In the Old Testament, Abraham and Moses were two very prominent leaders chosen by God to do his will. Throughout Genesis and Exodus, both men play important roles in fulfilling God’s will. They are put to many tests, given covenants, and communicate constantly with God. Although they have many similarities such as being leaders and men of God, there are also many differences between the two. In terms of leadership, Abraham was a noble leader. Although he grew up in a camp where the notion of one God was not accepted, he eventually manages to become the leader of a tribe and make the people believe in his faith. He leads them around endlessly from Ur to Canaan, to Egypt, then back to Canaan. His tribe followed him around without much questions. They just followed his leadership. Moses was also a great leader. When he led the Hebrews out of Egypt to the Red Sea, some people questioned Moses saying, “It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert” (Exodus14:12). Moses being a calm leader replied, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13-14). In the mist of his people doubting him and the Egyptians on the chase, Moses reassures his people to put their faith in God. This shows Moses courageous leadership in a time of eminent danger. After they cross the Red Sea, with the help of the Lord parting it, the Red Sea closes on the Egyptians and Moses and his people are safe. After all this, Moses and his people encounter many struggles such as thirst, hunger, attacks from enemies, however Moses always manages somehow to renew the faith of his people and lead them to the promise land. Just like Abraham, Moses was a worthy leader. They both managed to keep the faith of their people in God and they lead the people to the places they were destined to go. The only difference is that Moses faced more doubt from his people then Abraham did. Although they were similar leaders, they did have a different relationship with God. Abraham from the onset did not question God at all. Anything that God told him to do, it was done. For example, God asked Abraham, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt ... ... middle of paper ... ...er the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground” (Exodus 14:15). Unlike Abraham, who communicated to God solely through prayer, Moses communicated to God in a physical form and a direct way, in addition to prayer. In conclusion, both Abraham and Moses were great leaders of their people. Moses had the extra burden of freeing them first, however they both ended up convincing their people to put their faith in God and lead them properly. As far as their relationship with God goes, they both had undoubting faith in the end, but Moses had different relationship with God initially since he questioned himself. Abraham did everything God told him to without question, including almost having to sacrifice his son. They both ended up caring out their respective covenants, both dealing with the promise of a new land filled with glory. The last point is that they communicated a bit differently with God. Moses talked to God directly, in the form of a burning bush, and through prayer. Abraham only conversed with God through prayer. In short, both men of God had many similarities and differences, in various aspects of their lives and connection with God.
As previously mentioned, one of the most important similarities between these three texts is the perception of Abraham. Abraham’s commitment to God was tested, and as it was proved, he is the basis for all three of the Abrahamic faiths. In Genesis, God speaks directly to Abraham, saying, “I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall by blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3) In the Tanakh, Abraham’s loyalty to God is tested throughout the Bible, and as Abraham’s devotion become apparent, God solidifies ...
Moses went against the pharaoh and went on to free and lead the Jewish people to the promised
Abram, which becomes Abraham, is called by God when he is seventy-five years of age to leave his homeland of Ur and travel to become the father of many nations. Abraham grew up in a family that sold idols in the Middle East suggesting to us that they were a polytheistic family. The significance of this is the fact that Abraham later became the first man to abandon all he has in life in order to follow God therefore making him a monotheist. Abraham is called by God to be the father of many nations and has a Covenant with God. This bodily Covenant of circumcision is upheld in the Jewish and Muslim religion. All three religions portray similarities and differences of what Abraham has done for them.
Abraham was portrayed as the father of the Jewish people and this serves as a key element in Judaism. A covenant is an agreement between two parties. Between God and Abraham there existed unconditional covenants in which God made promises to him that required nothing in return; there were no conditions were attached. Abrahamic covenant was everlasting and from the Bible it begins to unfold from the book of Genesis12.
Abraham is deemed the founder and one of three patriarchs of the Jewish faith. In Fundamental Theology, by Heinrich Fries, a detailed description of Abraham’s journey and faith is given. A summary of Fries explanation is that Abraham’s name was originally Abram. He was considered a “nomadic chief” from Mesopotamia. God spoke to Abraham and told him to leave his home and country. This was one of many tests Abraham faced. In the words of the Bible, Abraham was t...
A covenant has been defined as an agreement by two groups of people, one more powerful than the other, and the inferior group held accountable until the agreement or bond has been fulfilled or satisfied by the lesser of the two. The lesser of the two also agrees to remain loyal to the powerful or dominant and by the same token the powerful has the obligation to provide protection. In Abrahams late age God came to him with a covenant making him fertile and is to become the father and ancestor of many nations and which will bear many kings from generation to generation. The covenant included the circumcision of every man and child that was 8 days and older which gave everyone including God sign of acceptance of the covenant and those who did not accept the circumcision will be considered as not in agreement and will be cut from the covenant. God needed a figurehead and a strong willed person to lead his chosen people of Israel. Abraham was a strong authoritative figure in his family and had the qualities of a leader and teacher of good character. Abraham set the tone in the household and never let his children take control of any situation that demanded his attention. God was seeking for a man who would embrace the responsibilities of what God willed and would be faithful to the end.
