Comparing Moses and Jesus - Essay Example

Task: Moses and Jesus There are comparable aspects in the lives as well as views of Moses and Jesus on diverse issues. The rulers of the Israelites at a time of birth of the two leaders were different. The birth of the two occurred at times when the Israelites were under two distinct regimes of rule. Although the subjects in power during the birth of the two leaders were gentiles, Jesus’ birth occurred when his tribesmen were answerable to a Roman leader. At the time, Freed notes that King Herod ruled over Jews1. On the contrary, the birth of Moses came at a time when his tribesmen were subjects under an Egyptian leader. The birth of Moses came under the oppressive rule experienced by the Israelites while serving as workers in Egypt. They were under Pharaoh2. The aspect of external powers (Not Israelite rulers) that controlled Israelites at their births makes their lives different. The two leaders’ births occurred during oppressive regimes of the leaders controlling the Israelites at the different moments. During the birth of Jesus there was a decree running that ordered the oppression of all male new born children, should they be males. The decree was among the reasons as to why the information on the birth of Jesus remained secretive to many. The birth of Jesus, therefore, occurred at a time when there was fear of the possibility that the child may face the law and, therefore, subjected to death at a young age. After the birth of Jesus, his parents had to find avenues of hiding the child to avoid the child from facing the wrath of the law that required that he dies at a young age, being a male child and a Jew3. The birth of Moses, likewise, occurred under circumstances when the regime was oppressive to male Israelites who were just born. The mother of Moses feared that the child would be killed4 because of the oppressive regime of pharaohs that required that all boy children born to the Israelites face death at a tender age. The decision by Moses’ mother was similar to that of Jesus’ parents since she hid the child to escape the provisions of the rule. The two, Moses and Jesus, were lucky to survive despite the strict provision of the law that required their killing at their young ages. Since the parents of the two newborn male children had to escape the killing of their children, they sorted for refuge. The mother of Moses hid her baby in the same country where she gave birth to him, Egypt. The parents of Jesus however, sort refuge in a foreign country. They flew the child to Egypt where they hid the baby for three months. This makes Egypt a common place in the life of the two as a country from which the parents sort refuge. Hence, the life of Jesus and Moses share a commonality since they survived when they sort refuge from Egypt. At birth the two children’s’ parents used a manger and a basket where they placed the babies. Mary wrapped her baby and placed him in a manger since they had little space to accommodate the child at the place where the birth occurred. The manger protected the new child. The wrapping of Moses and the decision to place him into a basket by his mother was to protect him from any external attack at the place where they positioned the child. The proficiency and leadership skills of the two were identifiable from their young ages. Both had traits that displayed efficient leadership skills that turned effective when they started their roles of salvation as well as leadership. A commonality in the lives of the two relates to the favor of God that they had during their early stages of life. Moses’ early life experienced the favor of God when the daughter of pharaoh saved5 him from the place where his mother hid him, near the river bank. He brought the child out of the hiding place and elevated him to adopt the royal life at the pharaohs. This came as a sign of favor of God since his stay at the pharaohs played a core role in nurturing leadership characters in him. Jesus experienced God’s blessings at his early life stages. At the age of twelve6, Jesus interacted with elderly and wise men. His mastery of the teachings of Christian laws was exemplary since he posed a challenge to teachers of law and wise men. Wise men recognized the knowledge that he had at a young age and his love for attending sessions on the teaching of the provisions of Christian teachings. These were manifestations of the favor of God in him at a tender age in life. In this aspect, Jesus and Moses were similar. Their roles in later lives featured the guidance of God ‘since they held responsibility of leading a large group of believers as messengers from God. There exists a unique similarity in the manner in which the two underwent their early lives, being guided by stepfathers. The early and most part of Moses’ youthful life were at the pharaohs. Pharaoh was not the biological father of Moses but cared for him as a member of his family. God, therefore, provided a means through which Moses, in his early life would have someone to bring him up. Living with the royal family presented to Moses the platform on which he learnt and mastered leadership skills. This aided his role as a guide to the Israelites. Jesus, likewise, enjoyed the love and support of his stepfather, Joseph. The conception of Jesus was a result of God’s blessings through father’s power7. Joseph was never the biological father of Jesus. The aspects of their bringing up put the two at similar situations. The two were compassionate towards those in need of their help. The encounter that saw Moses help the priest’s daughters to water the sheep