Moses as a Lawgiver
This is an excerpt from my book, Government and Its People. I’m sharing this chapter in two parts. Understanding how the laws were formulated in the Old Testament is essential. This chapter is simplified to understand that law codes were already in effect before Moses laid down the laws. I’m sending this so when I continue the social justice series, there will be some basic understanding of Ancient Near East laws. You can find my book here: Amazon.com: Mary Salamon: books, biography, latest update or email me for more information.
Moses
Of all the patriarchs in the Bible, Moses stands as one of the greatest men who ever lived. If we believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, then we must acknowledge that Moses was an amazing human being. No one else acted in the various offices and capacities as he did. He was a deliverer, a military hero, a prophet, a judge, and a lawgiver. He established a new religious system and integrated civil laws with religious observances. He wrote the first five books of the Bible, including the history and law of God’s people. Finally, he brought the people out of their bondage in Egypt, led them through a dark wilderness season, and brought them to the brink of entering the Promised Land, passing the reins of leadership to his groomed successor, Joshua.
Yet, it didn’t start that way. It was many long years and much travail until Moses was prepared for the role God had for him. Let’s look closer into Moses’ preparation for his role in active government. The process through which Moses became an outstanding leader was filled with suffering, trials, intense training, and faith, perseverance, signs, wonders, and miracles. Just as in the case of Joseph’s parents, who endured testing and trials, so it was with Moses’s parents. Moses was born in Egypt at a time when the Bible says: There arose a new king over Egypt who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” Therefore, they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens…. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel…. In all their work, they ruthlessly made them work as slaves. Exodus 1:8-14 (ESV)
Despite Pharaoh’s ardent desires, however, the people of Israel continued to multiply. Eventually, Pharaoh commanded every son born to the Hebrews to be thrown into the Nile, but the daughters were allowed to live. When Moses was born, his mother hid him for three months. The Bible states in Hebrews 11:23 (ESV) that he was hidden by his mother by faith because the child was beautiful, and she was not afraid of the king’s edict. Faith without works is dead; as we are told in James 2:14-2Amid of the turmoil, she made a desperate decision to release Moses into the Nile River in a woven basket. What happened next was nothing short of miraculous.
Now, the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds, sent her servant woman, and took it. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses “Because,” she said, ”I drew him out of the water.” Exodus 2:5-10 (ESV)
Moses lived as a son of Pharaoh’s daughter and a prince in the Egyptian court for forty years. According to Acts:7:22 (ESV), “Moses was educated in all the wisdom and culture of the Egyptians, and he was mighty (powerful) in his speech and deeds.” We should note some important points from this Scripture alone. Moses wasn’t merely educated as the common people were; he was given the best education in the world at that time—an education was thorough and extensive, one befitting a future ruler of Egypt (as the plan most likely was).
According to Charles F. Aling, in his book Egypt and Bible History, Moses’s education came from the officials of the land. He received academic instruction as well as physical instruction. Moses was educated in hieroglyphic and hieratic scripts, spending endless hours copying and memorizing voluminous lists of words and names. He also studied foreign languages of the Near Eastern world. This probably included Akkadian (the language of Babylonia) and the Canaanite dialects. He also studied math, but the academic subject considered of primary importance was rhetoric. The Egyptians highly valued the ability to speak well in public, and accordingly, it received heavy attention during the years of formal education. Rhetoric in Egypt comprised not only public speaking but also proper style in writing.
Being raised as a prince in Egypt meant that Moses was informed of the world in which he lived. He understood Egypt’s culture, politics, and history. He was trained as a leader and military warrior. Ironically, while the Egyptians intended his education to be put to their use, it was really ordained by God in preparation for his role in delivering God’s people from slavery and beginning a new nation, much to the detriment of Egypt.