Moses Who Freed The Israelites From Egypt
Do you know that while living in Midian Moses married a non-Jewish woman?
Moses came out of Egypt with the Israelites and had to live in Midian, during that time Moses married a Kushite woman. Moses’ sister and brother Aaron were very opposed to the marriage, but still Moses married a non-Jewish woman. This was Moses’ second marriage.
Introduction
Moses (peace be upon him) is very important in Judaism as well as Christianity. The psalm was revealed to him. Moses saved the Israelites from Pharaoh’s oppression and led them to Egypt. When Moses was born, Pharaoh used to kill all these boys. Because someone had told Pharaoh that a boy would be born among the Israelites who would stand up to Pharaoh and defeat him. Therefore, Pharaoh issued the order that when a new boy is born among the Israelites, he should be killed. Moses’ mother kept him very carefully for a few months. When she could not protect him for long, she put him in a box and spilled the box in the Nile. Moses went to a bank, there was Pharaoh’s daughter. Further, Pharaoh’s daughter raised Moses as her son.
Verse
“One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?”The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.” When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well. (Exodus 2:11-15)
Verse
- Reference: (Exodus 3:1-10)
- Reference: (Exodus 2:1-10)
Burning Bush And God’s Commandments
Moses (peace be upon him) first received God’s command when Moses went to a hill. When Moses went to the certain mountain, he saw that a bush was burning, but it was not turning into dust. From this, Moses got a hint that he had to go back to Egypt and fight Pharaoh and save the Israelites. At that time, God had given Moses the first responsibility. From this incident, Moses’ faith became even stronger and he departed for Egypt.
Moses’ Confrontation With Pharaoh
On God’s command, Moses went to Egypt and asked Pharaoh to free the Israelites. Pharaoh did not listen to him and began to oppress the Israelites more. When Moses prayed to God, God sent down ten plagues on Pharaoh. Among them boils, lice, frogs, flies, locusts, darkness, death of the cattle and the death of the first-born son. Pharaoh was a brutal man, but when his first-born son died, his heart softened and he allowed Moses to take the Israelites from Egypt.
Verse
“During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.” (Exodus 12:31-32)
Verse
- Reference: (Exodus 5:1-9)
- Reference: (Exodus 7-11)
Crossing of The Red Sea
Moses thanked God for Pharaoh‘s acceptance and left Egypt with the Israelites. Later Pharaoh felt that he had given a wrong decision. He changed his mind and started following Moses. When the Israelites realized that Pharaoh was coming back with his army, fear arose in them. Moses comforted them and they moved on. When they reached the red sea, the way was completely closed. River was ahead and Pharaoh was behind. In this situation, Moses prayed to God. God told him to take his staff and the river would be divided into two parts. Moses did the same. When the river was divided into two parts, Moses and the Israelites walked on dry land and reached their destination. Pharaoh and his army also started walking on the same land when they reached the middle of the sea, the river merged again, so Pharaoh and his army drowned in the river.
Verse
“When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!” So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him. He took six hundred of the best chariots, along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.” (Exodus 14:5-9)
Verse
“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.” (Exodus 14:21-22)
Verse
“The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.” (Exodus 14:28)
Ten Commandments of God
Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. When they reached Sinai, they stayed there for a while. At Sinai, some orders were revealed to Moses from God. It contained Ten Commandments of God and God obliged the Israelites to obey these commands. Two stone tablets were also revealed there, on which the word of God was written. Moses was the leader and the closest messenger of God.
Verse
“The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.” Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’” The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.” So Moses went down to the people and told them.” (Exodus 19:20-25)
Verse
Reference: (Exodus 20:1-17)
Ten Commandments
- One of the ten commandments of God was to always worship only one God. Do not believe in any other deity other than him. (Exodus 20:3), (Deuteronomy 5:7)
- Do not associate anyone with God. Only God should be worshiped and not idolatry.(Exodus 20:4-6), (Deuteronomy 5:8-10)
- People used to swear falsely by taking God’s name for no reason. God commanded that one should not swear falsely by His name. (Exodus 20:7), (Deuteronomy 5:11)
- God commanded that he should be worshiped on Saturday, apart from doing daily life work. This day was named Sabbath. It was also forbidden to go out for a living on this day. (Exodus 20:8-11), (Deuteronomy 5:12-15)
- God ordained that parents have a great place. Therefore, always be gentle with them and obey their orders. Do not disobey parents and always respect them. (Exodus 20:12), (Deuteronomy 5:16)
- God forbids killing someone without a reason. Killing someone without a reason will be considered a great sin. (Exodus 20:13), (Deuteronomy 5:17)
- It is forbidden to do intimacy with other women other than one’s wife. This is immoral and should be avoided. (Exodus 20:14), (Deuteronomy 5:18)
- Stealing someone’s property is very wrong and should not be used without someone’s permission. (Exodus 20:15), (Deuteronomy 5:19)
- To bear false witness in favor of in favor of a sinner is not allowed. God has forbidden bearing false witness. It is sin. (Exodus 20:16), (Deuteronomy 5:20)
- Don’t be jealous of what others have and don’t try to get it. (Exodus 20:17), (Deuteronomy 5:21)
Wilderness Wanderings of Israelites
The Israelites did a lot of disobedience. Moses took them out of Egypt and saved them from Pharaoh‘s cruelty, but the Israelites made many mistakes in obeying God’s commands. Sometimes they started to believe a calf as the God, sometimes they persecuted God’s prophet for no reason. God had promised that if God’s orders were obeyed, the Israelites would be given a place in the land of promise, namely Canaan. Due to the sins of the Israelites, They had to wander in the desert for 40 years. This punishment was given to the Israelites because of their sins. Moses faced many hardships for the Israelites but still led them with patience and determination.
Verse
“That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” (Numbers 14:1-4)
Verse
“In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. (Numbers 14:29-31)
Verse
Reference: (Numbers 14:13-19)
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
The life of Moses is a perfect example. With persistence, patience and faith, Moses saved the Israelites from Pharaoh‘s cruelty and brought them out of Egypt. Moses was the person who tried hard to lead them on the straight path despite the disobedience of the Israelites. Moses made many sacrifices for the peace and comfort of the Israelites. They wandered in the desert with the Israelites for a long time. This shows how patient and steadfast Moses was. Moses always prayed to God for them. This shows that Moses’ heart was devoted to his people. The life of Moses is a great example for Judaism, Christianity, and every religion that believes in one God.
