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Charlotte Daum

Ms. Akers

Honors English 9

20 October 2017

Moses Struggles

Moses is an important leader in Exodus who saves the Israelites from oppression in

Egypt. He gives them the opportunity to start anew in Canaan, The Promised Land. His

struggles show that leaders have to persevere and overcome insecurity in order to reach their

goals. Moses suffers when he gives up a life of power and prestige for his faith in God. He trades

his life as a royal to lead his people out of Egypt and towards The Promised Land on a journey

that lasts more than 40 years and ensures their safety for generations.

Moses is conflicted about his identity from his birth to the moment when God speaks to

him in The Burning Bush, as detailed in The Bible as in Literature. Moses is born a Hebrew,

but his mother has to hide him because the pharaoh orders to kill male Hebrew babies. The

pharaohs daughter finds him in a basket in the river and decides to raise him as her own. When

he grows up, he leaves the palace and witnesses an Egyptian guard beating a Hebrew slave. He

feels so agitated that he acts with violence: One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to

his people and looked upon their burdens; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his

people. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the

sand (110). Although the narrative doesnt specifically state that Moses was upset, the fact that

he murdered an Egyptian - the very people with which he was raised - demonstrates that

emotion. He ends up sanctifying God and being a leader to the Hebrews, leaving behind his

privileged life of royalty and riches. This loyalty to God is important because it sets a mold for
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the Hebrews following the creation of the Ten Commandments. Moses action of leaving behind

awaiting power and consecrating God impacts future faithfulness of the Hebrew people.

One of Moses most notable struggles was self-doubt about his ability to communicate as

a spokesperson for the Hebrews. He demonstrates this when he speaks with God in The Burning

Bush: Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either heretofore or since thou hast spoken to thy

servant; but I am slow of speech and tongue (112). By saying he is not eloquent, Moses is

acknowledging that he is not fluent in articulating his thoughts. The fact that one of the most

prominent characters in Exodus is insecure discloses that self-doubt is something normal that

God expects everyone to go through. God convinces Moses that he can do everything that God

wants him to: Who has made mans mouth? Who makes him dumb, deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is

it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall

speak (112). In this quote, God is assuring Moses that he made Moses the way he is for a

reason. God sends Moses brother, Aaron, with him as an aid. God also reveals that Moses will

do well in his life and in his purpose because God is with him. God is deliberate in how he

makes Moses, and although Moses is definitely not perfect, he serves his duty well. Moses has to

step up and overcome his paralyzing fear that he isnt good enough in order to save his people

from slavery.

Moses spends many years in the desert searching for Canaan with his people, and even

parts the Red Sea to lead them. He rises up to the challenge of protecting his people and finding

The Promised Land, while staying true to his covenant with God: The people of Israel

remained in the wilderness for forty years - more than an entire generation (137). Moses is

willing to lead his people for a very extended period of time in order to find their land. However,

Moses dies within sight of Canaan, which is ironic, as he spends almost his whole life trying to
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make it there. Moses journey is groundbreaking because he lead the Hebrew people to safety in,

arguably, the greatest exodus of all time.

Moses trades in a life of power and and prestige to heed the call of God, to protect his

people, who are threatened by slavery, and to courageously lead them to a better life. Conquering

his insecurity, he spends more than 40 years brazenly leading the Hebrew people to safety. His

example is an inspiration to follow ones leadership instincts and to stand up for ones values no

matter what.