Who Is Moses?

1st Historical Image Topic

The lightning in the sky and the swirling clouds in the sky, as well as the flowing robe of Moses indicate motion or action. The pillar of fire had guided the Hebrews at night and this image contains that idea of light in the darkness with the storm or night sky and the activity of God in giving the laws on the tablet. The finger of Moses is pointing upward and there are rays of light coming down from heaven onto his head. This symbolizes who has created the laws and Who is guiding the Hebrews. The feet of Moses look like he is still walking down from Mount Sinai. Many of the Hebrew people had worshipped other gods during the Exodus and the mixed reactions of the people seem visible. One person looks fearful and

Moses is the leader who leads a grumbling, wandering people out of Egyptian slavery and back to Yahweh and towards the land of Canaan. It is the story of one man who has already had his own time of wandering for forty years. Moses returns back to Egypt to led the Hebrews back out. Some historians even credit the monotheistic focus of Judaism with also developing the awakening of the idea of the individual self. The Exodus out of Egyptian slavery probably occurred in the 13th century B.C. during the rule of the Pharaoh Ramses. The ancient Hebrews built no great empire, but the greatest impact of any ancient civilization to the western world may have started in the escape from Egyptian slavery. The Ten Commandments started some of the basic rules that are still common in much of Western society. The Hebrew years of wandering did not end with the Ten Commandments; the total time of the Exodus may have been as long as four hundred years. But these basic laws for society, which focused on the Hebrews worshipping Yahweh alone, have had a greater impact on Western civilization that any other powers of the ancient

Greek historian Herodotus stated that it took 100,000 men to build the Great Pyramid. The religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians led most to willingly serve the Pharaoh, who was not viewed as an oppressive ruler; serving this god on earth helped secure the eternal future for the worker as well. There was a night journey in the underworld that included dangers and loyal choices to serve the Pharaoh helped prepare the ancient Egyptians for this journey. Pharaoh ruled Egypt in this life and continued his god rule in the Underworld. The ancient Egyptians believed in ma’at or a balance in life, which was accomplished by serving the Pharaoh, who even controlled the entrance into eternity. The regular flooding and giving of life by the Nile River enabled ancient Egyptians to develop a detailed view of the Afterlife and also gave them the time to prepare for the Afterlife; mummification, tomb paintings, food, boats and the pyramids for the Pharaohs were all preparation for