Moses paused for a minute, taking a drink from his canteen, and appreciating the enraptured looks on Hur and Ezrae's faces. It had been nearly 40 years since he had gotten to see that.
He chuckled, clearing his throat and shaking the nostalgia away from his mind, before continuing with his story:
"In the days when I was born, in the year 1330, the wicked decree of Pharaoh Rameses I cast a shadow of darkness upon our people. A man from the tribe of Levi, my father, Amram; took a descendant of Levi, my mother, Jochebed, as his wife.
They knew the risks they faced; having to hide my mother's pregnancy, and have me in secret… but love prevailed, Yahweh saw my deliverance to this world safely, and I was born into their courageous arms."
Moses paused, reflecting on the tender love his mother had shown him, hiding him from the dangers of Egypt for three long and hard months… He cleared his throat and continued, "But as the days passed, my mother knew that her attempts to shield me from the Pharaoh's decree were coming to an end. With a heavy heart, she hand-weaved a basket of papyrus, and sealed it with tar and pitch, ensuring my protection against the currents of the Nile."
His voice trembled with emotion as he described his mother's brave act. "She laid me in that small vessel, entrusting my fate to the gentle embrace of the river. My sister, Miriam, watched over me from a distance, her love and concern unwavering."
Moses leaned forward, his eyes filled with intensity, and said, "And then, by the grace of God, destiny, fate, His will, what have you; took its course. The daughter of the future Pharaoh Seti I, known to us as 'Bithiah,' since she became a daughter of God. Her true name was Thermouthis, or as she was affectionately known; Princess Tiya.
She was drawn by the voice of Yahweh to the waters of the Nile, where she discovered my sealed basket among the reeds. Her compassionate heart, through the power of the Ruach, was able to recognize my Israelite heritage, and she decided to rescue me from the waters that surely would have been my demise. Because this Egyptian woman took pity on a poor child… I stand here before you, today."
Ezrae's jaw hung open slightly; He was completely enraptured, absorbing every single detail, as Moses continued his tale. Hur, who was just as enraptured, asked "what happened next Papa Moses??" And Moses was struck with nostalgia from when they were all significantly younger.
He smiled and responded with, "well, next, Miriam, my eldest sister, who had been watching from a bit away, in an effort to ensure my safety, seized this opportunity to approach the princess. Princess Tiya had attempted to nurse me, but I would not take, and miriam offered to find an Israelite woman to nurse me. The princess granted her request, and with joyous haste, Miriam called our mother to partake in this clandestine reunion. Truly, the hand of God was upon our family that day…"
A bittersweet smile played on Moses' lips as he remembered those days. "And so, I was nursed by my own mother, and the daughter of the future Pharaoh became my guardian… my 'mother.' She named me Moses, a divinely inspired name, signifying the act of drawing me out from the waters that threatened to swallow me."
Moses paused, taking a deep breath, before delving into the subsequent chapters of his life. "As I grew older, the weight of our people's suffering pressed upon my heart. I witnessed firsthand the oppressive force, painful injuries, and never-ending labor inflicted upon the Israelites… One day, driven by a burning sense of justice, I could no longer stand idly by."
He described with fervor how he intervened in a conflict, defending a Hebrew man from the blows of an Egyptian oppressor. Fear and uncertainty filled his voice as he confessed to Ezrae, "I was filled with remorse, for I had taken a life. I buried the Egyptian in the sand, but the knowledge of my deed weighed heavily upon me."
With a touch of relief, Moses continued, "News of my act reached the ears of Pharaoh, and he sought my life. I had no choice but to flee from the land that had sheltered me for so long. I wandered into the land of Midian, where destiny would intertwine my path with that of the priest's daughters."
Moses's gaze became distant, lost in the memories. "These daughters faced harassment from shepherds of that land, but I defended them, and assisted them in watering their flock. Their gratitude led me to their father, Reuel, who welcomed me into his home. I worked his fields for him as a shepherd, for years to come.
It was there that I met, courted, and fell in love with Zipporah, one of Reuel's daughters; and after many trials and obstacles, we were wed.
Our union blessed us with a son named Gershom; a name that I gave to him as a testament to my feelings of being a total stranger in a foreign land…"
"And so, I was a shepherd; tending to the flock of my father-in-law Jethro, a priest of Midian. Day after day, I guided the sheep through the vast desert, seeking green pastures, vegetation, and water sources. It was during one of these journeys that EVERYTHING changed…"