Exodus 2:10 tells us that Moshe's name means "He-Who-Pulls-Out." As we will see throughout the Exodus narrative, Moshe's life is indeed characterized by both pulling and pushing--literally and figuratively, physically and emotionally, internally and externally. Moshe is a reluctant hero of sorts, someone who goes back and forth between rescuing and wanting to be rescued. Like Yosef, he is a more fully developed and emotionally complex character. Thinking of Exodus 2-8, in what ways do you see this pushing-pulling metaphor guiding Moshe's transformation? How is he characterized by this idea of pushing-pulling, and how does it shape his own narrative as well as the narrative of the Hebrew people in the text?
Please post your response no later than Thursday, April 3, 10am.
36 comments:
The thing I love most about Moshe is his humanity. Everyone thinks of Moses as this incredible God-speaking-to river-parting commandment-giving bearded guy played by Charlton Heston, but what makes him truly amazing to me is the Bible is quite clear that he was no one great who was called to greatness.
I remember the first time I heard that Moses killed a guy and buried him in the sand and I thought, 'Moses did that? Are you sure?' And I've always found the fact that Moses had a speech impediment incredibly encouraging and humbling. As a character from such meager beginnings who is full of self-doubt, I see Moses being pulled by God to pull his people out of Egypt.
I've always wondered about Egypt...
I can't help but think God NEEDED to get his people out of there. In the same way we saw Abraham set off for the land of the covenant, yet get sidetracked and have hardship come, I feel like Egypt was another diversion. It was easier to go to Egypt because there was a famine and they had food stores, but I can't help but wonder if none of these hardships would have befallen the Israelites had they stayed away from Egypt in the first place.
So that last thought strayed a bit from the topic, but I think it's important to look at Moses as the tool God is going to use to uproot and pull out his people from this land in which they were never meant to settle.
He-Who-Pulls-Out. Pushing and pulling; putting in and pulling out, making and breaking the covenant, giving and taking away the pledge. We begin to see this right after Moshe is named. Moshe saw the burdens of his brothers (v11) and kills an Egyptian, rescuing a Hebrew man, shortly after, fleeing the face of Pharoah to come to the rescue of the daughters of Re'uel, coming to name his son that which reflects his feelings of exile (v22, see footnote) and a desire to be rescued. In chapter 3, Moshe turns aside to see and comes in to the presence of the burning bush, all to find excuses to pull out. This reflects the Hebrew people all throughout Exodus, as they constantly put in and pull out, gaining and losing sight, wanting to flee Egypt and to return. This is contrasted with God, "Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh/ I will be-there howsoever I will be-there," that though contrary to Moshe and the Hebrew people fluctuating between putting in and pulling out, Ehyeh will be there.
Ian's perception of Moshe concerning humanity is very similiar to mine. This especially struck me in 4:10, as I imagine him almost pleading with God to find someone else to be his "talking head". Also, I had never really realized the part that his brother Aharon played. While reading the chapters, I've pondered the notion of why God didn't just go straight to Aharon instead of Moshe to do all the talking.
One thing that really stands out to me about Moshe is his lack of being able to choose what happens to him throughout his life. I know that as a baby, you don't have control over what happens to you, but it's as if him being placed in the basket and sent down the Nile is something that sets in motion his life of servitude. Similiarly, God doesn't exactly give him a choice of either helping him free the people of Israel or sitting it out. Moshe never seems completely resentful of his role that God put upon him, but often times his hesitancy to do as God says conveys a sense of humility that is refreshing and even endearing to his character.
I've never understood why God sent in frogs, gnats, and then insects into Egypt. I don't see how one could be worse than the other and consequently, make people change. Of course I can see that might happen with the blood in the water, but I just don't feel that Pharaoh would learn from gnats, but not frogs...or vice versa. It seems a little repetitive in the story because the results are the same, regardless of if it's frogs that permeate Egypt or locusts. No one listens, and nothing changes.
