Fretheim's Interaction With Moses In The Book Of Exodus

The fact that the people do what is commanded is evidence of the recognition of Yahweh as their divine God, and it is a testament to the authority they ascribe to Him. The existence and recognition of the authority of these deities does not provide the only cornerstone for this argument. To discuss the relationship between the divine and mankind, an observation and analysis of the interaction between the two realms is imperative. In The Odyssey, many interactions between the gods and men are seen. One of these scenes illustrates Athena’s visit to Telmakhos, at the end of which "she put new spirit in him, a new dream of his father" (1. 359-360) in order that Telemakhos might not give up hope of Odysseus’ return. It is this type of interaction that gives insight into the relations between the divine and humans, and that provides a framework on which to weave the examination of those relations. An example of this type of interaction in Exodus is found in the form of a burning bush: "When, the Lord saw that he [Moses] had gone over to look [at the burning bush], God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." "Do not come any closer," God said, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground" (Exodus 3:4-5).

As Moses grows he becomes aware of his lineage and takes notice to how oppressed his people are in Egypt. While leading a flock out on the side of a mountain the angel of Jehovah appears in a flame and a bush begins to burn. The bush does not erupt into ash and Moses is awestruck. God calls to Moses and begins to relay him his destiny. God says “I have surely seen the affliction of my people that are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows, and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians… and unto a land flowing with milk and honey”

Throughout this well written passage the author reveals the character “Moses” through multiple literary elements and rhetorical devices. Some techniques that are used are metaphors, imagery, and selection of detail. The author reveals who Moses really is through deep connections. There are also multiple different devices that are intertwined within these techniques and descriptions that help reveal when Moses truly realizes his character throughout the detailed passage. The author, jones does not begin his description until midway through the passage where he states “he was the only man in the realm, slave or free”, this is believed because he wants to give background information about the character Moses before he tells all.

God calls Moses to be the Israelites deliverer. This is a man who ran from Egypt because he killed an Egyptian and was content to spend his life as a shepherd. But God had different plans for Moses because the Lord uses the most imperfect people and empowers them to do his will. The Lord met with Moses and called him to deliver his people but Moses wanted to argue with God because Moses did not believe he was the right choice. Moses argued he was not the best choice because

Moses was the one to continuing approaching a burning bush, and listened to it talk. Despite listening to an inanimate object prophesize to him, Moses knew that the message was whole and pure and instantly believed that this destiny would lead the Israelites to justice (Exodus 3:17). Throughout the rest of his journey, Moses and God shared a similar definition of justice, which is an important reason why they were so successful with their plan. Since God made His plan for Moses and the Israelites so clear, Moses had no choice but to accept God’s perspective and began to trust that His justice was exactly what was needed. It was that simple for him.

The reader previously read the story of Moses parting the Red Sea as God using the sea to defeat the Pharaoh’s Army. The

Moses, however, persuaded God to rethink his decision through logic and reasoning. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people.” By seeing the fault in His potential actions, God saw the good in Moses’ plea and had a change of

This is important because, yet again, we see God continuing to keep his covenant with Abraham by providing his presence for Moses. In the verse before this we see Moses began to question God and fight the calling that God had placed on him. God is also telling Moses that he will not deliver the Israelites by himself, or on his own accord. He will do it by God’s encouragement and strength. This is God telling Moses to have faith in him.

Moses was tending to his father-in-law’s sheep when he saw a burning bush. The bush was not being consumed by the fire. God called out to him and told him he was on Holy ground. God then explained that the Hebrews were suffering and that He was going to send them to a great land flowing with milk and honey. This place was called the Promised Land. God sent Moses to the Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go. Moses questioned his authority to do what God told him. God explained that He would be with Moses on his journey. Moses questioned whether the Hebrews will know who God is. God then says “I am who I am” this was what Moses was to tell the Hebrews.

I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation. “Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to

The following assignment is an analysis of the book of Exodus, chapter 3, verses 2-12. In this particular passage God calls on Moses to go back to Egypt and free the Israelites. In examination of Exodus 3:2-12, there are multiple aspects of this verse that should be studied. Below I have explained the importance of this passage to it’s original audience and it’s current audience. I have also illustrated its cultural-historical background, the literary genre and context of the passage, as well as highlighted keywords and phrases within the passage.

Linafelt described the Hebrew Bible as containing, “some of the finest literature that we have, and biblical literature has begun to take its place among the classics of world literature” (1). The Hebrew Bible, composed of prose narrative texts, poetry and intricate literary characters, examines and records the wavering relationship between God and humans. While the connection God has with many literary characters, from Noah to Job serve to illuminate the bond between divine and the mortal, no fellowship is more important than that between God and Moses. Moses, whose presence is made aware in the Book of Exodus, unequivocally is one of the first protagonist in the Hebrew Bible. While he demonstrates the qualities of a literary hero; triumph above inner contention and trepidation, it is his obedience and rapport with God that validates genuine character progression of both Moses and God. Moses’ relationship with God yields allusions that divinity is a composition of both theology and humanism, as divinity weakens without piety and commitment.

It is at this time that God reveals himself to him in the presence of a “Burning Bush” at Mount Horeb (Sinai) as it is well known. This is when Moses is told that he was needed to go back to Egypt and free his people from slavery, Moses was shaken and he even refused several times causing God to become angry at him but, and still God beckoned him to do this task. Finally Moses agreed, but Moses was worried as to how he would be able to accomplish such and enormous task. That is when God told him not to worry because he would be with him the entire way. Moses still had one big question for God and that is “ Who is he that he could go to the Pharaoh and tell him to let my people go” and God responded “that we has his messenger and that he was to lead his children out of Egypt and out of Slavery” and that “ He would be with him always”.

Moses was reluctant at first, but who wouldn’t be when a talking burning bush appeared in front of you. He asks “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ and says that he cannot talk with eloquence (Ranieri, 75). He makes up excuses trying to avoid God and his plan for him.

Moses was a humble man, but God sees that he is mightier than Moses sees himself. When God tells him that he must lead the Jews out of Egypt, he grows fearful and unworthy of such a task. Moses humility toward God is what makes him capable of such a tremendous mission. Although, he would have much rather not lead the Jews out of Egypt because he is afraid and does not have faith in himself, however, he is able to do it because God has told him to and God would not ask him to do so if it was impossible. Moses successfully leads the Hebrews out of Egypt. Moses was capable of freeing the Jews of slavery with a quality of humility (No Title, 1986).