Moses’ Three Chapters

You said you’d stand by me in the middle of Chapter Three

Elvis Costello

To fully appreciate Moses’ story and accomplishments, earlier scriptural themes must be considered. Long before his birth, during the time of the Patriarchs, biblical themes emerged. Three of these themes are embedded within the three chapters in Moses’ life- the Palace, the Exile, and the Exodus.

How these themes play out best explains Moses’ role in scripture. The journey begins in the Torah Portion Shemot. Moses’ life will be broken down with singular moments within each chapter.

Moses the Mystery?

Through this examination, one will find that that Moses is a man of strength, yet a man of weakness. A man of conviction, yet one of guilt. A disciplinarian, yet a man who believed in second chances. While labeled as the most humble man ever, it is apropos to also call him the most enigmatic. See Numbers 12:3.

Chapter I

But my hand was made strong by the hand of the Almighty

Bob Marley, Redemption Song

Moses, the adult, emerges onto the scene in Buddha-like fashion.

Siddhartha Guatama’s father shielded the young Buddha- a prince- from seeing real world suffering. Only when the Buddha left the palace did he witness the human condition. He experience illness and death.

Similarly, the Torah Portion Shemot tells of Moses- a young prince as well- witnessing the world outside of the palace.

The suffering that Moses’ witnessed was different from that of the Buddha. Moses saw human suffering arising from injustice. The readers are told “…and he saw an Egyptian man striking a Hebrew man, one of his brothers.” Exodus 2:11

Moses, on his own volition, takes action:

“And he turned this way and that way and saw there was no man, and he struck the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.” Exodus 2:12

Moses, initially, must have believed that he solved a problem of suffering caused by injustice. This viewpoint could have been due to his Egyptian Royal status. He assumed that as an authority figure, he capable of dispensing his own form of justice.

The Portion Shemot then tells of the next fateful day.

“And he went out on the second day, and here were two Hebrew men fighting. And he said to the one who was in the wrong, ‘Why do you strike your companion?'” Exodus 2:13 “And he said, ‘Who made you a commander and judge over us? Are you saying you’d kill me- the way you killed the Egyptian?'” Exodus 2:14.

Moses became afraid. He offered no defense to his action. Moses was a man of physical strength but lacking in refined moral education and fortitude.

Moses’ experience is similar to a Patriarchal episode involving Jacob’s daughter Dinah.

With respect to the incident involving Dinah, Jacob’s sons [including Levi] were upset. The incident [at minimum pre-marital sex] was considered as a foolhardy thing among Israel to lie with Jacob’s daughter, and such a thing is not done. Genesis 34:7.

To deal with the controversy, deceptively. Levi and Simeon slaughtered the Shechem males when they were in a weakened state. Genesis 34:25.

When Levi and Simeon were questioned by Jacob about their perceived atrocity, with the Hebrew slave, they had a reply. They responded “shall he treat our sister like a prostitute?” Genesis 34:31.

Analysis

While the actions have similarities, Moses’ narrative is lacking. Moses, unlike Jacob’s sons, appears to not be well-versed with respect to Israelite culture and laws. Unlike Levi and Simeon, Moses had no response to the Hebrew Slave.

Moses lacked the ability to articulate moral outrage. Also, he lacked the ability to act appropriately.

From a modern perspective, he acted a judge, jury and executioner. No due process was afforded. Arguably, Moses possessed unbridled zeal and strength. His moral view of the world required refinement.

Chapter II

They are who we thought they were

Dennis Green

Never miss the obvious.

After Moses fled Egypt after killing the Task Master, he began his second life as a Herder in Midian. There, the Torah tells that “[a]nd he drove the flock at the far side of the wilderness, and he came to the Mountain of God, Horeb.” Exodus 3:1

Thus, before Moses’ Burning Bush theophany, an abundance of information is delivered within the one sentence: (1) He traveled to the far side of the wilderness, and (2) He came to the Mountain of God, Horeb.

The obvious is that Moses intentionally went to the Mountain of God. Why would someone go to a Mountain of God? To meet God, of course. The mystery is “Why?”