I agree with Leah's comment about how Moshe's reluctance and hesitancy makes him more endearing as a character because he shows humility. I was thinking similar thoughts. Because he is sometimes hesitant to help out, this speaks to the "every man" in some way. I'm sure everyone in some way has had an opportunity to help out but maybe were reluctant to do so...not because we don't think we shouldn't, we simply freeze for some reason and can't really explain why.
You can kind of see that Moshe really questions his ability to help as God wants him to. This displays this pulling/pushing motion. For example, in Chapter 4 he says that nobody will trust that he has seen God. He wants to help, but he is afraid to, because he is probably thinking, "who am I to think I can really do all that God asks? I'm nothing special." So he is pulling away, not wanting or believing he can help. But I think everybody really does want to help, they just question their ability to do so. So this is want Moshe is doing.
Further, I think the. Fact that he has trouble speaking is another reason he wants to pull back. But God wants him to push through that problem and speak to the people.
So the pushing and pulling is just him in his own mind wanting to help and do what God asks, but questioning whether he can or not.
Yes, it’s true as Ian says here that Moshe is someone called to greatness who is really not so great himself. In fact, not only does he seem to be pulled back and forth between what is good and being reluctant, but he acts rashly against what he later states to be very important- loving your neighbor and not killing. This is one of the first impressions we get of Moshe- he is moved by the cruelty he witnesses in the Egyptian man striking the Hebrew man, and this illustrates something we have rarely seen in the bible- seeing that we belong to one another and that we must act against unethical behavior.
However, we see Moshe then pulled in the complete opposite direction of this, becoming calculating and driven –or pulled-by rage and killing this man while no one is looking. As the story here progressed, we see Moshe struggle, but more likely hold strong against all these events pushing and pulling him. It’s as if he is reluctant because he isn’t sure which path to take, which urge to follow, whether to let go and be pulled or pushed or neither. After the burning bush in Exodus 3:2, we see Moshe start to allow at least God to pull him, even though he is afraid to show his face. In 3:2 “God called to him out of the midst of the bush, he said: Moshe! Moshe! He said: Here I am.”
Although there isn’t much else depicted or explained, I really see Moshe as saying something more like “Fine, okay. I’ll come. What do you want? I’m here.” That sort of reluctance and fear that pushes him away from acting quickly or being willing. But we also see that he knows what he has to do- that he should relinquish control and allow God to pull him out of his past and into this greatness that he will become.
Moses is constantly trying to finagle his way out of being this chosen leader, coming up with excuse after excuse until he clearly just exasperates God. This leads me to agree with what Leah said about Moses pleading for someone else to be picked. Also, in 5:22-23, after he is confronted by the Israelites, Moses again questions God of his purpose in this divine plan, saying, “For-what-reason have you sent me?” Chapter 6 also ends with a question of Moses. This seems to suggest that no matter how explicitly God may answer him (as in a whole chapter), Moses is still finding reasons to pull away from God and his calling.
This constant questioning reminds me of Abraham in Genesis, for he always argued with God about his decisions. I think the whole idea of questioning authority is a central point in the Bible, as it continues on even into the New Testament with people questioning Jesus. I also find compelling the striking similarity between Moses and Jesus having to perform “magical” tasks, as was discussed in class today, in order to prove themselves affiliated with God.
The reluctance of Moshe seems uncharacteristic of a leader but, as others have stated, merely shows his humanity and his ability to relate to mankind. The inward struggle that he faces and his subsequent actions are a reflection of his name, “He-who-pulls-out”, since Moshe has to force himself to step out of the box in order to lead the people out of Egypt. Moshe continually confides his insecurities and lack of self-confidence to God, and God always reassures him.
When God first tells Moshe to bring the Children of Israel out of Egypt, he hesitates, asking “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh…” (Ex. 3:11). In contrast with the leaders of Genesis who say “Here I am” when God instructs them, Moshe shows a lack of readiness and seems to be unsure of himself. But Moshe’s growth is seen throughout the narrative, as he pulls out from within himself the leadership attributes God knew he had.
