Moses Essay -- essays research papers fc

The Mystery of Moses   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Moses is one of the most revered and important characters of the Old Testament. Yet, as much as we know about the people of that time, Moses is still a figure shrouded in mystery. His existence is not proven; his life is contradictory to itself, and his persona, as shown through the bible, is immensely glorified. But, who was he? Was he real or just a bedtime myth?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many theories of the origin of Moses. According to the bible Moses was a man born of Hebrew descent. At the time of his birth, the Pharaoh felt his kingdom threatened by the Israelites (Hebrews) and ordered that every newborn male Israelite be dropped into the Nile River. His mother, daughter of Levi according to the New American Standard Bible, placed him in a basket made of reed and send him down the river in fear for his safety. He was picked up and adopted by the Pharaoh's daughter.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One day Moses witnessed a taskmaster beating an Israelite for no reason so Moses killed the taskmaster. The Pharaoh heard of this and ordered that Moses be sentenced to death. He escaped the land of Egypt to Midian where he met his wife Zipporah. He had lived in Midian for a while when the Lord appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush. The lord gave Moses the task of leading the Israelites out of bondage and into then Promised Land. He reluctant ly accepted after god told him the name by which to call him. The New American Standard Bible states simply that god revealed his secret name to Moses and Moses accepted. Other versions of the bible talk of a staff that can transform into a snake and a hand of Leperas. Either way, Moses accepted and descended into Egypt to talk with the Pharaoh.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Moses asked for his people s freedom and the Pharaoh refused. He then brought ten plagues to Egypt water to blood, frogs, gnats, flies, pestilence, hail, locusts, darkness, and death of the first born. The Israelites were granted passage out of the lands of Egypt and they headed towards the Red Sea. When they reached the Red Sea, the Pharaoh was behind them, pursuing with a sense of vengeance. The Lord helped Moses to part the waters of the Red Sea and the Israelites made their way through the towering waters. The Egyptian army followed and was swallowed by the waters as ... ...arguments to their being the same person, but is it possible the chronological scale could have been that far off. It is hard to prove or disprove this theory until we find the tomb of Akhanaton.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Whether Moses was real, another person entirely, or just a bedtime story for small children, he led the Hebrew people to the Promised Land. He fulfilled the covenant given to Abraham and Isaac and Israel. His story is arguably the most important in the Old Testament, taking up five books. He lived the life of an Egyptian prince, a simple Shepard, and the Hebrew savior, leading his people out of oppression. â€Å"Since then no prophet has arisen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. He had no equal in all the signs and wonders the lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against the Pharaoh and all his servants and all his land, and for the might and the terrifying power that Moses exhibited in the sight of Israel.† (Deut. 34.10) Bibliography Hooker, Richard. â€Å"Akhnaton.† World Civilizations. 1996 (30 Sept. 2000) The New American Bible. Iowa Falls: World Bible Publishers, Inc., 1991