not permitted to enter the Promised Land due to an act of disobedience when he struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God commanded. At age 120, Moses viewed the Promised Land from Mount Nebo before dying. God Himself buried Moses, and no one knows the location of his grave. Moses remains the most significant figure in Judaism and a revered prophet in Christianity and Islam.

Key Events

Rescued from the Nile

Moses' mother placed him in a waterproof basket among the reeds of the Nile River to save him from Pharaoh's decree to kill Hebrew baby boys. Pharaoh's daughter found and adopted him, raising him as Egyptian royalty while his biological mother served as his nurse.

Exodus 2:1-10

The Burning Bush

While tending sheep in the wilderness, Moses encountered God in a burning bush that was not consumed by flames. God revealed His name as I AM and commissioned Moses to return to Egypt to deliver the Israelites from slavery, promising to be with him.

Exodus 3:1-4:17

The Ten Plagues and Passover

Moses confronted Pharaoh repeatedly, and God sent ten plagues upon Egypt to demonstrate His power and secure Israel's release. The final plague resulted in the death of Egypt's firstborn, leading to the institution of Passover and Israel's exodus from bondage.

Exodus 7-12

Crossing the Red Sea

When Pharaoh's army pursued the fleeing Israelites, trapping them against the Red Sea, Moses stretched out his hand and God parted the waters. Israel crossed on dry ground, but the returning waters destroyed the Egyptian army, completing their deliverance.

Exodus 14

Receiving the Law at Sinai

Three months after leaving Egypt, Moses ascended Mount Sinai where God gave him the Ten Commandments written on stone tablets. Moses spent forty days on the mountain receiving detailed instructions for worship, justice, and community life that would govern Israel.

Exodus 19-31

Intercession for Rebellious Israel

When the Israelites created a golden calf to worship while Moses was on the mountain, God threatened to destroy them. Moses interceded passionately for the people, appealing to God's reputation and promises, and God relented from His fierce anger.

Exodus 32

Character Traits

Humble leader who valued God's presence above all elseCourageous in confronting powerful oppositionPatient mediator between God and rebellious peopleInitially reluctant but ultimately obedient to God's callFaithful recorder of God's revelation and Israel's historyCompassionate intercessor for sinful peopleStrong relationship with God, speaking face to faceWise organizer and delegator of responsibilities

Lessons from Moses's Life

1
God can use anyone regardless of their past failures or feelings of inadequacy
2
Faithful intercession can change the course of history and move God's heart
3
Leadership requires patience, humility, and complete dependence on God
4
Even great leaders face consequences for disobedience, yet God's purposes prevail
5
God's presence is more valuable than any earthly success or achievement

Questions for Reflection

What excuses do you make when God calls you to challenging tasks, and how does Moses' example encourage you?
How can you cultivate the kind of intimate relationship with God that Moses experienced?
In what ways do you see yourself interceding for others as Moses did for Israel?
How does Moses' forty years of preparation in the wilderness speak to seasons of waiting in your own life?