Moses
Deliverer, Mediator, and Friend of God
Name Information
- Meaning: "Drawn out"
- Language of Origin: Hebrew (from Egyptian origin: *ms* meaning “child” or “born of”)
- Gender Usage: Masculine
Moses is the central human figure of the Torah and a towering figure in redemptive history. As the deliverer of Israel, the mediator of the covenant, and the giver of the Law, Moses foreshadows Christ in profound ways. His life reveals God’s power, holiness, mercy, and desire to dwell among His people.
⏰ Exodus & Wilderness
Roles
- Prophet
- Liberator
- Lawgiver
- Mediator
- Shepherd
Relationships
- Spouse: Zipporah
- Children: Gershom, Eliezer
Story
Born during a time of infanticide in Egypt, Moses was placed in a basket and set afloat on the Nile — an act of both desperation and faith. Pharaoh’s daughter drew him out of the water and named him Moses (Exodus 2:10), a name that not only described his rescue but foreshadowed his divine mission: as he was drawn out of water, so would he draw God's people out of Egypt, through the waters of the Red Sea, and into covenant relationship.
After fleeing Egypt and spending 40 years in the wilderness, Moses encountered God in the burning bush. There, God revealed His covenant name — *I AM* — and commissioned Moses as His servant to confront Pharaoh and lead His people out of slavery.
Through a series of plagues, culminating in the Passover and the death of Egypt’s firstborn, God displayed His judgment and mercy. At the Red Sea, Moses stretched out his staff and watched as God parted the waters, allowing Israel to pass through safely — a baptism of liberation.
At Mount Sinai, Moses ascended into the presence of God, receiving the Ten Commandments and the full scope of covenant law. When the people sinned with the golden calf, Moses interceded for them with bold, priestly compassion, even offering to be blotted out in their place — a striking anticipation of Christ’s own mediation.
He led the people through the wilderness, enduring rebellion and hardship, instructing them in holiness, and guiding them to the edge of the Promised Land. Though he struck the rock in disobedience and was barred from entering, he died having seen the land from afar, trusting in God’s promise.
Spiritual Significance
- God raised up Moses to deliver Israel from bondage in Egypt, performing mighty signs and wonders through him to reveal His supremacy over all false gods.
- Moses became the mediator of the Sinai covenant, receiving the Law and serving as the intercessor between a holy God and a sinful people.
- He communed with God ‘face to face’ and was uniquely known for his humility and closeness to God.
- Though he failed to enter the Promised Land, Moses remained a faithful servant and was honored as a prophet greater than any until the coming of Christ.
Christ Connection
Moses is a type of Christ: a prophet like no other (Deuteronomy 18:15), a deliverer of God's people, and a mediator of covenant. Jesus, the true and better Moses, delivers not from physical slavery but from sin, leads a new exodus through His death and resurrection, and mediates a better covenant by His blood (Hebrews 8:6).
Just as Moses offered to bear the guilt of the people, Christ bore our sins on the cross, becoming the final intercessor between God and humanity.
Through Moses came the Law, which revealed God's holiness and our need for grace. Through Christ comes grace and truth (John 1:17), fulfilling what the Law anticipated.
What We Can Learn
- Moses teaches us that God is not limited by our weaknesses. Though slow of speech and hesitant, Moses became God's mouthpiece and leader through divine empowerment.
- True leadership is marked by humility, intercession, and obedience — even when the task is costly and the people are difficult.
- His name, meaning 'drawn out,' is prophetic: he was drawn out of water, and through him, God drew His people out of Egypt, through the waters of judgment and into freedom — a picture of baptism and new life.
- Moses' intercession for Israel points to the greater intercessor, Jesus Christ, who not only pleads for sinners but gives His life in their place.
- The Law given through Moses was a gift, yet it pointed beyond itself to Christ. Moses' ministry prepares us to recognize our need for a better covenant, a better mediator, and a perfect deliverer.
Memory Verses
The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.
— Exodus 33:11Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.
— Numbers 12:3The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you — you must listen to him.
— Deuteronomy 18:15
Key Passages
- Exodus 1–34
- Leviticus 1–27
- Numbers 12–21
- Deuteronomy 1–34
- Hebrews 3:1–6
- John 1:17
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