Student Essay on Moses

Moses

Summary:   Starting out as a young boy chosen by God to save the Jewish people, Moses impacted many religions on his gallant adventure as leader of the Israelites. From the day of his birth, Moses was miraculous, being sent along the Nile River to be saved from death.

Christianity, Islam, and Judaism all have one person in common, an influential prophet. This leader was believed to be unknowingly chosen by God to be an escape artist as well as saving his people. Indeed, he saved these people, the Israelites, and has affected many religions and their beliefs. That spiritual leader was Moses, God's chosen one. Moses' early beginnings helped him impact many people in his heroic journey as a leader of the Israelites.

If it weren't for a decision the Pharaoh had made, the Hebrews, or Israelites, never would have been freed from slavery. Some people say everything happens for a reason. At the start of Moses' life, he was unknowingly chosen to help free the slaves. The Pharaoh had ordered a decree, or an official order, that all Jewish first born babies should be killed. Moses' parents did not want him to be taken, so they devised a plan to hide him. At first, they hid him as best as they could in their home. Afraid that Moses would be found, they decided to put him in the Nile River and sail him away in a reed basket. Moses sailed for miles, until finally he was picked up by the very important Pharaoh's daughter. For many years, Moses led his life as part of the Egyptian royal family. In addition to not knowing why he was in the royal family, he did not know that he was Jewish. Later in his life, Moses figured out his true identity--that he was Jewish--and he got very angry when he saw a Hebrew slave being beaten. Being a true supporter of his people, Moses took his whip and beat the guard to death. Angered by the mistreatment of his people, Moses asked the Pharaoh to let the Hebrew's go. With God helping, Moses put upon the Pharaoh and all of the land of Egypt ten plagues, with each one being worse than the last so that the Pharaoh would let the slaves go. The Pharaoh kept on saying no, until finally, Moses gave the tenth, and worst of all the plagues. For the tenth plague, the Pharaoh's favorite son, his first born, died. Reluctantly, the Pharaoh agreed and let the people go. As the Hebrews were trekking towards the Red Sea to start their journey, something unexpected happened. As the Israelites began their sea crossing and God magically parted it, the soldiers of the Pharaoh, started to chase after the Hebrews. Luckily, the river closed right on the Egyptians to mark the start of the desert journey towards Canaan. As the water closed on the Egyptian soldiers, the start of the Exodus, or desert journey, began.

Their first decision, powered by God, was to head to Canaan, known today as Israel. The Israelites traveled for many years until they reached Mt. Sinai, where one of Moses' greatest achievements as a prophet took place. His first achievement was when the Ten Commandments were given to him by God on two stone clay tablets. When Moses came back with the laws, the Hebrews did not believe him because they did not believe in God. While wandering in the desert, Moses met someone who helped him allow the Jewish people to keep on traveling. That very person was Moses' wife, Zipporah. With Zipporah, Moses had many children--one of whom would later lead the tribe to their final destination. Near the end of the thirty-ninth year of the journey, Moses died suddenly at Mt. Nebo by order of Gods instructions because God believed that Moses was not following his commands. After Moses' death, his son, Joshua, led the tribe to their final destination, Canaan. A combination of Moses' heroic journey and leadership role was what made Moses a very important biblical figure.

Moses may be known for his journey and escape, but there are many other details in his life that impacted and were important to different people and religions. One of the most unique of all of his attributes is that he is a character, in some way or another, for all religions. For example, in Judaism, Moses is known for this journey to the promised land and freeing the Hebrews. He is even mentioned in a few of the important 'thanking' prayers of the Jewish faith. In all religions, though, he is considered one of the supreme and most influential prophets. Before Moses died, he shared some teachings with the Israelites that are still taught today. Some of his teachings were also used by Jesus in the Christian religion. Moses had some "meetings" with God that helped him shape many religions. If it weren't for him being courageous and patient with God, most religions would be very different and may not even exist. That very belief is the belief in one god, or monotheism. Moses started out as a boy who did not know what his true destiny was and he later reached a position of leadership of the Israelites as he grew up. He had a great influence on many people and that is what made Moses the heroic person he was.

Starting out as a young boy chosen by God to save the Jewish people, Moses impacted many religions on his gallant adventure as leader of the Israelites. From the day of his birth, Moses was miraculous, being sent along the Nile River to be saved from death. Being picked up by the Pharaoh's daughter, Moses later became the leader and eventually escaped with his people. Traveling almost forty years in the desert god believed that Moses should be dead because of his unwillingness to do what God said. Though Moses did not make it to the end to lead the Israelites to their final destination, he still is remembered today as the hero of the Israelites and the Jewish people.