Introduction
The story of the Exodus details the Israelites’ journey from oppression in Egypt to freedom. Pharaoh and Moses are related because they were the key human decision-makers shaping the oppressed nation’s future. The reasons for these relationships include Moses’s long-term contact with the Egyptian royalty arranged by God and the two characters’ tremendous power stemming from political authority or divine support. The characters feature various dissimilarities and common traits related to mercy, trust, perseverance, missions, and beliefs.
Interactions, Relations, and Responses
The two characters have significant similarities and differences regarding trust and mercy. Regarding their crucial interactions and how Pharaoh and Moses respond to one another, the two leaders are similar in their distrust for each other. In Exodus 7:11, Pharaoh responds to Moses’s and Aaron’s miracles with apparent mistrust as he summons his people to uncover the secrets behind the trick (New International Version Bible, 1973/2011). With a similar lack of trust, Moses expects Pharaoh not to listen to him (New International Version Bible, 1973/2011, Exodus 6:30).
In their interaction in Exodus 8:9-10, Moses also features true mercy by promising to pray for Pharaoh and remove the frogs (New International Version Bible, 1973/2011). However, Pharaoh’s response did not include gratitude in the form of complying with the initial request, revealing that he is stubborn rather than merciful. However, the reasons for these responses can be similar and incorporate God’s intervention as he affects both parties’ viewpoints.
Strengths Brought into the Exodus Account
Both characters in question bring strengths into the Exodus account: self-belief and perseverance in implementing one’s vision. Both leaders remain focused on their initial positions regarding the Israelites’ hierarchical status and rights and remain consistent in terms of these assumptions. However, regarding differences, in Moses’s case, the traits as mentioned earlier are accompanied by other positive features or strengths, such as sincere devotion and limitless trust in God. In contrast, Pharaoh’s grit takes the form of stubbornness since he keeps rejecting God’s will despite his nation’s suffering.
Motivation for Action
In terms of motives, aside from God’s impacts, both characters are led by their underlying beliefs, but the latter are drastically dissimilar. In Exodus 7:1, the Lord tells Moses that he is “like God to Pharaoh,” implying that the Creator has provided Moses with enough support to put his plan into action (New International Version Bible, 1973/2011). Moses’s key motivations refer to representing the Lord’s will regarding the Israelites’ fate to fulfill his mission as a prophet.
In contrast, as an authoritarian ruler, Pharaoh is guided by power, status, and ego considerations. For Pharaoh, complying with God’s request, expressed through the help of Moses, would mean acknowledging that his power and authority are far from limitless. He actively searches for pretexts to understate God’s superiority, arguing that Aaron’s miracle was just a trick (New International Version Bible, 1973/2011, Exodus 7:11). Thus, the characters’ actions stem from different assumptions regarding their missions or egoistic interests.
Conclusion
In conclusion, based on their interactions, responses, relations, strengths, and motivations, Pharaoh and Moses have some aspects in common, including suspicion regarding the opponent, access to power, and consistency in their beliefs. However, dissimilarities are also numerous, ranging from the manifestations of mercy and devotion to the role of God in the ruler’s and prophet’s motivations and choices. These differences are responsible for the story’s dynamics and a number of obstacles on the Israelites’ path to freedom.
Reference
New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica.