One of the central events of the Old Testament is the story of Moses, the salvation of the Jewish people from the power of the Egyptian pharaoh. Many skeptics are looking for historical evidence of the events, as in the biblical presentation there were many miracles committed on the way to the Promised Land. However, be that as it may, but this story is quite entertaining and tells the story of the incredible liberation and resettlement of an entire nation.
The background and birth of Moses
The birth of a future prophet was originally shrouded in mystery. Almost the only source of information about Moses was the biblical scriptures, since direct historical evidence does not exist, there is only indirect evidence. In the year of the prophet's birth, the ruling pharaoh Ramses II ordered all newborn children to be drowned in the Nile, because, despite the hard work and oppression of the Jews, they continued to multiply and multiply. Pharaoh was afraid that someday they might take the side of his enemies.
That is why the mother of Moses hid him from everyone for the first three months. When this was no longer possible, she tarred the basket and put her child there. Together with her eldest daughter, she carried her to the river and left Mariam to follow what would happen next.
God wanted Moses and Ramses to meet. History, as mentioned above, is silent about the details. The pharaoh’s daughter picked up the basket and brought it to the palace. According to another version (which some historians adhere to), Moses belonged to the royal family and was the son of the very daughter of the pharaoh.
Whatever it was, but the future prophet was in the palace. Mariam, who tracked who picked up the basket, offered Moses' own mother as a nurse. So the son returned to the bosom of the family for a while.
The life of a prophet in a palace
After Moses grew up a bit and ceased to need a nurse, his mother took the future prophet to the palace. There he lived for a long time, and was also adopted by the daughter of the pharaoh. Moses knew what kind he was, knew that he was a Jew. And although he studied along with the rest of the children of the royal family, he did not absorb cruelty.
The story of Moses from the Bible indicates that he did not worship the many gods of Egypt, but remained faithful to the beliefs of his ancestors.
Moses loved his people and every time he suffered when he saw his torment, when he saw how every Israelite was mercilessly exploited. Once it happened that made the future prophet flee from Egypt. Moses witnessed the brutal beating of one of his people. In a fit of rage, the future prophet tore the whip out of the hands of the overseer and killed him. Since no one saw what he did (as Moses thought), the body was simply buried.
After some time, Moses realized that many already knew what he had done. Pharaoh orders the arrest and murder of his daughter’s son. As Moses and Ramses treated each other, history is silent. Why did they decide to judge him for the murder of the overseer? You can take into account different versions of what is happening, however, most likely, the decisive thing was that Moses was not an Egyptian. As a result of all this, the future prophet decides to flee Egypt.
The Flight from Pharaoh and the Further Life of Moses
According to biblical data, the future prophet went to the land of Midian. The subsequent story of Moses tells of his family life. He married the daughter of the priest Jethro Zipporah. Living this life, he became a shepherd, learned to live in the desert. He also had two sons.
Some sources claim that before marrying, Moses lived with the Saracens for a while, had a prominent position there. However, it should nevertheless be taken into account that the only source of narration about his life is the Bible, which, like any ancient scripture, overgrown with a certain allegorical raid.
Divine revelation and appearance of the Lord to the prophet
Be that as it may, the biblical story of Moses tells us that it was in the land of Midian when he was herding the flocks that the revelation of the Lord was to him. The future prophet at that moment was eighty years old. It was at this age that a bush of thorns met on his way, which they blazed with flame, but did not burn.
At this point, Moses was instructed to save the people of Israel from Egyptian authority. The Lord commanded to return to Egypt and take his people to the promised land, freeing him from prolonged slavery. However, the Almighty Father warned Moses of the difficulties in his path. To enable him to overcome them, he was granted the ability to work miracles. Because Moses was tongue-tied, God commanded him to take Brother Aaron.
The return of Moses to Egypt. Ten executions
The story of the prophet Moses, as a forerunner of God's will, began on the day when he appeared before the pharaoh, who ruled at that time in Egypt. It was another ruler, not the one from whom Moses had once fled. Of course, the pharaoh refused to demand the release of the Israeli people, and even increased the labor duty for his slaves.
