The Depiction of the Life of Moses in the Old Testament - Term Paper Example

Running Head: Moses Moses of Moses Introduction Moses is a Biblical Prophet who is mentioned in the Old Testament. He is revered and honored by Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Moses was considered to have led the Israelites to a life of freedom from the bondage and slavery of ancient Egypt. The life of Moses is full of inspiration and motivation as he struggles for the liberation of his people. Adversity, danger, and misfortune do not seem to deter Moses from his mission because he has passionate belief in the truth of his ways. He strongly believes that God, who is on the side of his people, will lead them to victory and freedom. This research paper examines how Moses remains an inspiration and motivation to millions of people around the world. It analyzes and scrutinizes the principles which can be identified and applied from the life of Moses. Background The history of Moses is recorded in the book of Exodus which is a part of the Old Testament. His mother sent him on the river Nile to prevent the Pharaoh’s men from killing him. He was found by the Pharaoh’s daughter where he was raised and lived. As a young man he had to flee Egypt after killing an Egyptian (Jacobs, 2007). Roaming around in the land of Sinai, he married and lived for forty years in that region. It was also in the Sinai where he saw a vision of God as nearby bushes were burning. Moses went back to Egypt where he called upon the Pharaoh to release his people from slavery and bondage. A series of plagues that shook the Egyptians convinced them to let the Israelites out of slavery (Jacobs, 2007). The Pharaoh’s armies would drown in the Red Sea as Moses and his band of followers would successfully cross into the Sinai Peninsula. After leading his people out of slavery, Moses would introduce the religious beliefs and laws which were vital for the Israelites (Jacobs, 2007). Reasons for Being Drawn Towards Moses The bible is filled with narratives and accounts of brave men who guided by God accomplished the impossible. Moses stands out as the greatest of them in terms of the adversities and calamities which he faced (Judaism 101, 2007). Throughout his life struggle, he acted with endurance and control. He lived a life of luxury when brought up in the household of the Pharaoh. However destiny had other things in store for him. His forty years of wandering in the Sinai Peninsula would forever change his life. With the vision of God, he returned to Egypt where he preached to the Pharaoh to stop his wicked ways and release the Israelites. When the Pharaoh refused to be intimidated by Moses, he remained calm and placed his trust on God. The ten plagues sent by God became a message to the Egyptians that the Israelites must be freed. Moses adopted tranquility and fortitude when faced with the Red Sea on one side and the Pharaoh’s armies on the other side. Moses was a military leader and brilliant organizer for the Israelites. He gave them hope and message of placing their trust in God. He taught them how to worship God and deal with each other. The Ten Commandments regulated the behavior and practices of the Israelites for generations. The laws of Moses are considered to be the earliest examples of humane edicts which regulated human society (Judaism 101, 2007). Life of Inspiration Moses remains a symbol of freedom and liberation for exploited people. The Israelites were subjugated by the Egyptians for a time period of four hundred years. They were beaten, humiliated, and oppressed by the Pharaoh. Moses appeared as a savior and deliverer from the tyranny and oppression of the Pharaoh. His early life was filled with luxury and pomp but the latter part of his life is a constant struggle against hardship, misfortune, and adversity. Moses struggle to free his people does not involve the raising of armies or rebellion against the Pharaoh. He uses persuasion and peaceful tactics to ensure that Pharaoh is convinced of the error of his ways (Assmann, 1997). Moses freedom movement is based upon the use of pacifist and peaceful techniques in order to gain the freedom of the Israelites. Moses has complete and unequivocal faith in God who he believes will assist his people in crossing the Red Sea. An example of this behavior is when the Pharaoh’s armies are behind the Israelites and in front of them is the Red Sea (Ariel, 1996). The Israelites are now despairing and accusing Moses of leading them to their deaths. Moses does not despair but has strong trust and conviction in his God. The result is a miracle where the Red Sea is opened with a safe passage for the Israelites. Pharaoh’s armies are drowned while attempting to cross the Red Sea. Ten Commandments Moses has been considered as one of the greatest law makers of the history of mankind. The ancient Israelites had their laws governed in the Ten Commandments. These commandments retain their significance even in the modern age. The basic message of the commandments forms a set of regulations that are considered to be important for the protection of humanity. The basic message of the commandments is complete trust and obedience towards God. This powerful concept of monotheism forms the basis of the Jewish and Christian religions. It gives stimulation and motivation to the people to have faith which can be a powerful weapon to overcome danger and calamity. Even though the Ten Commandments are directed towards the Jewish people, they can still be used as sources of inspiration (Kohn, 2006). The commandments call upon the people not to indulge in murder, theft, or adultery. They encourage the people to respect each other because this will foster an atmosphere of friendliness and brotherhood. The laws of Moses provide the