Was Moses still burdened by his Egyptian past? Was Moses concerned about his fellow Hebrew’s suffering? Or, as Moses having a sort of mid-life crisis with his Midianite lifestyle?

Regardless of the reason, Moses’ Mountain of God experience included on special word. It is the very word which is foundational towards the Israelite Nation. Heneini– I’m here. See Genesis 22:1 This was the very word that was Abraham’s response to God’s calling.

Thus, when God said, “Moses, Moses,” it was Moses who answered Heneini, “I’m here.” Exodus 3:4.

Analysis

In these moments of theophany, one will be tasked and tested. For Abraham, it was the Binding of Isaac- a test of faith. For Moses, it would be the liberation of the Hebrew nation.

Chapter III

The cream rises to the top, yeah!

Randy “Macho Man” Savage

While some people wrestle with God, the truly elite negotiate. They do so on behalf of Humanity.

The Golden Calf incident illustrates Moses’ great moment.

The Torah tells: ” And the Lord spoke to Moses: “Go. Go down. Because your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, has corrupted. They’ve turned quickly from the way I commanded them. They’ve made themselves a molten calf, and they’ve bowed to it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’

And the Lord said to Moses, ‘I’ve seen this people; and here, it’s a hard-necked people. And now, leave off from me, and my anger will flare at them, and I’ll finish them, and I’ll make you into a big nation!'” Exodus 32: 7-10.

And Moses conciliated in from the Lord, his God and said, ‘Why, the Lord, should your anger flare at your people whom you brought out from the land of Egypt with big power and a strong hand? Why should Egypt say, saying, ‘He brought them out for bad, to kill them in the mountains, and to finish them from on the face of the earth?

Turn back from your flaring anger and relent about the bad to your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac and Israel, your servants, that you swore to them by yourself, and you spoke to them: ‘I’ll multiply your seed like the stars of the skies, and I’ll give to your seed all this land that I’ve said, and they’ll possess it forever.’ And the Lord relented about the bad that He had spoken, to do to His people. Exodus 32:11-14

Moses, once again, mirrors the Patriarch Abraham’s Sodom and Gomorrah negotiations. Abraham famously queried God with respect to his plan to destroy the cities. “Will you also annihilate the virtuous with the wicked?” He asked. Genesis 18:23.

[Note: Unlike with Moses, God was worrisome over concealing this plan to Abraham. He was determined to have Abraham as the founder of a big and powerful nation. He was concerned that they would observe the Lord’s way to do virtue and judgment. Genesis 18:16-20.]

Post God’s relenting, Moses would employ the Levites to clean house. Moses, after returning from Mt. Sinai, witnesses the degradation. He called “Whoever is for the Lord: to me!” Exodus 32:26 “And all the children of Levi were gathered to him.” After this, the Levites disposed of three thousand men. Exodus 32:28.

Analysis

The difference between Abraham and Moses was that the latter would take a personal role in shaping the Children of Israel into becoming worthy of their covenant. On the other hand Abraham’s negotiation did not involve further responsibility on his behalf.

[Note: This theme’s importance is the message that every leader and decision-maker should be open towards receiving and acting upon wisdom and well founded advice. Even God, at a time of great upset, was willing to be open minded.]

Conclusion

While Moses started out to be a champion of injustice without the appropriate knowledge and wisdom, he failed. He acted independently acted sans the law and judgment to back him up.

Moses, to be an effective leader, required the ability to express himself with respect to virtue and judgment. When called by God, he answered the call. Albeit he was reluctant, he proved to be quite effective with the task at hand.

In perhaps in his greatest moment, he defended and molded a quite problematic people into a nation.

In all this, the Genesis themes are clearly connected to the Moses narrative.

Through this examination, one can find that Moses was a man of strength, yet a man of weakness. A man of conviction, yet one of guilt. A disciplinarian, yet a man who believed in second chances. While labeled as the most humble man ever, it is apropos to call him the most enigmatic man as well. See Numbers 12:3.

Be well!!

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