Moses and Ramses, whose history is more vague than the researchers would like, grappled in a confrontation. The prophet did not accept the first defeat, he came to the ruler several times and eventually said that the Egyptian punishment of God would fall to the earth. And so it happened. By the will of God, there were ten executions that fell on Egypt and its inhabitants. After each of them, the ruler called his sorcerers, but they found the magic of Moses more skillful. After each misfortune, the pharaoh agreed to release the people of Israel, but each time he changed his mind. Only after the tenth did Jewish slaves become free.
Of course, the story of Moses did not end there. The prophet still had years of travel, as well as a clash with the unbelief of his fellow tribesmen, until they all reached the Promised Land.
Establishment of Easter and the Exodus from Egypt
Before the last execution, which fell upon the people of Egypt, Moses warned the people of Israel about it. It was the killing of the firstborn in every family. However, the warned Israelis anointed their door with the blood of a lamb no older than one year, and their punishment passed.
On the same night, the celebration of the first Easter took place. The story of Moses from the Bible tells about the rituals that preceded it. The chopped lamb had to be baked whole. Then eat while standing, gathering the whole family. After this event, the people of Israel left the land of Egypt. Pharaoh in fear even asked to do it sooner, seeing what happened at night.
The fugitives left the first dawn. A sign of God's will was a pillar that was fiery at night and cloudy at day. It is believed that this particular Easter was transformed over time into the one that we know now. The liberation of the Jewish people from slavery symbolized just that.
Another miracle that happened almost immediately after leaving Egypt was the passage through the Red Sea. At the command of the Lord, the waters parted, and a land formed, on which the Israelites crossed to the other side. The pharaoh who pursued them also decided to follow the bottom of the sea. However, Moses and his people were already on the other side, and the waters of the sea closed again. So the pharaoh perished.
Covenants Moses Got on Mount Sinai
The next stopping point for the Jewish people was Mount Moses. A story from the Bible tells us that on this way the fugitives saw many miracles (manna from heaven, the emerging sources of spring water) and were strengthened in their faith. Ultimately, after a three-month journey, the Israelites came to Mount Sinai.
Leaving the people at its foot, Moses himself ascended to the summit following the instructions of the Lord. There was a dialogue between the Father of All That Is and his prophet. As a result of all this, the Ten Commandments were received, which became the main for the people of Israel, which became the basis of the legislation. Commandments were also received that encompassed civil and religious life. All of this was recorded in the Book of the Covenant.
Forty-year journey through the desert of the Israeli people
Near Mount Sinai, the Jewish people stood for about a year. Then the Lord gave a sign that we need to go further. The story of Moses as a prophet continued. He continued to bear the burden of mediating between his people and the Lord. For forty years they wandered through the desert, sometimes for a long time they lived in places where conditions were more favorable. The Israelites gradually became zealous followers of the covenants the Lord gave them.
Of course, there were disturbances. Not everyone was satisfied with such long wanderings. However, as the story of Moses from the Bible testifies, the people of Israel nevertheless reached the Promised Land. However, the prophet himself did not reach her. Moses had a revelation that another leader would lead them further. He rested in his 120th year of life, but no one ever knew where this happened, since his death was a mystery.
Biblical Historical Facts
Moses, whose life story is known to us only from biblical stories, is a significant figure. However, is there any official evidence that confirms its existence as a historical figure? Some consider this to be just a beautiful legend that was invented.
However, some historians are still inclined to believe that Moses is a historical figure. This is evidenced by some information contained in the biblical story (slaves in Egypt, the birth of Moses). Thus, we can say that this is far from a fictional story, and all these miracles actually happened in those distant times.
It should be noted that today this event is shown more than once in the cinema, and cartoons have also been created. They describe heroes such as Moses and Ramses, whose history is not well described in the Bible. Particular attention in the cinema is given to the miracles that happened during their journey. Whatever it was, but all these films and cartoons educate the younger generation of morality and instill morality. They are also useful for adults, especially those who have lost faith in miracles.