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Day Six: Introducing Moses and Pharaoh

Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand... When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian. Exodus 2:11-12, 15

There are two main characters in the story of the Exodus—Moses and Pharaoh. Moses and Pharaoh depict two distinct and essential parts of our own consciousness. The two main settings in the story, Canaan and Egypt, function similarly. Canaan portrays the higher spiritual values we hold to – values such as love to the Lord, love toward the neighbor, trying to do what is right, and integrity. Egypt portrays the things of the world – worldly knowledge, skills, and even physical possessions that can be used as a means of serving and expressing the spiritual ideals of Canaan. The meanings of Moses and Pharaoh in our lives follow from these definitions of Canaan and Egypt. Moses, who leads the children of Israel to Canaan, represents the striving for Canaan in our life; Pharaoh, who tries to keep the children of Israel enslaved, represents the enslaved thinking of Egypt in our lives.

Moses
Moses is the power of truth from the Lord’s Word and its effect upon our lives. Divine truth, revealed in the Bible, is a powerful light that shows us the way back to Canaan. Moses illustrates the spiritual truth that awakens our higher self. Ideas about the reality of God in our lives, loving the neighbor, or the life of service and usefulness, come to us from the Lord’s Word. If it were not for this truth from God, we would have no idea of these higher spiritual values. Moses allows us to hear the call of the Lord to leave Egypt and return to the promises of Canaan.

Pharaoh
If Moses is the power of truth from the Lord’s Word, then Paraoh is the truth or knowledge from the world. Practical ideas, such as how to cook, how to drive a car, and how to read come to us from the world. Worldly knowledge can serve either the will of God or the destructive ends of the forces of hell. Pharaoh can represent facts from the world, or he can also take on the negative meaning of falsity from the world. From the world, apart from Divine light, we might come to believe that it is better to serve ourselves than others, to live for the moment, or to deny God. A Pharaoh "who does not know Joseph," that is, who represents worldly knowledge apart from the heavenly Canaan, can lead us toward the love of the world as an end in itself. The reign of a Pharaoh who does not know Joseph, is the beginning of spiritual captivity.

When the Moses in our life comes to understand the brutality of the slavery of Pharaoh, there is a recognized need to escape this captivity. Moses’ flight to Midian after killing Pharaoh’s taskmaster reflects our coming to realize that a life dominated by material desires traumatizes and destroys our hopes of a spiritual life.

Insight
Moses is the power of truth from the Lord’s Word and its effect upon our lives.
Pharaoh is the knowledge from the world.

Prayer

Dear Lord, we come to you acknowledging that there are times in our life when we feel stuck and overwhelmed with negative habits and attitudes. We come into Your presence knowing that You are the source of strength, guidance, and hope. As we begin this journey, we ask you to be with us. Show us the things that it is time to leave behind and guide us in moving forward on our journey. Amen.

Reflection
Have you ever seen your worldly knowledge dominate and make obsolete the spiritual focus in your life?

Download this Reflection in printable form. (PDF)

Discussion Board
Share your thoughts on today's Journey in the discussion board.

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