The Life of Moses the Prophet – Part 1
Pope Shenouda III discusses the early life of Moses the Prophet, explaining that his beginning was surrounded by extremely difficult circumstances. He grew up among an enslaved people under the harsh rule of Pharaoh, and he was exposed to death from the moment of his birth.
Nevertheless, he emphasizes that God does not look only at difficult beginnings, but cares about the end toward which He leads a person. God may transform painful circumstances into a path toward good and the fulfillment of His purpose.
Pope Shenouda gives the example of Joseph the Righteous, whose path to his position in Egypt passed through slavery, injustice, and imprisonment, showing that God’s ways may appear strange to human beings while still leading to a good purpose.
Spiritual Message
From its beginning, the story of Moses was a story of faith. His parents demonstrated faith and courage and did not fear the king’s command. The midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, also showed faithfulness by fearing God and refusing to obey Pharaoh’s command to kill the children.
God used several women to preserve Moses’ life, including his mother, his sister, Pharaoh’s daughter, and the midwives. This shows that God is able to use different people to accomplish His purpose, even those who did not belong to His people.
Pope Shenouda emphasizes that God is able to turn evil into good and prepare the way for the person whom He chooses, regardless of how difficult or impossible the surrounding circumstances may appear.
Educational Lesson
The life of Moses teaches us that faith does not depend on the circumstances surrounding a person, and that a difficult environment does not prevent God from preparing someone for a spiritual life and a great mission.
We also learn that a person should obey God more than people when human commands conflict with God’s command, as demonstrated by the midwives and the parents of Moses.
The life of Moses also shows the importance of early spiritual upbringing. During the period when she nursed him, his mother was able to instill in him principles of faith that remained with him even though he lived in Pharaoh’s palace among pagan worship.
Practical Application
A person should not lose hope because of a difficult beginning or the circumstances in which he lives, but should trust that God is able to lead his life toward good.
When God places us in a situation that requires courage, we should hold firmly to the truth and fear God more than we fear people.
We should also move beyond focusing only on our personal interests and learn from Moses, who preferred to suffer with the people of God rather than temporarily enjoy comfort and luxury while remaining separated from the suffering of his brethren.
The life of Moses confirms that God has a solution for every problem and that His providence is able to arrange everything even when circumstances initially appear impossible.
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