Moses' Heart.

Contrary to popular opinion I believe Moses was chosen by God for the quality of his heart.

On the holy mountain God says to Moses, "'I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt.  I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their suffering, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, flowing with milk and honey'"  Exodus 3:7.8 (NRSV)

So God's compassion for His people is manifested through Moses' heart.

Rather than the traditional view that Moses showed great obedience to God I believe that Moses showed great love for God and His people.

By all accounts the children of Israel were a stubborn and unruly mob.
What was needed were some guidelines to renew their relationship with God.
God provided those guidelines through Moses' covenant.

[It should be noted that the original covenant (Exodus 34) was not a set of rules at all but observance of major religious festivals.  The Ten Commandments were not written for another 600 years.]

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]  

Photo Credit: imarigorta via Compfight cc