Moses

by Logos Gardener 24/9/2025

Deliverer of Israel, mediator of the covenant, prophet like no other

Moses (Hebrew: משה, Moshe, possibly “drawn out” or from Egyptian mose, “is born”) stands as the towering figure of the Hebrew Bible - the prophet who delivered Israel from Egypt, mediated the divine covenant at Sinai, and shaped the religious and legal foundations of the Jewish people.

Etymology and Birth

Moses’ name carries dual significance:

Hebrew Etymology: From מָשָׁה (mashah, “to draw out”) - reflecting Pharaoh‘s daughter’s declaration: “I drew him out of the water” (Exo 2#10)
Egyptian Etymology: From mose meaning “is born” (found in names like Thutmose, Ramses)

Miraculous Preservation (Exo 1#15 - Exo 2#10)

Born during Israel‘s oppression in Egypt when Pharaoh ordered all Hebrew male babies killed:

Parents: Amram and Jochebed of the tribe of Levi (Exo 6#20)
Hidden: For three months by his mother (Exo 2#2)
River Rescue: Placed in ark of bulrushes on the Nile (Exo 2#3)
Divine Providence: Found by Pharaoh‘s daughter who adopted him (Exo 2#5-6)
Family Connection: Sister Miriam arranged for biological mother to nurse him (Exo 2#7-9)

Early Life and Formation

Egyptian Education

“Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds” (Acts 7#22)

Raised in Pharaoh‘s court with royal privileges
Learned Egyptian military, governmental, and religious systems
Prepared providentially for future leadership role

Identity Crisis and Flight (Exo 2#11-15)

At age 40, Moses faced the defining moment of his identity:

Witnessed Oppression: Saw Egyptian beating Hebrew slave (Exo 2#11)
Acted in Defense: Killed the Egyptian and hid his body (Exo 2#12)
Rejected by Hebrews: “Who made you a prince and judge over us?” (Exo 2#14)
Fled to Midian: Escaped Pharaoh‘s death sentence (Exo 2#15)

Midian Years: Preparation in Wilderness

The Shepherd Phase (Exo 2#16-22)

In Midian, Moses experienced radical transformation:

Met Jethro: Priest of Midian, became father-in-law
Married Zipporah: Had sons Gershom (“stranger there”) and Eliezer (“God is my help”)
Shepherd’s Training: Learned wilderness survival, leading flocks
40-Year Preparation: Time of character formation and divine preparation

The Burning Bush Encounter (Exo 3#1-4#17)

At Mount Horeb (also called Sinai), Moses encountered YHWH:

Divine Manifestation (Exo 3#1-6):

Bush Burning: Fire that consumed nothing - symbol of divine presence
Holy Ground: “Take off your sandals” - recognition of sacred space
God of the Fathers: “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”

Divine Commission (Exo 3#7-10):

Mission Stated: “I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people out of Egypt”
Divine Awareness: “I have seen the affliction… heard their cry”
Promise of Deliverance: “I have come down to deliver them”

Divine Name Revealed (Exo 3#13-15):

Moses’ Question: “What is your name?”
Divine Response: “I AM WHO I AM” (אהיה אשר אהיה, Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh)
Sacred Name: YHWH - the covenant name for all generations

Moses’ Reluctance and God’s Provision:

“Who am I?” (Exo 3#11) - Divine presence promised
“What is Your name?” (Exo 3#13) - Name and authority given
“They won’t believe” (Exo 4#1) - Three miraculous signs provided
“I’m not eloquent” (Exo 4#10) - Aaron appointed as spokesman
“Send someone else” (Exo 4#13) - God’s anger, but commission stands

The Exodus: Confronting Pharaoh

Return to Egypt (Exo 4#18-31)

Moses returned with divine authority:

Family Journey: With Zipporah and sons (circumcision incident Exo 4#24-26)
Meeting Aaron: Reunited at “mountain of God” (Exo 4#27)
People’s Response: Initially believed and worshipped (Exo 4#31)

The Ten Plagues (Exo 7#1 - Exo 11#10)

Moses served as God‘s spokesman in confronting Pharaoh:

Progressive Judgments:

Water to Blood (Exo 7#14-25) - Attack on Nile god
Frogs (Exo 8#1-15) - Fertility goddess mocked
Gnats/Lice (Exo 8#16-19) - Magicians admit “finger of God”
Flies (Exo 8#20-32) - Distinction between Egypt and Israel
Livestock Disease (Exo 9#1-7) - Economic devastation
Boils (Exo 9#8-12) - Physical affliction on all
Hail (Exo 9#13-35) - Agricultural destruction
Locusts (Exo 10#1-20) - Complete crop devastation
Darkness (Exo 10#21-29) - Attack on sun god Ra
Death of Firstborn (Exo 11#1 - Exo 12#36) - Final judgment

