The Story of the Exodus 1-15 in Four Parts
Part I
From Prince to Fugitive to Shepherd
How did this get known, right up to Pharaoh’s throne?
Moses was alarmed, though he was unharmed,
But he must get away without delay!
Killing an Egyptian prompted a bad signal
of great danger to the safety of Egypt and anger to the leaders of the land.
There could be a revolution right at hand,
Once Moses would be on the throne,
For he was Pharaoh ’s adopted grandson.
With a woolen cloak and staff disguised Moses was not recognized,
As he left the palace and his home,
For many days in the wilderness to roam.
Where he would go he did not know, but Moses was keen
Not to be seen, so he went to the desert towards east,
By military outposts to be missed.
The brilliant, much–admired Prince and general –
Now a fugitive – what a fall from the height of fame –
To be now a man without a name…
……………………
Behind was the bustling life of towns and markets, people’s talking
Children’s laughing, and noise of dogs barking
Grew softer, as Moses hasted on to flee away from Egypt,
Never more to be the Pharaoh’s daughter’s beloved son,
As now an unknown future has begun.
Where will his journey end – he must find a new land,
His life has taken a sharp turn, another language, culture he must learn…
Exposed to heat by day and cold by night, consider how to travel best
On this conquest, then walk in the cooler hours so to beat
Extreme exposure for good measure.
Vast and open land lay now before him,
Rugged rocks, and here and there at first a little stream,
There Moses refreshed and filled the water pouch.
Scanty got the lush and fertile scene, and stillness was around him.
Some birds soared in the air, at times a jackal in the distance he could hear.
Moses had a strong constitution,
His well-trained body in superb condition,
This made him push forward with good speed,
But then must take heed once the barren desert comes in view.
And he knew, greatest care to take to spare his energy,
For water found there would be scanty.
Some days no palm trees were in sight for shelter,
Or dates for food and shadows from the bright, relentless burning sunlight.
Then he must dig for water with his hands in the sand,
It is crucial to survive and to preserve his life.
Sometimes he saw mountains, rocky steep terrain,
Moses looked there for a cave to remain,
And rest till moonlight led his way through the night.
……………………………
In all his travel Moses never felt forsaken or alone,
For his faith and trust lay in the One
Whom as a little boy his mother made him know,
Ere he came to the daughter of the Pharaoh.
Amidst the riches and his fame, Moses in his heart
Remained the same, his faith he would not sell
As a Hebrew stayed true to the God of Israel.
By God’s mysterious providential ways
He received the highest education, training in those days.
God had great plans for Amram’s son,
That by Moses’ skill and knowledge would lead on
To deliver Israel from the bondage so cruelly laid upon.
But killing one Egyptian to show his people
Being on their side, was a miscalculation on his side.
War and bloodshed were not God’s intention,
Nor force or any human based invention,
God Himself will be the Actor, His divine power be the factor,
Not alone Israel to free from slavery,
but display His might and glory, to a nation who did know Him not,
that they also may acknowledge Him as the true and living God.
Moses’ rashness needed be corrected,
Therefore God had thus selected,
A method of seclusion from all might and human illusion.
To lower Moses’ confidence, God sent him by His providence,
forty years into a distant land,
Every moment guided by His protecting, loving hand.
End of Part I
Edda Tedford