04.07. Moses and the Exodus
Moses and the Exodus The first books of the Bible were written by Moses during the wilderness wanderings (1446 BC-1406 BC). So, where did Moses get his information and why did he and the people believe that God was speaking to them?
We need to make a bit of a detour first. “Modern” people usually believe that people evolved and became more intelligent over time. This really contradicts the reality though. God made Adam and Eve in His own image and therefore they were likely the smartest people. As DNA copying errors appeared, there would be less capacity to think and perform as compared to the original couple. Aside from this, they also lived much longer, which gave them more time to learn and hone their skills7. Based on this, we can assert that the ancient people were quite skilled and would not have had any trouble keeping records. Some of the things that are recorded about the first generations in the Bible:
Cain built a city. Gen 4:17
Jabal was the father of all that played the lyre and pipe. Gen 4:21
Tubal-Cain was a forger of bronze and iron. Gen 4:22
Noah built the ark. The ark was around 450 -500 feet long with 3 decks. Gen 6:14-16
After the flood, they built a tower (ziggurat). Gen 11:3-4
When God dispersed these people, they took the skills that they had. We see the remnants of what they built in various places. The pyramids in Egypt are an example. The book “Ancient Man”8 documents many of these.
There are a number of places where Moses, the author of Genesis to Deuteronomy, lists sources that he was using9.
This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God . (Gen 5:1)These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God. (Gen 6:9)Now these are the records of the generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and sons were born to them after the flood. (Gen 10:1)Now these are the records of the generations of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran; and Haran became the father of Lot. (Gen 11:27)
The variance in the construction of the records indicates that they were originally separate accounts that were likely passed down in written form. For example, the account from Adam to Noah gives the age at birth, remaining years and total years. The account from Shem to Terah provides the age at birth and remaining years, but omits the total years lived. (Gen 5:1-32, Gen 11:1-32)
Aside from this, we need to remember that God was the primary author of the Scriptures. (2Ti 3:16, 2Pe 1:20-21, John 14:26, 1Th 2:13).
Signs for Moses
There are a number of signs that God gave Moses of convince him that it was indeed the creator God that was speaking with him.
The account of the burning bush got the attention of Moses as it was burning, but not being consumed. (Exo 3:2-3)
Moses heard God calling him. (Exo 3:4-10)
Moses then has a discussion with God. (Exo 3:11-22, Exo 4:1-17)
Moses is given signs
Signs for the Israelites prior to the Exodus Moses and Aaron assembled the elders of Israel and spoke to them.
Aaron’s staff becomes a serpent. (Exo 7:10)
Aaron stretched out the staff over the Nile and the water was turned to blood. (Exo 7:19-21)
Aaron stretched out his staff over the waters of Egypt and frogs came up on the land. (Exo 8:6)
Frogs die out after Moses cried out to the Lord. (Exo 8:13)
Aaron stretched his staff out and gnats were all through the land. (Exo 8:17)
The plague of flies came only on the Egyptians. (Exo 8:22-24)
Upon Moses’ request, God removed the swarms of flies. (Exo 8:30-31)
Pestilence on the livestock of the Egyptians but not the Israelites. (Exo 9:6-7)
Moses threw soot from a kiln toward the sky and it became boils on the Egyptians and their beasts. (Exo 9:10)
God sends Hail on Egypt but not where the Israelites were. (Exo 9:22-26)
Moses made supplication to God and the hail stopped. (Exo 9:33)
Moses stretched out his staff and God brought the locusts. (Exo 10:13-15)
Moses made supplication to God and the locust were driven out of Egypt. Exo 10:18-19)
God caused darkness to be on the land of Egypt for three days. Israel was exempted and had light. (Exo 10:21-23)
God struck all the firstborn of Egypt so that they died. (Exo 12:29-30)
The Plagues would have lasted about two to three months10.We can see that these events had a profound effect on the Israelites and the Egyptians. These were events that were witnessed by many people all at the same time. The Exodus The Exodus is possibly the most significant event that the Israelites experienced. Rahab makes mention of it 40 years later, attesting to the fact that the parting of the sea had become known to the inhabitants of Canaan. (Jos 2:9)
A pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night accompanied Israel as they journeyed. (Exo 13:21-22)
God parted the Red Sea (literally the Sea of Reeds). (Exo 14:16-31)
The bitter water at Marah was made drinkable. (Exo 15:23-25)
Manna and Quail were provided by God for the Israelites. (Exo 16:13-16)
The Manna was provided the whole 40 years of the wilderness wanderings. (Exo 16:35)
Water is provided at Massah and Meribah (by the rock at Horeb) Exo 17:7)
With the incidence of the golden calf, it can be seen that even though the people had rebelled, they still respected Moses and obeyed him by putting to death 3000 of the people that had rebelled. (Exo 32:25-28)
Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, were struck down for offering “strange fire”.
When the people complained, the fire of the Lord burned among them. The people cried out to Moses and, after Moses prayed, the fire burned out. (Num 11:1-3)
Right after this, the people complained about only having Manna. They wanted meat, so God provided quail for them. Because of this, God punished them with a very severe plague. (Num 11:31-34)
Korah and his associates rose up against Moses and Aaron and wanted to be able to be priests. God judged them by having the ground open up and swallow them and their families. (Num 16:1-35)
The next day the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron and were assembling against them, God sent a plague against the people. Aaron put incense on the alter to make atonement for the people. 14,700 had died by that time.
When they went around Edom, the people again spoke against God and Moses. There was a bit of a change here. The people recognized that they had sinned after God sent fiery serpents among them. They asked Moses to intercede with God. God told Moses to make a bronze serpent. Anyone that was bitten was to look to the bronze serpent so that they would not die. (Num 21:4-9) Since this happened near the end of the wilderness wanderings, it would seem that the people had begun to realize that God spoke to Moses and that Moses could intercede for them.
As we can imagine, all of these miracles would have made quite an impact on the people. Even though they grumbled and complained, they did recognize that God was speaking and acting through Moses. The time that they journeyed through the wilderness was a training time for them.
Some archaeological evidence related to the Exodus and the Israelites wandering.
An inscription at the Egyptian temple at Soleb mentions “land of the nomads of YHWH”. This dates to about 1400 BC11. There are other inscriptions as well that refer to the nomads East of Egypt during the 18th dynasty12. YHWH is the proper Hebrew name for God.
There is an inscription which mentions Balaam, son of Beor who was a prophet or seer13.
The archaeology books and websites listed in the Bibliography provide more information and discoveries.
This evidence affirms the existence of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness and gives credence to the account of Balaam being hired to curse the Israelites.
Summary of the time of Moses As the time came for the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham in Gen 15:1-21 to bring his descendants into the land of Canaan after about 400 years in Egypt, God chose Moses to be the person to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He first had to convince Moses that He was God. This happened at the burning bush that was not consumed. God gave him some signs to give him the confidence that it was indeed God speaking to him and sending him. When Moses met with the elders of Israel, the signs that God gave Moses to perform, convinced them that it was indeed God that was concerned for them and was going to lead them out. The plagues that God sent on Egypt finally convinced Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. The plagues were also a testimony to Israel that God was taking care of them as the plagues from the flies on did not affect them.
Likely the miracle that most impressed the Israelites was the parting of the Sea of Reeds so that they could cross. It also impressed the people that lived in Canaan when they heard of the parting of the sea and made them afraid. As they journeyed in the wilderness, God provided food and water for them and they learned to obey. The combination of all of these miracles substantiated the words that God spoke to, and through Moses. This gives us the confidence that the Pentateuch is the word of God and that it is inspired, accurate and authoritative.