The Passover Institution (Exo 12#1-28)

Moses received and transmitted instructions for Israel’s deliverance:

Lamb Selection: Unblemished male lamb per household
Blood Application: On doorposts and lintel
Meal Requirements: Roasted lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs
Perpetual Memorial: “When your children ask… you shall say…”

The Exodus Event (Exo 12#37 - Exo 13#22)

Moses led approximately 600,000 men plus families out of Egypt:

Divine Guidance: Pillar of cloud by day, fire by night
Treasure Collection: Egyptians gave silver, gold, clothing
Bones of Joseph: Fulfilled ancient promise (Exo 13#19)

The Red Sea Crossing (Exo 14#1-31)

The Crisis

When Pharaoh pursued with 600 chariots, Israel faced the sea with no escape:

People’s Panic: “Were there no graves in Egypt?” (Exo 14#11)
Moses’ Faith: “Fear not, stand firm, see the salvation of YHWH” (Exo 14#13)
Divine Command: “Tell the people to go forward” (Exo 14#15)

The Miracle

Moses stretched out his hand and YHWH divided the sea:

East Wind: Dried up the sea bed all night (Exo 14#21)
Walls of Water: Sea became walls on both sides (Exo 14#22)
Egyptian Pursuit: Chariots followed into sea bed
Divine Victory: Waters returned, drowning Egyptian army (Exo 14#26-28)

The Response

The victory led to worship and covenant commitment:

The Song of Moses (Exo 15#1-18): “I will sing to YHWH, for he has triumphed gloriously”
People’s Faith: “Israel saw… and believed in YHWH and in Moses his servant” (Exo 14#31)

Wilderness Leadership

Mount Sinai: The Great Covenant (Exo 19#1 - Exo 40#38)

Preparation for Covenant (Exo 19#1-25):

Divine Proposal: “You shall be my treasured possession… kingdom of priests” (Exo 19#5-6)
People’s Response: “All that YHWH has spoken we will do” (Exo 19#8)
Sanctification: Three days of preparation for divine encounter
Theophany: Thunder, lightning, thick cloud, trumpet blast (Exo 19#16)

The Ten Commandments (Exo 20#1-17): Moses mediated God’s fundamental law:

No other gods before YHWH
No idols or images
No misuse of God’s name
Keep Sabbath holy
Honor father and mother
No murder
No adultery
No stealing
No false witness
No coveting

The Golden Calf Crisis (Exo 32#1-35): When Moses delayed on the mountain 40 days:

People’s Idolatry: Made golden calf with Aaron‘s help
Moses’ Anger: Broke stone tablets (Exo 32#19)
Divine Judgment: 3,000 died by sword of Levites
Intercession: Moses pled for people’s forgiveness (Exo 32#30-32)

Covenant Renewal (Exo 34#1-35):

New Tablets: Moses carved second set of stone tablets
Divine Glory: Saw God’s “back” and received name revelation (Exo 34#5-7)
Radiant Face: Moses’ face shone from divine encounter (Exo 34#29-35)

Tabernacle Construction (Exo 25#1 - Exo 40#38)

Moses supervised building of God’s dwelling place:

Divine Blueprint: Detailed instructions for portable sanctuary
Skilled Workers: Bezalel and Oholiab led construction
Divine Presence: Glory cloud filled completed tabernacle (Exo 40#34-35)

Levitical Law and Priesthood (Leviticus)

Moses received and transmitted comprehensive ritual and ethical law:

Sacrificial System: Five types of offerings for various purposes
Priestly Ordination: Aaron and sons consecrated as priests
Purity Laws: Distinguishing clean from unclean
Day of Atonement: Annual cleansing ritual (Lev 16)
Holiness Code: “Be holy as I YHWH your God am holy” (Lev 19#2)

Wilderness Wanderings (Numbers)

Moses led Israel through 40 years of desert testing:

Census and Organization (Num 1-4):

Military Census: 603,550 fighting men numbered
Tribal Arrangement: Specific camp and march organization
Levitical Duties: Detailed service assignments for tabernacle

Failed Conquest Attempt (Num 13-14):

Spying Mission: Twelve spies sent to reconnoiter Canaan
Negative Report: Ten spies counseled against invasion
People’s Rebellion: Wanted to return to Egypt
Divine Judgment: 40 years wandering until generation died

Various Rebellions:

Korah‘s Rebellion (Num 16): Challenge to Moses’ authority, earth swallowed rebels
Miriam‘s Leprosy (Num 12): Criticized Moses, temporarily struck with leprosy
Water from Rock (Num 20#1-13): Moses struck rock twice, excluded from Promised Land

Bronze Serpent (Num 21#4-9): When people complained and were bitten by poisonous serpents, Moses made bronze serpent for healing - later interpreted as type of Christ’s crucifixion.