As a challenge to Moses, I think that God made Pharaoh’s heart strong-willed to force Moshe to grow as a character. It would have been all too easy for Pharaoh to comply with Moshe’s wishes, but the reluctance of Pharaoh serves as a tool to improve Moshe. It’s as if Moshe has to “pull at” the heavy heart of Pharaoh in order to “pull out” the Children of Israel.
As soon as God came to moses he tried to push God away. Saying things like "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh that I should bring the Children of Israel out of Egypt?"(2:13) Moses took alot of reassurance from God to final agree to the task infront of him. Moses was always unsure but he also had some trust in God cause he did do what God told him to do. to me it is as if Moses was always pushing and pulling God away and towards him always seeming a little unsure of what to do or how to do it. Yet i really like that Moses did do Gods will and freed Gods people.
I was really in awe when I read to see how many symbolic references this "pushing and pulling" business touched on. Moshe was "pulled out" of his self-appointed position of liberator, when rejected by Hebrews. He was "pushed" into an emotional state of confidence in His God, only to be "pulled" emotionally down, frustrated, and angry when Pharoah did not give in. He was "pulled out" of what He thought He was supposed to fulfill many times. It is somewhat predicting of the "grace of God" through Jesus we are willed to in the New Testament. No matter how many times we are rejected and doubtful, if we come back and have faith, we shall inherent our deliverance.
I enjoyed reading the blogs about Moshe's imperfections and how these could be considered central to his being chosen. I pondered Leah's question of Moshe over Aharon and I believe God distinctly chose Moshe due to his humanity. He knew this aspect of hesitancy and insecurity would be relational to people of all ages.
During the time Moshe was being raised in Pharaoh's household, his Hebrew heritage was suppressed, if not actively erased. We don't know when Moshe discovered his heritage, whether he was told about being discovered in a basket in the Nile from an early age, or whether he didn't learn about it until he was older. We also don't know whether it was something he learned from the Egyptians, or whether it was something he learned from the Hebrew slaves while interacting with them. His story was bound to be almost legend within the Hebrew community. And was his learning about it intentional or unintentional? We don't know that either. But whenever or however he learned about it, it must have intrigued him and, even though, as the daughters of Re'uel noticed, his appearance was entirely Egyptian, as an adopted child, Moshe must have been very curious about his heritage.
Moshe's heritage was that of Levi, his grandfather, one of Israel's two sons who took up Dina's cause and tricked the Hivvites into circumcising themselves and leaving themselves vulnerable to attack. In speaking of the stylistic characteristics of the early chapters of Exodus, Everett Fox states, "This kind of continuity is artfully literary, but it is also an echo of real life, where people often live out certain themes in patterns." I believe those themes and patterns can span generations. We can identify family "bents". For instance, in our day and time, the Bush family and the Kennedy family have both shown a familial, even cross-generational "bent" toward politics. Levi's role as crusader and avenger of his sister foreshadowed his future grandson's role as crusader and liberator of Israel. Maybe Moshe was feeling his Hebrew heritage rise up in him when he killed that Egyptian. And maybe, even though he didn't feel qualified for the task, (perhaps because his mouth was especially "heavy" and untrained when it spoke Hebrew) he felt the same way when he returned to confront Pharaoh. In all of these things I see the push and pull of Moshe's Hebrew heritage versus his Egyptian upbringing. I have to wonder if trying to reconcile that dichotomy and reclaim his heritage might have been one of the main reasons he finally decided to agree with God and return to Egypt.
And Rachel, I like your thought of inheriting deliverance. Perhaps, in returning to Egypt, Moshe inherited his own personal deliverance.
