The

Unfaithful
Prophet
A term paper in fulfillment of the final requirement of CHS 1
Milverose V. Yrad
CHS 1 – P
 I. Introduction
After the time of Joseph, the Egyptians already forgot about him. The Israelites that once
settled there were enslaved. Despite this, their generation flourished, ad this made the pharaoh
worry about the growing population. Fear of being overthrown, the pharaoh ordered every infant
male of the Israelites to be killed. The two midwives, Shiprah and Puah, decided to spare Moses’
life. He was hidden from the Egyptians soldiers by putting him in a woven basket and let him
float on the Nile River. He eventually was found by the pharaoh’s daughter and raised him of her
own. He was raised to believe he is an Egyptian, however, God has different plans for him.
Moses was disgusted by the injustice that the Israelites experience. He killed an Egyptian soldier
when he saw the soldier abusing an Israelite slave. Out of fear of being caught, he escaped Egypt
and arrived at Midian where he met his future wife. He stayed there for 40 years. However,
Moses was called by God at Mt. Sinai, and that started his journey as Israel’s liberator and
leader.
II. Summary of the Story
God called for Moses in the form of a bush that was set on fire but the bush itself was not
burning. God told Moses that he should go back to Egypt to deliver the people. However, Moses
was unsure of himself and his capabilities. Moses was reassured by God that He will be with
him. Therefore, he set to Egypt and performed miracles to convince the pharaoh that his God is
powerful and that He is with him. He first turned his staff into snake and ate the other snakes of
the pharaoh’s priests. The pharaoh still refused to let the Israelites go. As a result, God, through
Moses, gave ten plagues to the Egyptians. The water turned to blood, there were also frogs, lice,
flies, livestock pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and the killing of firstborn children.
Defeated by the death of his firstborn son, the pharaoh let the Israelites go. However, he had a
change of heart and decided to pursue them. Moses separated the Red Sea through his staff and
they were able to flee from the Egyptians. This summary shows how hesitant Moses is and how
reassuring God is. Amidst Moses’ doubts, God was always with him and Moses fulfilled God’s
plans.
III. Character’s Significance/Importance & Contribution to the Israelite’s Faith
Moses made a significant contribution to the Israelite’s faith. During the time of Jesus, for
example, the pharisees use the laws of Moses as a guide or a basis in condemning Jesus’ ways. It
just shows that the Israelites show high regard to Moses and how they try to follow the laws
made during Moses’ time word for word. Moses was deemed as the law maker.
Moreover, Moses’ leadership and the challenges that comes with being in authority to a
nation is the basis of how we deal with our own leaders as well. He is considered inexperienced
in leading multitudes of people, and yet God chose to trust him. According to (Theology of
work, par. 10, n.d.) and in Deuteronomy 34:10, no prophet in Israel has been like Moses whom
God knows face-to-face. Despite this, he faced the unfaithfulness of people within him during
trying times. He was almost ousted by Miriam and Aaron themselves. However, God tells the
Israelites to have patience and faith to those whom He puts in authority, and that is how we
should look at our future leaders. The story of Moses doesn’t mean that future leaders don’t have
to be questioned, criticized or even replace, but we should discern them as someone who carries
out God’s authority. God is open to questions, because sometimes His decisions are difficult for
us to understand, but we should do it in a diplomatic way otherwise there are consequences.
When Miriam and Aaron tried to strike a rebellion against Moses instead of talking it out with
him, God punished the two of them in Numbers 12:10-12. Theology of Work states that, “The
authority of God’s chosen leader must be respected, for to rebel against such a leader is to rebel
against God himself.”
Furthermore, the Jews also celebrate the Passover as a commemoration of how God spared
the firstborn Israelites from the angel of death. It was during the time of Moses that paved how
the Passover should be observed and it was carried out to the future generations, (Britannica,
n.d., par. 2).

IV. Our Filipino Context

Israel has never been a nation. It started as descendants of Abraham and Sarah, and later on
organized into clans during Joseph’s time. In their slavery in Egypt, they became a minority
whose size is nation-like. Even during their escape from Egypt, they are just an organized mob of
refugees. Their freedom from Egypt meant that they have to be a nation of their own, (Theology
of Work, n.d., par 8).
This is similar to what happened to the Philippine government back then when the
colonization of Spaniards was over. Certainly, there is a price to freedom. Just like the Israelites,
the Philippine government back then struggled to gain its own authority and sense of
independence after they were colonized. The responsibility of forming a government falls under
Pres. Manuel Quezon. The same responsibility also fell to Moses. The abrupt transition was a
struggle to both of them, and also to their people. Both the Filipinos and the Israelites ignited a
rebellion against their leaders because they felt that their leaders failed them and that it is better
to replace them.
Moreover, the plagues that God sent to Egypt is what happens to countries who can’t settle
their disputes with a diplomatic approach. It could’ve been avoided if the pharaoh prioritized his
people instead of his pride and ego. Similarly, the Philippine government also negotiates with
other countries, especially for the pardon of Filipino prisoners who were wrongfully accused and
are about to be sentenced to death. Another example is also when our country tries to find a
middle ground between China in terms with our rights in the West Philippine Sea. If we had
been confident like Moses that we can outpower China, then we would also try to intimidate
them through our military power. However, this idealistic perspective puts us at a huge
disadvantage in case China would wage war to the Philippines. Therefore, we settle with what
China wants in order to keep our peace.

V. Personal Reflection
Moses carried a big role even if he didn’t sign up for it. God chose him. Yet, I somehow
sympathize for Moses that he didn’t get to enter the Promise Land because God deemed him
unfaithful. He was unfaithful. There were times that he questioned God maybe because he could
only direct to God the frustrations the he feels about himself. I feel that the burden was too much
for someone who was basically pressured to set the Israelites free and lead them, because there
isn’t someone else.
I believe that we often rely on one person to do such a big task. In politics, we often put one
leader into the pedestal and place years of consecutive government failures for one person to
solve. In our families, the eldest is placed under so much pressure into succeeding life, being a
good example to his/her siblings, and the retirement plan of their parents. In school, we often
look for the most intelligent person when a teacher asks a difficult question. Moses’s life was
predestined, and it’s hard to remain unfazed by the challenges thrown at him when he himself
can’t see what made God choose him. Moreover, I found it sad that we are like Moses in some
ways. We may not be the chosen one, yet we don’t do anything to step up because of the very
same reason – someone else is deemed more special than you are. I believe that if you want
something to happen, you shouldn’t wait for a Moses, do it yourself. Or step up alongside
someone like Moses. It’s implied in the story of Exodus that we need a savior or knight in
shining armor, but in reality, we can all just be like Moses had we have the courage to be like
him.
Moreover, I also learned that unfortunate incidents happen when we add our personal touch to
what God wants us to do. Moses was banned from entering the Promise Land because he
disobeyed God’s orders at Meribah. He was instructed to take his staff and command the rock to
give water enough for everyone. Rather, he rebuked the people who were complaining about the
lack of water and strike the rock twice, all of these were not part of God’s orders. It was out of
his frustration to the constant complaints of the Israelites. War, genocide, and other worldwide
man-made catastrophes were instigated by leaders who believed that it was the right thing to do
or they were just carrying out a big plan but behind all that excuses lies personal intentions and
decisions fueled by personal beliefs. For example, the persecution of the Jews by the Nazis was
justified by Hitler as a cleansing of an impure bloodline when in fact he was just insecure and
afraid of the Jews he so called filthy.
VI. References
The Bible (Exodus to Numbers – New International Version)
https://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/numbers-and-work//#moses-unfaithfulness-at-
meribah-numbers-202-13
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Passover