May the Lord

Moses, a central figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, is remembered as a prophet, lawgiver, and leader who shaped the history of the Israelites. Born in Egypt during a period of Hebrew enslavement in the 13th-14th century BCE, he narrowly escaped death as an infant under Pharaoh's decree to kill Hebrew male children. Rescued from the Nile by Pharaoh’s daughter, Moses was raised in the Egyptian royal household. As a young man, he fled Egypt after killing an overseer who was beating a Hebrew slave, an act reflecting his identification with his people’s suffering.

In Midian, Moses encountered God at the burning bush and was called to lead the Israelites out of bondage. Returning to Egypt, he confronted Pharaoh, and through the ten plagues secured their release. Moses then led the Israelites through the Red Sea in the Exodus, a defining moment in Jewish tradition. At Mount Sinai, he received the Ten Commandments, establishing a covenant between God and the Israelites and laying the ethical and spiritual foundation of Jewish identity. Over forty years in the wilderness, he guided his people, addressing their doubts and struggles as they journeyed toward the Promised Land.

Moses’s life ended on Mount Nebo, where he saw Canaan but did not enter it, dying at 120. Revered as Judaism’s greatest prophet, he is traditionally credited with delivering the Torah, though modern scholarship questions his direct authorship. His role as a mediator of Divine wisdom remains central to his legacy. For Christians, Moses foreshadows Christ as a lawgiver, while in Islam, he is honored as a key prophet and messenger. His life exemplifies leadership, faith, and enduring commitment to justice.