Moses (possibly born between 1592-1571 BCE) is the obvious protagonist in the book of Exodus. What are we to make of him? His early years differed from those of his fellow Hebrews. (In fact, I wonder how many other Hebrew boys survived, in the light of Pharaoh's decree that all the male babies should be killed - see Ex. 1:16.) So, the baby Moses was sheltered in Pharaoh's own home, by none other than Pharaoh's sister. No doubt, he was given a fine Egyptian education.
Writing in 1887, Professor Anson Morse of Amherst College, suggests that by the time Moses was designated leader of the Hebrew people, the world had reached a crisis. Morse indicates the differences between the two cultures: Egyptian civilization was unsurpassed, but it was already ancient and past its prime. Egyptian religion included symbolism and idolatry and was inextricably tied to their land. Egyptian politics was despotic. In contrast, the Hebrew nation was new and energetic, having 'physical vigour and moral energy'. Their religion was monotheistic and progressive, inherited from Abraham and his line. And finally, Morse indicates that Hebrew politics represented a 'freer pastoral organization', so different from the rigidity of the urban Egyptian polity. The two cultures did not mesh. The Hebrews had to leave. [See Morse, Anson D. “The Task and Education of Moses.” The Old Testament Student, vol. 7, no. 1, 1887, pp. 16–20. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3156271.]
It is wonderfully helpful to ponder the definition of Moses given by Mary Baker Eddy in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (page 592), in part: 'moral courage; a type of moral law and the demonstration thereof'. The eighty-year-old Moses certainly demonstrated moral courage as he led his people out of Egypt. and gave them (and the whole world) what we now refer to as the Ten Commandments. Succeeding generations can look back to this period in history for inspiration and courage.
Julie Swannell
1 comment:
I enjoyed the most recent post on the blog, considering Moses and where he stood between two civilisations, that of the Hebrews and of the Egyptians. The observation of Professor Morse that the Hebrew nation had “physical vigour and moral energy” opens thought to a more nuanced view of the current state of world politics and religions. We can ask: Where is there progressive thought? Where is there moral energy? Where is there a sense of newness? Where these qualities are evident, we can expect to see forward movement and a throwing off of the shackles of restrictive and imprisoning modes and practices ("the educational systems of the Pharaohs", as Mrs Eddy describes it).
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