Moses, one of the most prominent figures in the Bible, is a central character in the narrative of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and their journey to the Promised Land. He is a Levite, born to Amram and Jochebed, and is a key prophet, leader, and lawgiver in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Birth and Early Life

Moses was born during a time of great oppression for the Israelites in Egypt. Pharaoh had decreed that all newborn Hebrew boys were to be killed to control the population of the Israelites, who were growing numerous and strong (Exodus 1:22). In an act of faith and defiance, Moses' mother, Jochebed, hid him for three months. When she could no longer conceal him, she placed him in a basket and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile (Exodus 2:3).

Pharaoh's daughter discovered the basket and, moved with compassion, decided to adopt the child. Moses' sister, Miriam, who had been watching from a distance, offered to find a Hebrew woman to nurse the child, and thus Jochebed was able to care for her own son during his early years (Exodus 2:5-9). Moses was raised in Pharaoh's household, receiving an education and upbringing befitting Egyptian royalty.

Call to Leadership

As an adult, Moses became aware of the suffering of his people. In a moment of anger, he killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave and subsequently fled to Midian to escape Pharaoh's wrath (Exodus 2:11-15). In Midian, Moses married Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro, and became a shepherd.

God called Moses to leadership through the miraculous encounter at the burning bush on Mount Horeb. God revealed His name, "I AM WHO I AM," and commissioned Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 3:14). Despite his initial reluctance and self-doubt, Moses accepted the divine mandate, with Aaron, his brother, appointed as his spokesperson (Exodus 4:10-16).

The Exodus and the Giving of the Law

Moses returned to Egypt and confronted Pharaoh, demanding the release of the Israelites. Through a series of ten plagues, God demonstrated His power and ultimately compelled Pharaoh to let the Israelites go (Exodus 7-12). The final plague, the death of the firstborn, led to the institution of the Passover, a pivotal event in Israelite history (Exodus 12:1-14).

Moses led the Israelites through the Red Sea, where God miraculously parted the waters, allowing them to escape the pursuing Egyptian army (Exodus 14:21-22). In the wilderness, Moses served as the mediator between God and the people, receiving the Ten Commandments and the Law on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-20). These laws formed the foundation of Israelite society and religious practice.

Challenges and Leadership

Throughout the wilderness journey, Moses faced numerous challenges, including the people's frequent complaints and rebellions. Despite these difficulties, he remained a faithful servant of God, interceding on behalf of the Israelites and guiding them according to God's instructions.

Moses' leadership was marked by moments of profound faith and humility, as well as human frailty. In a moment of frustration, he struck a rock to bring forth water, disobeying God's command to speak to it. As a result, God decreed that Moses would not enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:7-12).

Death and Legacy

Moses' life came to an end on Mount Nebo, where he viewed the Promised Land from a distance. He died there, and God Himself buried him in an undisclosed location (Deuteronomy 34:5-6). Moses is remembered as a servant of the Lord, a prophet unparalleled in his intimacy with God, and a leader who shaped the identity and destiny of the Israelite nation.

The legacy of Moses endures through the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, traditionally attributed to him. His life and teachings continue to be a source of inspiration and guidance for believers, exemplifying faith, obedience, and dedication to God's will.Exodus 2:1-4
And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.
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Exodus 6:20
And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years.
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Acts 7:20
In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:
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Hebrews 11:23
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
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Ancestors of the Blessed virgin
... Emerentia married one Aphras or Ophras, a Levite. ... In the Ark of the Covenant made
by Moses, which stood in ... he handed it over to his firstborn son Isaac, from ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/i ancestors of the blessed.htm

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