Moshe’s life is full of pushing and pulling. There are numerous occasions of this in the narrative. The first comes at Moshe’s birth. He is pushed away from his biological family while being pulled into a new one, the Pharaohs. Without this initial push/pull, I do not feel that there would be the Moshe narrative or at least not the same one. Later, Moshe is pulled to help the Hebrew man that the Egyptian is beating. This, in turn, pushes him out of Egypt. God will eventually pull Moshe back toward Egypt to help the Hebrew people while Moshe will push against God’s request. This continues throughout the narrative. Pushing and pulling, pushing and pulling.
I agree with Ian that his uncertainty and reluctance adds to his humanity. He is not the perfect character that willingly accepts everything. He struggles and he questions, making him a more realistic and relatable character.
As the discussion so far online and in class has pointed out, there is a lot of pushing and pulling going on for this metaphor to cling onto. I found it interesting that Aharon is actually the one to talk to the people and perform some of the first signs. I think God’s willingness to allow this was because Moshe was pulling away from his task so much at first. Seeing Aharon succeed probably helped give Moshe more confidence and helped push him into stepping up and performing some of the later signs. The metaphor also describes the Hebrew people. The instance I’m thinking of was when Moshe first spoke up to Pharoah in chapter 5 and ended up making it temporarily harder on the slaves. They pushed against Moshe and the plan (“May YHWH see you and judge, for… giving a sword into their hand, to kill us!”). I loved how Nathan pointed out that God expresses his contrasting stableness with his name. And Meg put the whole situation beautifully with her very last sentence.
Moshe's pushing and pulling metaphor perfectly fits his tale. Even from birth, as Noelle also said, he is being pushed from his mother and pulled into a new society. But this pushing and pulling goes further to describe his relationship with God. His story could be read entirely as a struggle between himself and God. He pushes away when he murders a man, then he is pulled back under God's direction to deliver the Hebrews from slavery. As Ian says, this is pure humanity. The story of Moshe is representative of a person's inner conflict between personal desires with belief/devotion. He commits an error, then eventually finds God again, commits another mistake, then manages to find God again. He keeps putting the tension of pulling and pushing upon his relationship with God.
-Bet$y Robbins.
These first chapters of Exodus talking about Moses, showed me a whole new side of him that I have never known about. I have never heard of Moshe "He Who Pulls Out" name, but when I read it I liked how it made him more down to earth. For example, with the speech impediment and him killing an Egyptian (as Ian has alreay mentioned).
I feel that the biggest "pushing" that stands out in my mind is how Moses is pushed into this great guy. One exaple is how God chose him and pushed him to go see Pharoah.
As it's been said there has been an enormous amount of pushing and pulling in Moshe's life-pushed from his mother then pulled in by Pharoh's daugher-pulled to help the Hebrew slave then pushed out of Egypt-pushed to go back to Egypt to pull out the Hebrew people-pushed away from God when told to loose the slaves, but God still pulled him into doing it-push and pull of his Hebrew heritage as well as Egyptian heritage, which I was really glad has been mentioned becuase I think that's very important in realizing the internal pushing and pulling that Moshe must have gone through. In a since, the push and pull in his heritage could almost cause him to not have one. After all, in many ways it would seem that he can't be Hebrew because he clearly isn't enslaved as they are or raised as if he were a Hebrew. On the other hand, he is not truly an Egyptian either. To me this could render a somewhat confused and in many senses lonely Moshe. One more interesting example of pushing and pulling to me that hasn't been mentioned is the idea of a push out of humanity and a pull into the divine. Because God is giving Moshe these miracles to do to proove that he has really talked with God, it is a pull toward being divine(or admittedly more like God than most humans). I think this could possibly be one of the most difficult push/pull instances for Moshe.
I liked what betsy brought up. He starts us pushing and pulling in all directions, so it makes perfect sense that this would continue to be the main thing we see about Moshe's live. It's fitting that his name is, he-who-pulls-out. God keeps putting him in situations where he is forced to do just this. Its almost as if God is testing him to see if he will be able to live up to his name. He is told to do one thing, then decides to do another because of something he is told by someone else. Its almost as if this pushing and pulling has made him unable to produce ideas and actions of his own.