creation of a just and balanced society where friendship, honor, peace, and affection are promoted and practiced. The sanctity of marriage is proclaimed in the commandments because this institution will be responsible for continuing the generations of humanity (Kohn, 2006). Honoring and revering the parents is also considered to be important because this is to express gratitude and appreciation to them. Since parents do everything to raise their children, it is obligator to treat them with kindness and mercy. Universal Principles The life of Moses holds several universal principles which are applicable in the life of modern society. The most important lesson which is derived from the story is that of placing trust on God. This is very significant because it gives hope and optimism when confronted with the problems of the world. Fear can also be overcome if there in explicit and undeniable trust in God just as the Israelites were when they had arrived at the Red Sea. This was overcome when the Red Sea was divided into a clear passageway for the Israelites. Seeking assistance and counsel is also taught from the life history of Moses. He fled Egypt to live in the Sinai Peninsula after murdering an Egyptian who was manhandling an Israelite. During this time he received advice and counsel from Jethro (Birch, 1999). This teaches us the virtue of having good friends and family who can be relied upon during times of trouble and adversity. Patience is another virtue which we learn from the history of Moses. He had an inexhaustible patience given the problems and hurdles which he faced. He remained devoted and close towards God as he confronted each of these problems. When the Israelites were complaining about the lack of food and water, Moses remained calm and placed his trust on God. Patience has been considered as a major virtue which allows human beings to bear all forms of hardship and calamities. The separation of the Red Sea holds important lessons for human beings. It proves that no matter how the end might be inevitable, if the person has support from God, than they will be bailed out. Human beings get frustrated if they lost jobs, loved ones, or obtained divorce. They believe that calamity and hardship will destroy their lives. However the story of the Israelites proves that if there is trust and belief in God, then there are many opportunities for human beings to rebuild themselves. It also teaches us how there can be hope and light at the end of the tunnel. The Israelites were banned from reaching the Promised Land for a period of forty years. This event teaches us that God will test his subjects. This is done in order to measure the ability of faithful and believing people to patiently bear and withstand the problems and calamities of life. Humans might witness periods of financial, emotional, and social decline but the reality is that these are tests for them (Nicholson, 1986). The life of Moses also shows the example of how leadership can lead the masses. Moses was a charismatic and dynamic leader who was able to instill confidence, discipline, and faith amongst his people. He led them through every calamity and danger with patience and virtue. He had undeniable faith in God which allowed him to achieve his objectives and aims. Moses also was a teacher who wanted to ensure that successive generations of his people would follow the right path and obey the commandments of God. Conclusion Moses remains one of the greatest law makers, judges, and military leaders of all times. His life long struggle against calamities and problems gave him the gifts of endurance and fortitude. His desire to achieve freedom and struggle remain examples for oppressed people to follow. The use of pacifist and peaceful techniques ensured the success of his struggle against the Pharaoh. Trust and faith in God were one of the virtues of Moses. His people the Israelites bitterly complained about the conditions of life in the Sinai Peninsula but Moses dealt with them in a tolerant and cool manner. The Ten Commandments are relevant in modern society as they prohibit humanity from perpetrating crimes like adultery, murder, or theft. They also call for honoring and revering parents who have taken care of their offspring all their lives. It also calls for a pure and simple version of monotheism which gives hope and faith to the believer. The commandments also teach how people should treat each other with kindness and affection. It places the importance of being fair and tolerant towards one neighbor. The life and story of Moses remains a source of motivation and inspiration for countless generations of human beings. It is a life filled with hope, trust, faith, patience, endurance, and fortitude. The life of Moses also shows the example of how leadership can lead the masses. Moses was a charismatic and dynamic leader who was able to instill confidence, discipline, and faith amongst his people. References: Ariel, David. What Do Jews Believe?: The Spiritual Foundations of Judaism. NY: Schocken Press, 1996. Assmann, Jan. Moses the Egyptian: The Memory of Egypt in Western Monotheism. Harvard University Press, 1997 Kohn, Rebecca. Seven Days to the Sea: An Epic Novel of the Exodus. New York: Rugged Land, 2006 Birch, Bruce C et al. A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament. Nashville: Abingdon, 1999 Nicholson, EW. God and His People: Covenant and Theology in the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon, 1986 Jacobs, Joseph (2007). Moses. Retrieved January 12, 2009, from Jewish Encyclopedia Web site: http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=830&letter=M&search=moses#3 (2007). Moses, Aaron and Miriam. Retrieved January 12, 2009, from Judaism 101 Web site: http://www.jewfaq.org/moshe.htm Read More