Final Preparations (Deuteronomy)

Moses’ farewell sermons on plains of Moab:

Historical Review (Deu 1-4):

Recounted 40 years of wilderness experience
Emphasized lessons learned through testing
Prepared new generation for conquest

Law Renewal (Deu 5-26):

Shema Declaration: “Hear, O Israel: YHWH our God, YHWH is one” (Deu 6#4)
Love Command: “Love YHWH your God with all your heart, soul, and strength” (Deu 6#5)
Covenant Stipulations: Updated laws for settled life in Canaan

Covenant Ceremony (Deu 27-30):

Blessing and Curse: Consequences of obedience/disobedience
Choice of Life: “I have set before you life and death… choose life” (Deu 30#19)
Heart Circumcision: Promise of inward transformation (Deu 30#6)

Leadership Transition (Deu 31-34):

Joshua Commissioned: Public transfer of authority
Song of Moses (Deu 32): Prophetic poem of Israel’s future
Tribal Blessings (Deu 33): Final words to twelve tribes

Death and Legacy (Deu 34#1-12)

Mount Nebo Vision

At 120 years old, Moses climbed Mount Nebo in Moab:

Promised Land View: Saw entire land from Dan to Mediterranean
Divine Reminder: “This is the land I promised… you shall not go over”
Death: Died in Moab at full strength - “eye was undimmed, vigor unabated”

Divine Burial

God Buried Him: “No one knows the place of his burial to this day”
30-Day Mourning: All Israel mourned their leader
Unparalleled Prophet: “No prophet has arisen in Israel like Moses”

Unique Qualifications:

Intimate Knowledge: “Whom YHWH knew face to face”
Miraculous Power: “Signs and wonders… in Egypt”
Demonstrated Authority: “Mighty power and great deeds of terror”

Theological Significance

The Great Mediator

Moses stands as unique mediator between God and Israel:

Covenant Mediator: Received and transmitted divine law
Intercessor: Repeatedly pled for people’s forgiveness
Prophet: Spoke God‘s words with divine authority
Type of Christ: “A prophet like me” promised (Deu 18#15-18)

Servant of YHWH

Despite his greatness, Moses remained humble servant:

Meekest Man: “More meek than all people on earth” (Num 12#3)
Faithful Servant: “Faithful in all God’s house” (Heb 3#5)
Self-Effacing: Consistently pointed people to God, not himself

Founder of Jewish Religion

Moses established fundamental structures of biblical faith:

Monotheism: Absolute devotion to one God
Ethical Monotheism: Worship connected to moral behavior
Written Revelation: Torah as authoritative divine word
Sacrificial System: Means of approaching holy God
Covenant Community: Israel as God‘s chosen people

New Testament Connections

Jesus as Prophet Like Moses

Christian theology sees Jesus as ultimate fulfillment of Moses’ role:

Temptation Victory: Jesus succeeded where Israel failed (Mat 4#1-11)
Transfiguration: Appeared with Moses and Elijah (Mat 17#1-8)
Greater than Moses: “As much more glory than Moses” (Heb 3#3)
Ultimate Mediator: “One mediator between God and men” (1 Tim 2#5)

Law and Grace

Paul’s theology engages extensively with Mosaic inheritance:

Law as Schoolmaster: Led to Christ (Gal 3#24)
Veil Removed: In Christ, Moses’ veil is taken away (2 Cor 3#12-18)
Law Fulfilled: Christ as end/goal of law (Rom 10#4)

Cross-References

Family Relationships: Amram (father) • Jochebed (mother) • Aaron (brother) • Miriam (sister) • Zipporah (wife)

Key Encounters: Burning bush • Pharaoh confrontations • Mount Sinai revelation • Wilderness leadership

Major Locations: Egypt • Midian • Horeb • Wilderness • Mount Nebo

Theological Themes: Covenant mediation, divine law, prophetic calling, servant leadership

Moses remains the towering figure of Hebrew faith - the servant who knew God face to face, the lawgiver who shaped civilization, the leader who transformed slaves into a nation, and the prophet who pointed toward the coming ultimate Prophet, Priest, and King.

“By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:24-25)