Moses wrestles with his dual identity as a raised Egyptian and a true Israelite. His transformative encounters at Mount Sinai highlight themes of sacrifice, trust, and divine connection. As an intercessor, he passionately pleads for the Israelites during a crisis of faith with the golden calf. This podcast explores the tension between divine justice and mercy, showcasing how Moses evolves into a pivotal leader through his dialogue with God. Ultimately, it reveals the deep relationship between human struggle, divine encounters, and the quest for communal faith.
Moses's complex identity as an Israelite raised in Pharaoh's household fuels his internal struggle and quest for belonging throughout his life.
His transformative encounter with God at Mount Horeb marks the beginning of Moses's journey from uncertainty to leadership and purpose.
Moses's role as an intercessor exemplifies deep selflessness, as he risks his life to advocate for Israel's forgiveness amid their idolatry.
Deep dives
Moses's Complex Identity
Moses embodies a complicated identity marked by his upbringing and heritage. Born an Israelite but raised in Pharaoh's house, he has strong ties to two opposing cultures. This identity crisis is amplified when he commits murder while trying to defend his fellow Israelites, leading to his rejection by them. Ultimately, he flees to Midian, marrying and starting a family there, which further muddies his sense of belonging.
The Divine Calling on Mount Horeb
While shepherding in Midian, Moses encounters God at Mount Horeb through a burning bush that is not consumed. This moment signifies a divine calling for him to return to Egypt and lead his people out of slavery. Despite his reluctance and questions about his identity, God assures Moses of His presence and command. This pivotal encounter marks the beginning of Moses's transformative journey as he grapples with his past and purpose.
Moses as an Intercessor
As Israel commits the sin of idolatry by creating a golden calf, Moses ascends the mountain to plead with God on their behalf. He identifies himself with the people and argues for their forgiveness, showcasing his role as a faithful intercessor. Moses not only emphasizes God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob but also risks his life by offering himself as a substitute for their sins. This act of selflessness is crucial, revealing the depth of his connection to his people and his commitment to God's covenant.
The Transformation on the Cosmic Mountain
Throughout his journey, Moses undergoes significant transformation, moving from uncertainty about his identity to actively embracing his role as a leader. As he intercedes for Israel, he gains a deeper understanding of his purpose and God's plan for the community. The narrative highlights that God's tests often lead to moments of surrender and self-discovery, evident in Moses's willingness to face monumental challenges. This evolution positions Moses uniquely as someone who can ascend the cosmic mountain and mediate between God and the people.
God's Presence Among the People
The Exodus narrative culminates in God’s glory descending from the mountain to dwell among the Israelites. Following Moses's intercessory actions, the divine cloud fills the tent of meeting, symbolizing God’s desire to be present with His people. This indicates a partnership that transcends individual experiences, aiming for collective redemption. The tent represents a new cosmic mountain within their camp, suggesting that God’s purpose is to reach not just a select few but all humanity through communal engagement.
The Mountain E5 — Moses has a complicated identity. He's an Israelite, but he was raised in the house of Pharaoh. He was born in Egypt, but he flees to live in the wilderness with the Midianites. And there in the wilderness, he meets God on two separate occasions on Mount Sinai. The first time, God commissions Moses to deliver the Israelites from slavery. And the second time, while Moses is up on the mountain with God, the recently freed people down below are already breaking the covenant by worshiping a gold calf. Will Moses stand in the gap for the people in this moment of crisis? In this episode, Jon and Tim discuss Moses as a successful mountaintop intercessor, showing what can happen when a human trusts God on the cosmic mountain.
You can experience our entire library of resources in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.
Show Music
“Sum Sum” by Ben Bada Boom
“Garden Trees” by T.Check & Kofi Anonymous
BibleProject theme song by TENTS
Show Credits
Production of today's episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer, and Cooper Peltz, managing producer. Tyler Bailey is our supervising engineer. Aaron Olsen edited today’s episode and also provided the sound design and mix. JB Witty does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Our host and creative director is Jon Collins, and our lead scholar is Tim Mackie.
Powered and distributed by Simplecast.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode