Leadership In Exodus

Though Moses is a main character throughout Exodus 1-18, the Hebrews would never have escaped Egypt were it not for the women. According to one commentator, “Exodus 1-2 is charged with God’s hidden presence working in and through the apparently primary actors there, in particular through the woman,” (Janzen, 13). Before Moses is even born, the women are setting up the scene so he can have the opportunity to free his people. The Hebrew Midwives, the Pharaoh’s daughter, the mother and sister of Moses, and the wife of Moses made it possible for Moses to free the Hebrews.

Before Moses was born, the Pharaoh gave two Hebrew Midwives, Shiprah and Puah, the task of killing all Hebrew boys born. However, these women feared God and what he may do if

After God gives Moses the task of freeing the Hebrews, he travels back to Egypt with Zipporah and their son. During the journey God attempts to kill Moses, but she ends the conflict by circumcising her son. If it were not for her, the journey would have been over before it had started. Though the women are greatly responsible for the success of Moses’s task, the men are the ones who show leadership. Leadership is an important theme in Exodus. It shows if you do not have the proper leadership skills you will not succeed. Both Moses and Aaron, show leadership values like wisdom, integrity, and courage that aided in accomplishing the task God gave them. The Pharaoh, however, does not show good leadership values, which results in the destruction of his army at the Red Sea, and the loss of many of his people’s lives during the

They stand together to unite their people, and share God’s word. Part of having wisdom is having good judgement. Moses and Aaron chose to follow the path God had set for them. Even though the road was unclear, they knew following Him would result in their people’s freedom. For example, after they cross the Red Sea, the people blame Moses for their thirst and hunger, but Moses continues to do exactly as God instructs. Moses and Aaron also show integrity. They are truthful in what they do, unlike the Pharaoh who goes back on his word. Even though the Pharaoh and the Hebrews do not always believe them, they always tell them what God has said and what will happen. They are faced with this difficult task, and even though the Pharaoh continues to deny their request, they continue to fight for their people, which shows great courage. One commentator said, “In accounting for the fact that Moses and Aaron overcame their discouragement to carry out God’s reiterated commission, the narrator says it was ‘this same Aaron and Moses’ that is the Aaron and Moses who stemmed from such a lineage who despite their discouragement carried through on their calling,” (Janzen, 57).

Though Aaron might not seem important in Exodus, Moses would not have been able to fulfill his task. Like how Moses was God’s mouth, Aaron was Moses’s. Adding the genealogy in Exodus 6, was the writers’ way of showing his importance. According to a commentator, “The