Moses has also been doing a little pushing and pulling himself.
he pushes (and struck down) the Egyptian early in the narrative. next he did a little pulling by serving the 7 daughters. later he is pushing away from God, "who am I?" (he even pushes God to push him). later he is pushing the Pharaoh to let the people go...
the people in the narrative all seem to be pushed or pulled in some way, just as Moses - either by himself or someone else (God).
when i think about it too much, it kind of drives me crazy to think of how much pushing and pulling is going on in every situation!
"Some men are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them". I would argue that Moshe certainly had greatness pushed upon him. He never seeks it out, and he even goes as far as to question Gods desire to make him a leader of men. So Im not sure I could agree with Meg's point that it is uncharacteristic of a leader to be reluctant. In fact many if not most of the greatest leaders in English literature have had to have their greatness pushed upon them, just like Moshe. And like Moshe, many of them struggle with it and try and push it away.
Think of any leaders in novels like The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings - all books with leaders or heroes who have their positions thrust upon them, even trying to push the responsibility away, and ultimately accepting it to safeguard others.
A lot of people have discussed the external pushing and pulling of God, the past, and society or the internal pushing and pulling within Moshe, but I think the meaning of Moshe's name "He-Who-Pulls-Out" is much more complex than simply internal or external. I think it's a strange phrase because when I think of pulling it is usually an action of one person upon another. We have internal drives; we push ourselves to achieve goals. Rarely do we "pull" ourselves, except perhaps out of bed.
This term though illustrates the effect that God has upon Moshe. He does not necessarily have the confidence or push to do what God asks of him, but he trusts in God and allows God to give him strength. God offers Moshe many tools along the way, such as the partnership of his brother and the ability to do miracles, but Moshe must take the initiative of trusting God. Moshe can not push himself, but he can accept that with God he can pull out.
Moshe is clearly quite a dynamic charachter with enormous potential for greatness as we will soon see. From the beginning of his life we see him being "pushed or pulled" out of situations. Starting with his mother letting him go in the basket (being pushed from a hebrew lifestyle to that of an egyptian), and so on from there as many other posts have already mentioned.
One interesting thing I see in Moshe is is humility, which at first one could see as weakness. He is fearful to accept this task from God, but the way he puts it is as though he is saying "I am sure you could find someone much better." But God called Moshe for this task, and for his eventual greatness and position as liberator. God clearly had a purpose.
God promises to be with Moshe and all of his people as he delivers them from their suffering. We have seen God make promises already (i.e. the covenant with Avraham to inherit the land). Moshe is called by God (Pulled or pushed to use more appropriate language) to be the one to free the people of Israel. This is followed by Moshe delivering the 10 commandments. As we see the character develop we also see his great importance to the Biblical narrative, from starting with such humble beginnings, and being pushed to a greater calling.
Moshe has is pushed and pulled in many situations in Exodus. I looked at the text as God pushing and pulling Moshe through different situations because He was preparing Moshe to rescue the people from the pharoh. Moshe was also being pushed and pulled in own mind. For example, he was pushed and pulled through the situation of killing the Egyptian man to save a Hebrew man, rescuing the girls by the well, and talking to God by the burning bush. You can see another example of Moshe's mind being pushed and pulled when God has to show Moshe the staff that turns into a snake. Moshe didnt know what to think of everything and didnt know if people would believe him.
Sara mentions that Moshe needs reassurance from God through all things in his life, but who wouldn't. I mean if the President told you to run your car off a cliff to help reduce pollution (weird example I know), would you really throw away your car? It is hard to trust people, even those we are close to and it seems that many things in life are a game of earning trust, maintaining it, and then if something goes wrong, repairing the trust. This reassurance is a form of push by God to get Moshe to do His work.
