Moses
Raised in a palace, called from a burning bush, sent to set a nation free.
Old Testament · c. 15th–13th century BC · Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
About Moses
Born a Hebrew under Pharaoh’s order to kill baby boys, Moses was hidden in a basket on the Nile and adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter. After killing an Egyptian, he fled to Midian and became a shepherd — until God spoke from a burning bush. He confronted Pharaoh, led Israel out of Egypt through the sea, received the Law at Sinai, and guided the people through forty years in the wilderness.
The date of the Exodus is debated: some scholars favour the 15th century BC, others the 13th. Either way, Moses stands at the centre of Israel’s story — Deuteronomy says no prophet arose "like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face."
The story
Drawn from the water
Pharaoh ordered every Hebrew baby boy thrown into the Nile. One mother put her son in a basket among the reeds. Pharaoh’s own daughter found him, and named him Moses: "Because I drew him out of the water."
Exodus 2:1-10
The burning bush
Forty years a shepherd in Midian, Moses saw a bush burning but not consumed. God called from it: "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground."
Exodus 3:1-6
"Let my people go"
"I am not eloquent," Moses protested. God answered, "Who hath made man’s mouth?" With his brother Aaron, Moses stood before Pharaoh: "Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go."
Exodus 4:10-12; 5:1
The sea divided
Trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the sea, Moses stretched out his hand. "The LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided."
Exodus 14:13-31
Words on stone
At Mount Sinai, amid thunder and smoke, God gave the Law, beginning: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Moses carried the covenant down the mountain, written on tablets of stone.
Exodus 19:16-20:17
Key moments
- Drawn from the Nile: Adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter. (Exodus 2:10)
- The burning bush: "I AM THAT I AM." (Exodus 3:14)
- Confronts Pharaoh: "Let my people go." (Exodus 5:1)
- Crossing the sea: Dry land through the waters. (Exodus 14:21)
- The Law at Sinai: The Ten Commandments. (Exodus 20:3)
- Sees the land from afar: Dies on Mount Nebo. (Deuteronomy 34:1-5)
Questions about Moses
In meetBible these answers are given in Moses’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Why did you say you couldn’t speak well?
I told God plainly: "I am not eloquent… I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." God answered, "Who hath made man’s mouth?… I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say." Even then I asked him to send someone else, and Aaron was given to speak alongside me.
What was the burning bush like?
Scripture says the angel of the LORD appeared "in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and… the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed." I turned aside to see it. Then God called my name and told me to take off my shoes — the ground was holy.
Why didn’t you enter the Promised Land?
At Meribah the people had no water. God told me to speak to the rock; I struck it twice in anger. God said to Aaron and me: "Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land." I saw it from Mount Nebo before I died.
Connected people
Read it yourself
Start with Exodus 2–3.