Characters

Moses

Known As

The Deliverer & Leader of the Israelites from Egypt

Where in the Bible?

The Books of Numbers and Exodus

Did You Know

Early Jewish and Christian traditions considered him the author of the first five books of the Bible, known as the Pentateuch and also the Torah (“Law,” or “Teaching”). Moses is also an important prophet for Muslims, who call him Musa.

Bio – Moses

14th–13th century BCE

The man known for delivering the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt started life in a period of great danger for Hebrews. The number of Hebrews in Egypt was increasing, and the pharaoh saw them as a threat, fearing they would seize power or help his enemies. He had ordered all newborn Hebrew boys to be killed. Moses’ Hebrew mother, Jochebed, hid him in a reed basket left in the river Nile, where he was found by Pharaoh’s daughter and adopted into the royal family.

Forced to leave Egypt after killing an Egyptian slave driver—despite his privileged position in a royal palace, Moses had not forgotten the plight of his fellow countrymen—Moses fled to Midian where he worked as a shepherd. It was in Midian that he saw the burning bush, and God called him to lead his people out of Egypt. Although Moses was initially reluctant, he overcame his doubts and fears and returned to Egypt to confront Pharaoh, and place God’s demands before him. God sent his brother Aaron to support him.

After the Ten Plagues were unleashed on Egypt, Pharaoh permitted the Hebrews to leave, and Moses led his people towards the Red Sea. This escape is remembered by Jews every year in the festival of Passover. The Hebrews were pursued by Pharaoh and the full might of his army, for he had regretted his decision, but God parted the waters of the Red Sea and made a path across the seabed. After the Hebrews had crossed safely, the waters closed upon the pursuing Egyptian army, drowning every last soldier.

At Mount Sinai, Moses spoke with God face to face, and received the Ten Commandments, along with many other rules covering law, family, diet and even personal hygiene. Most scholars recognise this as the beginning of Judaism as an organised religion.

Despite everything that God had done for the Hebrews, they still doubted him, and so he cursed them to wander in the desert for forty years, so that only the next generation would see the Promised Land. Though he never entered the Promised Land, Moses was permitted to see it from the top of Mount Nebo before he died, aged 120.

Moses - The Deliverer & Leader of the Israelites from Egypt

Bible Verses About Moses

Numbers 12:3

Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.

Numbers 12:6-8

He said,
“Hear now My words:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the Lord, shall make Myself known to him in a
vision;
I speak to him in a dream.
“Not so with My servant Moses;
He is faithful in all My house.
I speak with him face to face,
Even plainly, and not in dark sayings;
And he sees the form of the Lord.”

Exodus 14:13

“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today.”

Exodus 3:10

Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

Exodus 14:21

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.

Exodus 31:6

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Exodus 33:11

So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.