...nnel for the message to the Israelites. This serves God's ultimately purpose of setting his chosen people free. Although Moses does not seem like a worthy candidate for the task, God gives him the power to overcome his flaws. Moses was successful in communicating and obeying God's word throughout his journey, because he never sought to control or possess the land or the people, unlike Pharaoh. In the end, the journey of the spiritual hero can finish in either one of these two paths. It is up to the individual whether or not they will succumb to temptation and be led down into hell and remain there forever.
Following the creation story of the book of Genesis is the book of Exodus. In Genesis, God promised Abraham a “great nation from which all nations of the earth will be blessed (Gen 12:1-3)” and in Exodus God completes this promise through the creation of the holy nation, Israel. Exodus tells the story of the God who rescued his people out of Egypt because of the promise he had made to Abraham. God calls to Moses to complete his promise. God’s call to Moses is not only important because he liberates the Israelites but also because God reveals His name(s) along with His true Nature. God calls upon Moses and tells him that He’s back to help the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and that Moses is to lead them. God then gives him full instructions on what to tell the Pharaoh and, more importantly, the Israelites, who are promised, land “flowing with milk and honey”.
Moses was given a message from the Lord through the burning bush (Leeming 249). He was told to return to Egypt and to free his people from captivity. Moses showed his uneasiness, but God pushed him and reassured him that he would be by his side. However, He continued on to say that He knew Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go and that He would "stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt will all my wonders" (Leeming 250). Moses did as the Lord told him and confronted Pharaoh, someone he considered family for many years. Moses pleaded with Pharaoh to release the slaves. But as the Lord predicted, Pharaoh did not listen and Egypt was now subject to the wrath of God. He watched as the plagues destroyed the vast Egyptian Empire and a sense of betrayal to his "family" swept over him, but he knew this was as it should be.
What God wanted done was done through Moses. I believe that Moses was justified in what he did at Mount Sinai, but I'm sure that, if I were one of the Hebrews, I wouldn't be able to believe what was going through Moses' head. I respect the character of Moses and I feel that his shrewdness was one of the key elements in the success of Exodus. In the end, with God on his side, Moses and God's following servants, led the Lord's people with great strength and courage, and delivered them safely into the awaited Holy Land.
Like Odysseus, Moses was at one with the gods. In Moses' case it was only
Even though Moses, was raised as an Egyptian, he knew that he was truly Hebrew. After seeing an Egyptian taskmaster cruelly beating a Hebrew, Moses became so furious that he murdered the Egyptian. Fearing that the Pharaoh would find out what he had done, Moses fled to the wilderness, “the eternal safe retreat of outcasts from ancient society and of those in revolt against authority.” Moses found himself in the Sinai Desert amongst other ...
All boys born were to be killed, however, a Hebrew boy by the name of Moses was born and wrapped delicately in a woven basket and set in to the Nile River, only to be found by the daughter of the pharaoh. Moses later was able to become a prince in the Pharaoh’s palace for many years until he observes the beating of a Hebrew by an Egyptian taskmaster whom he kills. Once overheard by the person of the land Moses was then forced to become an outcast and was sent to the desert land. While there, God often visited Moses and had abundant conversations regarding Mosses’ return to Egypt. After several talks between God and Moses and forty years later, Moses agreed to return to Egypt and take the brave step in leading God’s people out of slavery. Pharaoh was confronted and appalled, yet, through a challenging cycle of plagues, promises, and the death of Pharaohs eldest, Israel was broken from his grasp. Accumulating and moving the mass of God’s civilization was not an easy task, however, they marched out of Egypt, through the depths of the Red Sea, and into the desert, all behind the lead of Moses, destroying the pharaoh in the
With God’s help the Biblical leaders Ezra and Nehemiah were able to fulfill their roles as leaders in the Jewish community. These men of God were chosen to be leaders to pray for the Israelites, relay Gods commands and encourage the people. As God’s leaders Ezra and Nehemiah carried out their respective duties even if fierce opposition awaited them.
Throughout the Bible many different men have been essential in fulfilling God’s will. One of the main men that had an extremely important part throughout the history of the Bible is Moses. Moses has a very interesting life in my opinion, he is known as one of the most important prophets not only in the Christian religion but also many other religions. The life of Moses’s is full of accomplishments with the help of God, but also struggles along the way.