Moses

Family: Israelite · Role: prophet · First appears: Exodus 2

Moses was born in Exodus 2, hidden for three months, and then became Pharaoh’s daughter’s son. When grown, he slew an Egyptian striking a Hebrew and fled to Midian, where he dwelt with Jethro, kept his flock, married Zipporah, and became the father of Gershom. At Horeb in Exodus 3, God appeared to him in the burning bush, promised to be with him, and sent him to Pharaoh: “Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.”

Through Exodus 4–14, Moses returned to Egypt with Aaron as his spokesman and confronted Pharaoh through the signs and plagues commanded by God. He interceded when Pharaoh asked for relief, led Israel out of Egypt, carried Joseph’s bones, stretched out his hand over the sea, and then sang with the people after they crossed. In the wilderness he announced the manna, struck the rock for water, commanded Joshua to fight Amalek, and was supported by Aaron and Hur; on Jethro’s counsel, he appointed rulers to help judge the people.

At Sinai, Moses received the covenant, commandments, and instructions for the tabernacle, and God spoke with him at the tabernacle “face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” He interceded for Israel after the golden calf, broke the first tablets, received replacements, and directed the construction and dedication of the tabernacle, blessing the completed work. He instructed Aaron and the priests, proclaimed the laws and offerings, numbered Israel, organized the camps, and carried God’s commands through the wilderness.

In Numbers, Moses sent the spies into Canaan, faced the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and On, pleaded for Miriam, and was judged with Aaron at Meribah when he struck the rock instead of speaking to it. He commissioned Joshua to lead Israel, oversaw the division of the land east of Jordan, and in Deuteronomy defeated Sihon and Og, taught the covenant, and blessed the tribes. Before his death, God showed him Canaan from Mount Nebo but did not let him enter it; “So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.”