Religious Studies
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One of the prominent characters of the Bible is the Hebrew prophet, Moses. His name is listed at least 750 times in the Old Testament and an estimated 80 times in the New Testament. To look at some of the personality traits of Israel's great leader can be very insightful. A large contribution to Moses, is that he was a prophetic picture in reference to the coming of the Messiah. (Deuteronomy 18:15, Acts 3:22)
Some of the personality traits of Moses, Israel's great leader. In the book of Hebrews 11, the writer employs several verbs which describe the actions of this noble leader of Israel. (Hebrews 11: 24-27). These terms become a real indicator to the character of Moses.
Of the most forceful words in the English language, and the most difficult to let go from one's tongue, is the word, “no.” To master hearing and being told the word “no” shows of great courage in itself, and till yet no, one has mastered this word except Christ who has mastered this two letter forceful word. Moses, did however say, “NO!” At a captious time in history, by faith Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. (Hebrews 11:24).
I know it seems strange that the mere fact of Moses saying they word, “No,” doesn't show his personal traits and rarely would the saying of the word, “No,” validate someone's characteristics. If you look at Joseph, who when at 17 years of age was familiar with the exact same word, and said this word to Potipher's wife when she attempted to seduce him, and he was
later put in prison for this exact word Also, if you look at Christ himself who said no, to Satan several times when he was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights. (Matthew 4:11).
If you will look at Moses' situation, you will need to show the fact that for most of the first 40 years of his life, his primary mother-figure was an Egyptian princess. She treated him as if he were her own, she loved him, she cried for him, she held him as a mother would, she made sure he attended school as a “normal boy” would, she eventually groomed him into a man, if you were to look closely she could be recognized as his real mother.
Moses obviously loved her as well, he never wanted for anything, in his eyes he lived an average childhood, but soon the day came when he was willing to give everything up and bid his farewell to his mother forever and turn his life over Christ. What bravery and attribute lay occupant in Moses' outstanding heart.
We as humans have the God given ability to make choices, our own choices. Some choices are rather illogical; others are of greater attraction—whether improved or worsen. Regardless of the fact, we have the ability to make choices.
Moses shows his true character by the choices he made in his life. It must have seemed as if, to the physical mind that Moses had taken leave of all common sense when he chose to associate himself with a band of foreign slaves, rather than to carry his inheritance steeped in the advantages of Egypt.
The Old Testament narrative has it like this: “And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown up, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked upon their burdens”
(Exodus 2:11). Stephen informs us that the prophet was “well-nigh forty years old” at the time (Acts 7:23).
At some point during this time Moses learns of his real identity and learns that he is a Hebrew, and at that point his soul pained for the difficulty of his Israelite relatives. This shows a lot about the character of Moses, when he makes the choice to no longer consider himself of higher status, he would rather reclaim his true heritage as a Hebrew slave. To a lot of us as humans finding out such information would have been good news knowing how we could be suffering as the other slaves, instead we are looked up to as being in some way hierarchy, one that the slaves look up too. Some may look at this as “getting off the high horse and riding amongst the peasants.” Moses shows exemplary character even at this point in his life.
The Bible says: “a single day with the people of God is better than a thousand days elsewhere, and that it is more noble to serve as a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than to live in the tents of the wicked” ( Psalm 84:10).
So it is said Moses chose to cast his flock with unfit Israel rather than to corrupt himself with the delights of sin. Moses was a man who “counted the cost” (Luke 14:28). Moses knew that sin could be gratifying—something to be enjoyed—but he also was confident that there is no true happiness therein. Sin is never associated with happiness in Scripture. Indeed, “the way of the transgressor is hard” (Proverbs 13:15). There is a vast difference between temporary pleasure and enduring happiness. What a statement on the character of this man in that he chose to raise the spiritual over the physical.
Moses, the man of God, was truly a extraordinary person. His character was worthy in a number of ways. Moses was faithful/ loyal to God and gained some self-esteem to boot: When
God came to Moses to speak to him through the burning bush, Moses' immediate response was to be humble, but then he began to doubt himself (and therefore God's decision) and to make excuses about why he wasn't the man for the job. He said basically that he had a speech impediment and no one would listen because he spoke slowly. After really thinking a while about it, he caught himself and decided to trust in God and do it anyway! He knew he was an ordinary man, but he served and extraordinary God who would help him. He trusted and went to do what he was called to do.
Moses personality traits can never be described in just one or two words for he was: obedient, courageous, determined, and demonstrated many leadership qualities. Moses was without a doubt one of the greatest men who ever lived. Deuteronomy closes with these words: “There arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, in all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, and in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel.” He loved God, served God, believed God, and obeyed God. He was by no means perfect, but he is a wonderful example for us to follow. (Deuteronomy 34:10-12).
Moses was far from perfect; he was nevertheless a great man of faith who accomplished much in God’s service. There are many personality traits that we can follow in his life.
- Faith: Four times in Hebrews 11, the Bible references the words “by faith” in describing Moses. His faith in God is what motivated him to do all he did.
- Leadership: The reason he killed the Egyptian was that he believed God had called him to lead his people out of Egypt. The people followed Moses because Moses followed God.
- Obedience: Moses was unwilling to lead his people after their prior rejection of him, but eventually he obeyed God, returned to Egypt, and led the people out.
- Zeal for the Lord: In his anger and disappointment over the people’s sin, Moses destroyed the original tablets of the Ten Commandments. Moses sincerely desired that the people follow the Lord and became angry when they disobeyed.
- Love for His People: Although the people caused him great distress and trouble, Moses often displayed an amazing compassion and concern for them. At one point he pled for God to forgive them, and if God was unwilling, then Moses asked God not to forgive him, either (Ex 32:32). When God suggested destroying the people and forming a new nation from Moses, he strenuously objected and the Lord pardoned the people (Num 14:11-19).
- Meekness: Moses was a humble person (Num 12:3). He did not seek superiority or rank for himself. He was willing to spread the leadership among many people. He even took advice from his father-in-law, Jethro (Ex 18).
- Faithfulness: Despite all the challenges of leading 2-3 million people out of Egypt and through the wilderness for forty years, Moses remained faithful to the Lord and to the task. When the majority of the people turned from the Lord, he remained faithful. He failed at a number of points, but he fulfilled the task to which God had called him.
- Spirituality: Moses had a close walk with God. On many occasions Moses experienced the physical presence of God and heard his voice. Exodus 33:11 tells us that “the LORD spoke unto Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.”
Works Cited
The English Standard Version Bible with the Apocrypha, (2009). Oxford University Press.
Holy Catholic Bible English Standard Version. (2001). The Good News Publishers of Wheaton, IL. Oxford University Press.
