Hoge Memorial Presbyterian Church
2930 W. Broad Street Columbus OH 43204 614-276-5433
SECOND WINDOW ON EAST SIDE OF SANCTUARY
DEDICATED TO MOSES
Moses is one of the great towering figures of the Old Testament. Born in Egypt, saved miraculously from being murdered as a baby, found by a daughter of Pharoah in a basket floating amongst reeds in a river; Moses was raised as a prince at the royal court. Ancient art portrays him often dressed in opulent garments depicting his status at the court.
Later on Moses murdered an Egyptian, had to flee for his life and got a job as a shepherd in the land of Midian. There he met Zipporah who became his wife and who was the daughter of Jethro. While guarding the sheep, Yahweh called him into service to deliver his people from slavery in Egypt.
After some horrendous plagues, Moses and his people marched through the Red Sea crossing the desert into the promised land. Moses was allowed to take a glimpse at Palestine, but died before entering the land.
Moses is chiefly known for relating the Ten Commandments to the people of Israel. In our window we see him holding the tablets. The commandments were seen as a response of a grateful people to the deliverance from slavery in Egypt.
The life of Moses is a beautiful illustration of how a strong-willed leader has to relate to a rebellious and stubborn congregation, pleading often on their behalf to save them from the wrath of God. Moses also erected a bronze snake on the cross to save Israel from vicious snake bites which in effect became a forerunner of the cross of Jesus, a theme repeatedly depicted in Christian Art.
In the Sistine Chapel in Rome the life of Moses and of Jesus are painted as parallel courses telling us in effect that Jesus is the new Moses.