Moses, also known as Moshe Rabbenu in Hebrew (Moses Our Teacher), is considered one of the most important prophets and leaders in Judaism. Born into a time when his people were enslaved under Egyptian rule, he played a pivotal role in their liberation and journey to the Promised Land.
Moses was born during a time when Pharaoh Ramses II ruled Egypt. His mother Yocheved was a Hebrew midwife who hid him from the Egyptians for three months before placing him in a basket on the Nile River, where he was found by the daughter of Pharaoh and raised as her own (Exodus 2:1-10).
When Moses reached adulthood, he killed an Egyptian taskmaster for abusing a fellow Hebrew slave (Exodus 2:12). Fearing for his life, he fled to Midian, where he married Zipporah and had two sons named Gershom and Eliezer. It was here that God called upon him in the form of a burning bush, instructing Moses to return to Egypt and demand freedom for the Israelites (Exodus 3).
Moses led his people out of slavery through ten plagues inflicted on Egypt by God, culminating in the death of every firstborn Egyptian child (Exodus 7-11). After crossing the Red Sea, they wandered in the desert for 40 years, during which time Moses received the Ten Commandments from God at Mount Sinai and led his people to follow these divine laws (Exodus 20).
Despite facing numerous challenges along the way, including doubting God’s presence and losing his temper with the Israelites, Moses ultimately guided them towards the Promised Land of Canaan. However, he was not allowed to enter it himself due to his disobedience at Meribah (Exodus 17, Numbers 20:10-11, Numbers 27:12-14).
Moses is revered as a great leader in Judaism for his unwavering faith and commitment to God’s will, even when faced with immense challenges and personal struggles. His life story serves as an inspiration for many people seeking guidance and direction in their own lives.
In the Bible, only Moses is recorded to have seen the face of God. This event took place during his encounter on Mount Sinai when he was given the Ten Commandments (Exodus 33:18-23 and Exodus 34).