I also believe throughout his life he has an internal "pushing and pulling" struggle. It is kind of the devil and angel on ones shoulders. I sure he put a lot of thought into his actions and there was sure to be the internal "tug of war". Weighting the consequences of, as Nathan mentioned, killing an Egyptian man and then saving a Hebrew one not long after.
Moshe obviously played a large role of shaping the world back then, which intern effected us today. I am glad he had the pushing and pulling because the consequences of his actions had a large effect and therefor he should spend time questioning himself and what God is telling him. I would only expect that of a good "leader".
-Chelsea
I was discussing (over some Basil Thai, yum!) what we've been reading with my roommate (who is Jewish) and he told me some other ways Moshe's name was interpreted. I am surprised to find how accurate he was. Like most everyone has written his name is well suited. He is pulled away from his real family, he pulls himself away from Egypt by killing the Egyptian, he gets pulled into helping his people by God, he pulls on Pharaoh to release the people, and eventually he pulls his people out of Egypt (the big one), etc. His life is full of pulling, so what a suitable name he received. It is interesting to see what he does by himself and what it kind of forced upon him. Obviously he is forced (for the most part) by God to pull his people out of Egypt, and he pulls himself out of Egypt because he has to after killing the man. Other than that even though he resists, he still does pull the people out of Egypt, and just keeps on pulling all the way to the ten commandments.
Pull way, Moshe, pull away.
It seems to me that there is alot of repetition within the discussion here so I won't regurgitate the same ideas. Rather, since I'm one of the later bloggers; I'd like to point out a few different things about Moshe that I just find interested in the general sense.
The fact that story of Moshe is such a universal "underdog", "cinderella", type story. That he really did not have that much going for him other than the "Grace of God" to do all these miraculous things is kind of a fun, entertaining story. We want to see him be this hero. I think that is why it's been told so many time over the years. One thing that kind of hit hard again for me last class was how practically everyone in the class probably thought of "The Prince Of Egypt" when we started discussing this narrative. It's an artistic view that will stick with this generation forever. Yet, when we read what is written, it actually doesn't follow the book to the very last detail and is made much more entertaining than what is written. Personally, I love thinking about the way things like this can change over the course of many years.
Another thing that i wanted to point out (and i know that it has been covered already) was the idea that Moshe represents the "normal human" all of us as human beings. Moshe is timid and "pulls back" from possible glory. He "pulls back" abd gets scared even when God has promised that "he would be with him". It's a natural thing for human beings to become scared when something is presented to them and it involves risk. If we have to get out of our comfort zone, we want someone else to help do it for us. I guess if we put our trust in ourselves, we can accomplish great things. Simply said, I think this is the moral of the story.
As Noelle mentioned
Even from Moshe's birth,
he was being pushed from
his mother.
I see that
Moshe narrative perfectly fits his name.
Moshe's characteristic
was humble as Ian mentioned.
He pushed God's request
and God pulled him out
When God asked him to
rescue Hebrew people from
Egyptians
he denied God's request
by acknowledging that
he is not a right person.
(Perhaps because he had murdered
one Egyptian.)
I thought
EXO 4:23 could also be push and pulling.
I was wondering why all of the sudden
God sought to make him die.
This is so awkward.
After Exo 5
Moshe argues with
Pharao to set Hebrew people
free.
This is another push and pull.
Because
Pharao said he is going to set
them free, but at the end,
Pharao changed his mind
and he decided not to
set them free.
Even though
Moshe
pushes and pulls
relationship between God,
he hearkened YHWH's voice
to free his people.