at the well is a clear expression of a man with an open heart and ready to help those in need of his help. After the daughters were unable to handle the sheep at the well, he fetched water and allowed all of them to drink. The daughters spoke well of Moses after they came from the dam. Likewise, Jesus’ encounter at the well with the Samaritan lady was a manifestation of a man, who was ready to help the needy. The woman bore the burden of sins in her heart. Jesus’ action to offer the woman water, of life, at the well was encouraging and showed the heart of a man ready to offer help to the needy. The woman talked about Jesus telling others of his might and ability to identify the needs of people. The return of the two to their land from refuge came after the death of the previous rulers of their lands. During his youthful stage of life, Moses went to hide in a foreign country, only to return after the death of the King. Likewise, Jesus returned from the land of exile after the passing of the king, Herod. The aspect of their return after the passing of the oppressive leaders makes their lives common. Both the two had the mandate and responsibility to lead the people. They had the guidance of God, which placed upon them the power of command of the population that followed their directions8. Moses was the director of the people who God liberated from oppressive power of the pharaoh to freedom. The population that Moses led consisted of twelve tribes. In his mission, Jesus had followers as well as disciples. The disciples followed the commands stated in the teachings of Jesus. There were twelve disciples of Jesus who contributed immensely towards his mission since they accompanied him as he spread the gospel. The factor of twelve as a number or unit commanded by the two makes their mission and roles of attributed similarity. The missions of Jesus involved performing miracles. He performed a number of miracles as healings and provision of food to his listeners. Likewise, as a leader of the Israelites, Moses performed miracles. He performed a miracle for pharaoh while he declined to release the slaves from his land. The performance of miracles is similar to the missions of Moses and Jesus. The two recognized the superiority of God. Moses, as a guide to the people headed the instructions of God as the superior being that guided them in his mission. Whenever the people complained, he contacted God for instructions and guidance and direction. He reported to God about the needs of his subjects. Jesus, in his words and teachings, recognized the superiority of God. He insisted on the role of God as the leader of the people. He corrected his disciples by referring to God as the only righteous but not any human being. He offered prayers to God whenever there was need for prayers. Both of them taught their followers how to pray. Moses taught the observance of the commandments. Jesus also taught his followers to follow the teachings of God. He stressed on love as the most valuable character among human beings for good and peaceful coexistence. The two predicted their end of life and death. Annotated Bibliography Freed, Edwin. Stories of Jesus' Birth: A Critical Introduction. New York, NY: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2001. Print. Freed notes that King Herod was the ruler as well as the king of Judea. Judea was the birthplace of Jesus that the Jews inhabited (Freed 119). Jones, Mark. Criminals of the Bible: Twenty-Five Case Studies of Biblical Crimes and Outlaws. Grand Haven, MI: FaithWalk Publishing, 2006. Print. Jones notes that the Israelites served for a long period under the regime of Pharaoh. The rule was oppressive and they were slaves. That was the period when the birth of Moses occurred (Jones 54) Perrin, Jay. A New Life With Jesus. New York, NY: AuthorHouse, 2005. Print Perrin notes that Herod commanded that all children whose identity were Jews would be subject to death (Perin 57). This was a fulfillment of what Jeremiah foresaw. Malaty, Tadros. The Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews. Brea, CA: OrthodoxEbooks, 2003. Print. Malaty notes Moses, being born to the Israelites, would face the fate of the order from Pharaoh to have all male children who are Israelites killed (Malaty 87). White, Marjorie. The Five Books of Moses. Maitland, FL: Xulon Press, 2011. Print. White notes the plan devised, by the mother of Moses, that saw her wrap her baby and place him by the papyrus reeds. Pharaoh’s daughter later saved and took him to live with him (White 103). William, Sophia. The Childhood of Jesus in Twelve Years: How It Affects Your Child and Your Parental Responsibility. New York, NY: AuthorHouse, 2011. Print. William notes the tender age at which Jesus started attending sessions the temple. Jesus maintained the habit of attending church sessions for the rest of his life (William 61) Lowe, Scott. Christmas - Philosophy for Everyone: Better Than a Lump of Coal. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 2011. Print. In Lowe’s view, the virginal conception of Jesus was a as fulfillment of the promises of God his compliant servant, Abraham. The conception was God’s blessing to the people (Lowe 33). Allen, Ronald, Andrews, Dale and Ottoni-Wilhelm, Dawn. Preaching God's Transforming Justice: A Lectionary Commentary, Year B. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2011. Print. Allen, Andrews and Ottoni-Wilhelm recognize the role of Moses leader of the freed slaves. His respect for God was a source of success during their journey in the wilderness (Allen, Andrews and Ottoni-Wilhelm, 417). Read More