From the time of his birth, Moses lived in Egypt during a very troubling era for his people—the Children of Israel. A new Pharaoh had come to power who didn’t know Joseph, and he said to his people, “Look, the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. Let’s deal shrewdly with them…” (Exodus 1:8-10). He enacted a harsh measure to limit their growth, decreeing that every newborn Israelite boy be taken from his parents. However, Moses’ mother had a courageous plan to save her child.
A Baby in the Nile
She put Moses in a basket and placed it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River, hoping and praying he wouldn’t be discovered. Then one day, Pharaoh’s daughter came to bathe in the river and found the basket. When she opened it, she saw a crying baby. Feeling pity for him, she decided to take him in, even though he was an Israelite. Moses was raised in the Pharaoh’s palace as if he were a prince.
Moses Grows Up and Leaves Egypt
As Moses grew older, he saw firsthand the suffering of his people. The Israelites were enslaved, worked hard, and were often beaten. Though Moses was known for being gentle and reasonable, the injustice stirred something deep within him. One day, he saw an Egyptian beating an Israelite slave and, in his anger, killed the Egyptian. Realizing the danger he was in, Moses fled Egypt and lived in a distant land for many years.
The Burning Bush
While living in this far-off place, something miraculous happened. God spoke to Moses from a burning bush that wasn’t consumed by the flames (Exodus 3:1-6). God instructed Moses to return to Egypt and demand that Pharaoh let His people go. It was a daunting task, but Moses accepted it and obeyed.
The Ten Plagues
Pharaoh was stubborn and refused to listen to Moses. So, God sent ten plagues upon Egypt. These included frogs covering the land, swarms of insects, and darkness in the middle of the day. It wasn’t until the final and most devastating plague that Pharaoh finally agreed to let the Israelites go.
Crossing the Red Sea
Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, but their journey to the Promised Land had just begun. When they reached the Red Sea, Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army after them. But Moses trusted in God. He stretched out his hand, and the sea miraculously parted, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry land. Once they were safely across, the waters closed, stopping Pharaoh’s army. Moses and the Israelites were finally free.
The Ten Commandments
After that, they traveled to Mount Sinai. Here, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments—a set of guidelines for living with kindness, fairness, and justice.
“Moses: A Man of Freedom and Justice”
Moses’ life was filled with incredible journeys and miracles. He started as a baby hidden in a basket on the river and became a leader who freed his people from slavery and taught them how to live righteous lives.