Moses is placed in a position of pushing and pulling within his interactions with Pharaoh. Repeatedly God asks Moses and Aaron to go before Pharaoh and present him with the chance to free the Israelites or suffer a certain consequence. Pharaoh repeatly pushes Moses away only to pull him back multiple times in the story begging him to stop the plague inmposed on the kingdom of Egypt if he promises freedom (Ex 8:11,8:28,9:34 as examples). Moses pulls out of Egypt to sacrifice and plea with God only to have to return to pushing again on Pharaoh until his heart is no longer "heavy with stubbornness". I can imagine Moses pulling out thinking, "This is it. Finally my people will be free and I can finish this task God has given me." Only to return to Egypt and find this not to be true. The emotional up and down of that feeling would have to be exhausting.
Also, I saw Moses pulling away from the task God assigns Him at the beginning of his narrative. He pulls away from having to speak in front of Pharaoh and has God place Aaron in that position but in the end he doesn't pull out of the position of delivering his people.
I am going to use the name Moses because that is what makes the most sense to me... Moses' name means "one who pulls out", but I think it was more coincidence than anything because Pharaoh’s daughter had no idea. She was simply implying the pulling out of the river not the removal of the Egyptians. The reason Moses learned of his true heritage is because he was raised by his real mother until he was weaned from her. I am sure in those years; Moses gained a love for her and her people. So when he found out they were his people as well, he felt the obligation to protect and not let harm be upon them. After killing a guard in front of the Egyptians and the Pharaoh, Moses was forced to leave Egypt to escape death. Pharaoh did not want to kill him, but his advisor made the point that he showed that a Hebrew man was more important than an Egyptian, that Moses must be killed.
The metaphor of pushing and pulling is used many times in Moses’ transformation. A couple of instances of Moses pushing for what he wants are…
*The constant struggle to get Pharaoh to let the Hebrew people go…
*Moses’ long journey in the desert…
*His drive to save his people…
Another way to look at his transformation is the constant pulling and doubting God. They wandered for forty years in that desert and everyone began to think that this “Promise Land” was nowhere in sight/touch. Moses doubted God, so God finally made the decision to not let Moses into the land he had promised him prosperity. This is the first instance of God actually punishing the person he promised something too.
There are several instances in this story that show Moshe pushing away from himself that which he does not want to face, but is still drawn, or pulled, back to his duty. The first example might be Moshe growing up as an Egyptian. I believe that Moshe was aware of his Hebrew background, but pushed it away as much as he could so he could enjoy life outside of slavery. But seeing and Egyptian strike a man of Moshe’s true heritage pulled Moshe out of his artificial Egyptian life (mentally). When he took action and pulled his brother out of the situation, he had pulled himself out his Egyptian life completely and had to flee or else be executed.
It seems to me that there is a part of Moshe that is drawn to rescuing the underdogs, even if other parts of him want to leave well enough alone and continue life as normal. Even when he ran away from facing responsibility for the Egyptian’s murder, he stood up for the women who were trying to get water. I believe God understood his duel nature and used Moshe because in Moshe’s core was the desire to rescue, to right the wrong, and to pull those in trouble out of trouble. As others have mentioned, he knew he was nothing spectacular and would have much rather have been ignorant about everything. His reluctance, humility, and desire to be ignorant but overriding desire to help are why I believe God selected him to be the one to pull his children out of Egypt. I like Daye’s comment about the connection with Levi’s character and Moshe’s character being drawn to liberate and avenge. I believe that connection played a big part in making Moshe the way he was.
One good question that was brought to my attention was the mystery of how moses came to the conclusion of his heritage. One way may be that his mother was ordered to nurse him until he was grown and that she told him. Yet that raises another question, and that is did she tell him the truth (that she was his mom) or the story that everyone knew, which is that he was just found in the river at a time of carnage of the hebrews implying that he was a hebrew which is why he was hidden in a basket sent down the river. His name means "he who pulls out" which is shown all across his life such as the death of an egyptian soldier which he burried in the sand (pushing) the he flees the land of the Pharoah (PULLS OUT). Later in the Bible he illustrates the meaning of his name several more times by freeing his people etc........
