Who was Moses in the Bible? Facts about him

Certainly after Jesus Christ, Moses is one of the most well-known figures in the Bible. Let’s take a look at 10 events about Moses – who he was in the Bible and details about his life.

Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.’ (Acts 3:22)

Aside from Jesus Christ, Moses is perhaps the most recognized figure in the Bible. Moses is a key figure in Christianity, known for his role as a prophet, lawgiver, and leader in the Bible. His life, marked by divine encounters and miracles, raises many questions among Christians about his relationship with God and his importance in foreshadowing Christ. This article seeks to explore these questions and shed light on Moses’ impact on Christian faith and teachings.

Prophet Moses

Let’s delve into ten points about Prophet Moses: who he was and details of his life in the Bible.

Was Prophet Moses Hebrew?

Yes, Prophet Moses was Hebrew. He was born to parents named Jochebed and Amram, both from the tribe of Levi, at a time when the Israelites were living as slaves in Egypt. He was the youngest of three children and had two siblings named Miriam and Aaron. Prophet Moses is recognized as an Israelite.

read more : Who is Deborah and what is her role in the Bible?

When was Prophet Moses born?

Although the exact date of Prophet Moses’ birth is not known, it is believed that he was probably born in the 14th or 13th century BCE. Some, based on various interpretations of the Torah, consider his birth year to be 1393 BCE. At that time, Pharaoh feared the growing population of the Israelite slaves and ordered the killing of all their male infants. But Moses’ mother took action to save her child. ‘She saw that he was a fine child, so she hid him for three months.’ (Exodus 2:2)

When she could hide him no longer, she made a small basket, placed him in it, and hid the baby Moses among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. He did not stay there long and was rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter. Unable to nurse him, Pharaoh’s daughter hired a Hebrew woman to do so, who happened to be Moses’ mother. After being weaned, Prophet Moses was brought up in Pharaoh’s palace with all the luxuries of Egypt.

Did Moses commit a murder?

Yes, according to the Bible, Moses committed a murder. Although he was raised in Pharaoh’s palace, he was aware of his Hebrew identity. Exodus 2:12 states: ‘Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.’

This cover-up wasn’t very skillful, as the next day a Hebrew slave exposed him. ‘The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, ‘Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?’ The man said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?’ Then Moses was afraid and thought, ‘What I did must have become known.’’ (Exodus 2:13-14)

What was the burning bush and what did it mean for Moses?

In Exodus 3:1-6, we encounter a miraculous phenomenon where Moses meets a burning bush that is not consumed by the flames. This occurs while Moses is tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, near Mount Horeb (also known as Mount Sinai).

As Moses approaches the burning bush, God speaks to him from within it, instructing him to remove his sandals because the ground he is standing on is holy. God then introduces Himself to Moses and commissions him to return to Egypt to lead the Israelites out of slavery and into the Promised Land.

The burning bush was a pivotal moment in Moses’ life and held deep significance for him. It marked his first direct encounter with God. The burning bush symbolized God’s presence and represented a turning point in Moses’ life, setting him on the path of leadership and prophecy.

The Ten Plagues of Moses on Egypt

According to the Book of Exodus in the Torah, the ten plagues of Egypt were a series of calamities inflicted by God upon Egypt to persuade Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery. These plagues were:

Turning water to blood (Exodus 7:14-25): The Nile River and all water sources in Egypt turned to blood, killing fish and rendering the water undrinkable.

Frogs (Exodus 8:1-15): A massive influx of frogs emerged from rivers and waterways, covering the land and invading homes and buildings.

Lice or gnats (Exodus 8:16-19): The dust of the land turned into lice or gnats, tormenting people and animals.

Flies (Exodus 8:20-32): Large swarms of flies invaded homes and lands of the Egyptians, causing widespread discomfort and disease.

Livestock disease (Exodus 9:1-7): A severe disease affected the livestock of the Egyptians, including horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats, killing many animals.

Boils (Exodus 9:8-12): Painful boils and sores appeared on people and animals throughout Egypt.

Hail (Exodus 9:13-35): A devastating hailstorm accompanied by thunder and lightning destroyed crops, properties, and killed people and animals in the fields.

Locusts (Exodus 10:1-20): A vast swarm of locusts covered the land, devouring any remaining vegetation and crops, leading to severe famine.

Darkness (Exodus 10:21-29): Total darkness enveloped Egypt for three days, making it impossible to see or move.

Death of the firstborn (Exodus 11:1-10, 12:29-30): The final plague was the sudden death of all firstborn sons in Egyptian households. Only the firstborn of Israelites who marked their doorposts with lamb’s blood, as instructed by God, were spared from this plague.

Important works of Moses

To help Moses overcome his fears, God sent his brother Aaron to assist him and promised them both divine aid. Moses bravely accepted this responsibility. He guided the Israelites out of Egypt, enduring the lengthy ordeal of the ten plagues and confronting Pharaoh. When the Israelites found themselves trapped between the remorseful Pharaoh and the Red Sea after their liberation, Moses told them, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.’ (Exodus 14:13)

He also prophesied: ‘The Egyptians you see today you will never see again…’ (Exodus 14:13) and he was right. Through God’s power, he led them across the parted Red Sea on dry ground. This was only the beginning of Moses’ courageous leadership.

When and how did Prophet Moses die?

According to tradition, God was with Moses until his final moments and buried him in a secret place. Moses died at the age of 120, and he was perfectly healthy at the time of his death: ‘His eyes were not weak nor his strength gone’ (Deuteronomy 34:7). The Israelites mourned for him for thirty days until God ended their mourning and appointed Joshua as his successor.

‘And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is’ (Deuteronomy 34:5-6).

There is speculation about Moses’ burial place. Some believe that God secretly buried his body to prevent the Israelites from visiting his grave and turning it into an idol. This might be the true reason, or perhaps God buried him as a friend. Only God knows the truth.

Why does Jesus compare Himself to Moses’ serpent in the wilderness?

Written by Stephen Davey

‘Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.’ (John 3:14-15)

These verses refer us to one of the strangest stories in the Old Testament. In the Book of Numbers, we see the Israelites rebelling against God. God sent venomous snakes among them to punish them. The people cried out for mercy, and God instructed Moses to make a bronze snake, lift it on a pole, and place it in the camp. Anyone who looked at the snake would be healed. It was that simple.

Why didn’t God tell them to make a medicine? Why not tell them to work for their healing? This would have kept them busy and satisfied the human instinct to strive for self-healing. The truth is that they were not told to create a human cure because there is no human cure for sin. Only God’s mercy could save them.

That event in Israel’s history was a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ on the cross, bearing our sins for us. Salvation, spiritual healing, and rebirth come only through faith in Him and looking to Him.

My friend, you can join a community, church, sign a pledge, attend Bible classes, donate money, get baptized… and ultimately die without having faith in God. We have been bitten by sin, and it is a fatal wound. Is there any hope?
Look – on a wooden beam, on the cross, the dying Savior is there. He came down from heaven so that He could be lifted up on the cross.

The text we provided is taken from the book ‘Born Again – The Statement (John 3:1-15)’ by ‘Wisdom for the Heart Ministry.’