Exodus is the second book of the Pentateuch. The nucleus of the story is centered on the Israelites departure from Egypt. It tells of how the Egyptians were increasingly oppressing the descendants of Jacob and their deliverance by God through Moses. Moses is the one who led the people across the Red Sea into Mount Sinai. At Mount Sinai the people became an independent nation and had an exclusive relationship with God. God gave the Israelites the "law" through Moses which was the means by which they were to become holy people.
The injustices that the Israelites had to endure were due to the Egyptians skepticism. They did not believe or trust the Israelites so they prosecuted them and drove them out of Egypt.
In the Moses story he is walking along and sees two people fighting. One of which was a Hebrew and the other an Egyptian. He did not like the Egyptian beating on his friend, so, he killed the Egyptian. Then the next day he saw two Hebrews fighting and went to break them up. As he did this the y made a comment about him killing an Egyptian and Moses got scared and left. These examples explain the pillar that has to do with solidarity. This pillar has to do with the idea that we are one family no matter our differences. In these two examples it show Moses, although he does not exactly do it in the right way all the time, doing what is good for his kin. He is helping to protect his family. When he is in Egypt and is hiding from the Pharaoh he see a burning bush that is not being consumed and goes to look at it. While he is looking at it God speaks to him and tells him to lead his people out of slavery. When Moses finally decides to do it he is taking on the pillar that has to do with taking the rights and responsibility. He is taking a big responsibility from God with little complaints. The thing God asks Moses to do also have to do with the pillars of social justice. It has to do with the option for the poor and vulnerable. Gods request was that Moses was to lead his people out of slavery. By accepting this he is helping the poor and vulnerable which is the Hebrews in this situation.
What we are to pull out of this part of the Bible is that what God asks is not always easy to do. As Christians we must do what God asks to the best of our ability. The way we can do this is by using the seven pillars of social justice. In the Moses story he does not want to do what God asks to the point of hiding from God. But he knows after talking to God he will be able to do what God asks because God will not leave him. This should be a big example for Christians that the right thing is not always the easiest and most enjoyable decision. Moses should be a huge model for today’s Christians because he basically took a whole civilization known as the Hebrews on his shoulders because God asked him to.
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6 comments:
Moses is one the greatest heros in the Bible. He led the Israelites out of Egypt and across the desert to the Promised Land. Moses, however, became so afraid of being punished for defending a Hebrew slave that he fled his home and into the desert. God can still use those that have moments of weakness and fear to do great things.
I agree that Moses had to take responsiblity. This is how it connects to one of the seven pillars. Moses listens to what God has to say even if he has dobt he does not ignore him.
I never knew that Moses played such a large role in helping the Hebrew people. He took on a very big responsibility by doing this.
Moses has to take responsiblilty for a whole race pretty much. This is the defiinition of taking on huge responsibilty
I liked your example of Moses not wanting to do what God wants, and then hiding. He was a real person, a lot like us in a lot of ways. But in the end, Moses is a may of great faith, and submits to God even when he does nott want. Is that like us? Maybe. When we stand up for others in pain or who are being abused, then we join him. But when we look the other way or are too occupied with ourr own lives and fail to act, then we become pale compared to him.
You made me understand that Moses was Human. Many characters of the bible seem super-human, but you point out that he was afraid just like anyone else in his position would be.
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