Hebrew Scripture Studies

I've been told that I'm a crazy person. Sometimes I believe the critics, but I frequently know that my loads that I carry will bless me in the end. One of the loads that I am carrying right now is school. I am so close to finishing my bachelor's degree that I can actually taste it. I am working on a Regents of Bachelor Arts degree through West Virginia University by taking online classes and this semester I am enrolled in Communication if Families (a child development course) and Hebrew Scripture Studies (through the dept. of religion). Because I'm the type of person who needs LOTS of affirmation I'm going to be posting my weekly essays for my religion course. It has been so interesting and fascinating to get to study the political and cultural settings for the time of the Old Testament and has provided great insight to later events in the New Testament and current events happening today.

In a one-page single-spaced paper, discuss the role of Moses in founding of the nation Israel. Be sure to include the important historical facts of his life, both before and after the exodus. Why do you think God chose him to lead such an important task? What are some of the evidences that Moses was an ordinary person? Why was he ultimately unable to enter the promised land?

Moses was destined to become the leader of Israel from his birth. When the Egyptian princess finds him in the bulrushes, it is evidence of God preserving Moses' life to enable him to do the Lord's work later. Being raised in Pharaohs' court as an Egyptian prince teaches Moses what he will need to know later to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. After Moses is grown he kills an Egyptian who is beating an Israelite and must then flee for his life. He travels to Midian, north of Egypt and is shown God in a burning bush where he is given instructions to lead the children of Israel to freedom.

Moses leads them back to Israel and shows Pharaoh numerous plagues to show him God's power. I think that Moses was chosen before he was born to be the chosen leader to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt and save them from the slavery inflicted by Pharaoh. With every prophet God has preserved their life early on, showing them His power and love all the while preparing them for the work He will eventually call them to do. Pharaoh eventually lets them go free but chases them and corners them at the Red Sea, which God enables Moses to part the Sea saving the Israelites and drowning the Egyptians. Moses and the Israelites continue to wander the desert, bringing his wandering to a total of 40 years before Joshua assumes the role of leader. Joshua is the one to finally bring the Israelites to the Promised Land.

When Moses is speaking to God at the burning bush, Moses' initial reaction is to doubt his own ability to lead the Israelites to freedom. Moses considers himself a simple man and does not think the Israelites will think him capable of the task. Moses also does not think himself eloquent enough of a speaker to be the mouthpiece on Earth for God. God reassures him that He will be there, guiding Moses and providing the way. God also provides a way to prove to the Israelites that Moses is the chosen leader by showing them signs. Moses was given the power to turn the staff in his hand into a serpent and pouring water from the river onto the dry land and turning it into blood.

I don't think that Moses was unable to enter the Promised Land, but that God was so pleased with him that He took Moses back to heaven without having to taste death. In Deuteronomy chapter 32, God tells Moses to go to Mount Nebo in the land of Jericho to see Canaan. He is instructed to stay there to die but then in chapter 34 after Moses is shown all the lands that have been saved for the tribes it says in verse 6 that the Lord buried Moses in the valley of Moab but that "no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day." I believe that once Moses had brought the children of Israel to the Promised Land that his mission in this life was done and that God translated him. There are later accounts of Moses appearing as an angel of the Lord and he would not have been able to do that if his body had not already been resurrected and in a perfect state. When Jesus Christ is transfigured on the mount and Peter, James and John are with him Moses and Elijah appear to them (Matthew 17:1-5). Later after Christ has been resurrected he appears with Moses and Elijah to give the keys of the priesthood to Peter, James and John.