Who was Moses in the Bible?
Moses was one of the most important figures in the Old Testament. He was used by God to deliver the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land. Here is an overview of Moses’ life and ministry according to the Bible:
Early Life
Moses was born to Amram and Jochebed of the tribe of Levi when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt (Exodus 2:1-10). Pharaoh had ordered that all Israelite baby boys be killed, but Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born. When they could no longer hide him, they put him in a papyrus basket and placed it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. Moses’ sister Miriam watched over the basket from a distance.
Pharaoh’s daughter came down to the Nile to bathe and saw the basket. She had one of her servants fetch it and was moved with pity when she saw the crying baby inside. Despite knowing he was one of the Hebrew babies, she took him as her own son. She named him Moses, which sounds like the Hebrew word for “draw out,” because she drew him out of the water.
Moses was raised as an Egyptian prince in Pharaoh’s court. He likely received the finest education and training available at the time. But Hebrews 11:24-26 tells us that when Moses grew up, he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to endure ill-treatment with God’s people rather than enjoy the passing pleasures of sin in the palace.
One day Moses saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Moses looked around to make sure nobody was watching, then killed the Egyptian and buried his body in the sand (Exodus 2:11-12). When Pharaoh heard about what happened, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled to the land of Midian, where he lived as a shepherd for 40 years (Exodus 2:15).
The Burning Bush
When Moses was around 80 years old, he was tending sheep near Horeb, the mountain of God, and he saw a bush that was on fire but did not burn up (Exodus 3:1-3). God called out to Moses from the midst of the bush and told him to take off his sandals because he was standing on holy ground.
God introduced Himself to Moses as the God of his ancestors – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He told Moses He had seen the misery of His people in Egypt and was sending him to Pharaoh to bring the Israelites out of Egypt into a good land flowing with milk and honey.
At first, Moses protested that he was nobody special and not qualified to confront Pharaoh. But God promised to be with him and said, “I AM WHO I AM.” He instructed Moses to tell the Israelites that “I AM” had sent him to them (Exodus 3:13-14). God also enabled Moses to perform miraculous signs as proof that God had appeared to him.
Confronting Pharaoh
Moses and his brother Aaron returned to Egypt and came before Pharaoh multiple times delivering God’s demand: “Let my people go!” (Exodus 5-11). Each time Pharaoh refused and God sent a devastating plague upon Egypt – water turned to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, death of livestock, boils, hail, locusts, and darkness.
The tenth and worst plague was the death of the firstborn sons, including Pharaoh’s own son. The Israelites were spared this plague by sacrificing a lamb and smearing its blood over their doorposts. Pharaoh finally relented and told Moses to take the Israelites and go worship their God.
The Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites hastily left Egypt after 430 years of slavery. Moses took Joseph’s bones with him, fulfilling Joseph’s dying wish (Exodus 13:19). God led the Israelites in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. When Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army after them, the pillar of cloud moved between the armies to prevent them from engaging (Exodus 14:19-20).
Then God parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to pass through on dry ground! When the Egyptians attempted to follow, God caused the waters to collapse onto them, drowning Pharaoh and his entire army (Exodus 14:26-28). This miracle proved that the Lord saves those who trust in Him, but overthrows the proud.
Receiving the Law at Sinai
Three months after leaving Egypt, the Israelites set up camp at the base of Mount Sinai. Moses went up the mountain, where God spoke to him and established His covenant with Israel. He gave Moses the Ten Commandments and other laws to teach the people (Exodus 20).
When Moses delayed coming back down, the impatient Israelites prodded Aaron to make gods for them to worship. Aaron collected gold jewelry from them and fashioned it into a golden calf idol (Exodus 32:1-6). Seeing this, Moses became enraged and smashed the stone tablets inscribed with God’s commandments. He burned the golden calf, ground it to powder, and made the Israelites drink it.
Moses went back up Sinai and stayed for 40 days and nights again, interceding for the people (Exodus 34:1-28). God renewed the covenant and gave Moses new stone tablets with the Ten Commandments. Moses’ face shone with the glory of God after speaking with Him.
Rebellion in the Wilderness
The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years because of their grumbling and unbelief (Numbers 14:26-35). Although God provided manna and quail for them to eat, they grew tired of this food and longed for the luxuries of Egypt. Moses had to continually lead the people to trust God and His provision.
At Rephidim, the people complained to Moses that they had no water. God instructed Moses to strike a rock with his staff, and water gushed out for the people to drink (Exodus 17:1-7). Another time, the Israelites grew impatient waiting for Moses to come down from Sinai and built an idol of a golden calf to worship (Exodus 32:1-6). When Moses saw this, he burned the idol and made the people drink it in water.
Moses’ disobedience at Meribah kept him out of the Promised Land. God commanded him to speak to a rock to bring forth water, but Moses struck it twice with his staff instead (Numbers 20:2-13). Although God still provided water, He told Moses his disobedience meant he could not enter the land He was giving Israel.
Joshua would go in and lead the people instead.
Death and Legacy
When the 40 years of wilderness wanderings were almost finished, Moses delivered his farewell speeches to Israel, reviewing the Law and preparing them to enter Canaan (Deuteronomy). He taught them a prophetic song and pronounced blessings on each tribe.
At the end of Deuteronomy, Moses viewed the Promised Land from atop Mount Nebo but was not allowed to enter it. He died at age 120 and God buried him in Moab. Moses was unequaled as prophet in Israel until the coming of Jesus Christ. He delivered God’s Law that became Israel’s constitution and pointed the people to the Lord. The New Testament says Moses was faithful as a servant in God’s house (Hebrews 3:5).
In summary, Moses played a central role in the Old Testament as God’s chosen vessel to rescue the Hebrew people from slavery, give them His Law, and lead them to the edge of the Promised Land. Although he faced much opposition and rebellion, Moses remained faithful in preaching repentance and obedience. His example as a prophet, leader, and lawgiver set the standard for righteousness. Moses’ life shows that God equips people for His plans regardless of their weaknesses or past mistakes. With God all things are possible.