Moshe’s life will be filled with struggle, pushing and pulling, between God, with his fellow man, and within himself. Without the struggles he goes through Moshe will not become the leader of his people he must become. His destiny is bigger than himself and it is the pushing and pulling that prepares him. Moshe is pushed out of Egypt when he kills an Egyptian man to defend a Hebrew and his own people do not trust him. He fights and struggles to save seven women from rampaging shepherds. He also pushes and pulls against God when God speaks to him about what he must do. I think the pushing and pulling also speaks of his wanderings through-out his life and having to leave certain areas for a time. It is the struggle through-out his life that personifies the Hebrew people’s struggle and prepares Moshe to be their leader. His life and their freedom are intertwined.
I still don't know what to do with the passage about God wanting to kill Moshe...
I agree completely with Ian and others in saying that Moshe is just another human, who's story is told in the bible. People are always going to make mistakes and decisions that will cost them at times. I think that Moshe is just another character in the Bible that God works through. Just like Joseph, Moshe makes decisions that are not the best, and his life is hard at times. At times he even seems like a coward. The whole pulling and pushing idea just tells me that Moshe was human. Nobody is perfect, even in the bible people of God messed up all the time. But the bible just seemed to tell these stories over and over again to give us a picture of what not to do at times, and what to do at others.
I believe that a lot of what Moshe did outweighted his negatives. Moshe was a man of God, and when people think of him, they think he could do no wrong. Again, he was human, there were things that he did that were not good, but God worked through him because God saw the bigger picture.
Throughout Moshe's life, we see that he lives up to the quality of the meaning of his name, He-who-pulls-out. One way that we physically see this is in his coming and going from Egypt. Internally, he struggles between doing the right things verses doing the wrong things. For example, the first action that we see Moshe taking as a man is striking another man down and burying him. He takes the wrong action, but for the right or a justified reason. Then, later on in that chapter, we see him drawing water for the sheep of the seven daughters of the priest of Midyan. We also see this pushing and pulling in his conversation with God. It is like he agrees to go and do God’s work, but then he has second thoughts and comes up with an excuse. It is obvious that he is afraid to go, but he should have trusted God. But that is easier said than done sometimes. The pharaoh also contributes to this pushing and pulling. Like when two people bicker, one person does the pushing on the other person to get them going, and then they pull back. Pharaoh and Moshe were not necessarily arguing, but they were having a serious disagreement. The children of Israel are constantly pushing and bulling Moshe, and Moshe is constantly pulling back from them. He is constantly being pushed and pulled back and forth between the children of Israel and God. Throughout this narrative Moshe goes from being a weak unsure individual to trusting God. We constantly see the children of Israel with and against him. This shapes him as a character because it shows how he grows to depend on God and trust in God.
Obviously the most literal interpretation of the meaning of his name refers to his pulling the jews out of Egypt. However, I believe this metaphor that guides Moshe's transformation also pulls and pushes the reader in their interpretation and characterization of Moshe. We seem to finally have the hero we've been waiting for who actually exhibits the signs of an exceptional person. Kindness and intellect are forefront to his character. And out of nowhere he kills a man in intense rage. The reader is thrown into confusion and disappointment because here we thought Moshe was going to break away from the stereotypical "chosen ones" and become something more. However, this situation shapes him into the sort of man we should all recognize as a hero, the common man. The thing that separates him from other common men, besides divine gifts from God, is a willingness to act when others stand aside.
I would really agree with what Amy Leigh said about the idea that Moshe is pulled between doing good and bad. One example of Moshe debating what is right or wrong would be when later in the Bible in Numbers 20 when God tells Moshe to speak to a boulder in order for water to come forth. Instead when the the people assembled, Moshe struck the rock, disobeying exactly what God told him to do. Through this one action, Moshe is then not allowed into the promise land. Moshe is always pushing and pulling with what is right and what is wrong.
Moshe is also the first founder of the Zionist organization :P
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