In the Footsteps of Moses: A Lenten Voyage with St. Gregory of Nyssa (Step#2)

Scripture Reading: Exodus chapter 1

Brief outline of Exodus 1:  The sons of Jacob migrate to Egypt where Joseph was already present. The Israelites multiplied greatly, causing a new Pharaoh, who did not know Joseph, to fear them. He subjected them to harsh labour, building cities like Pithom and Rameses. Despite the oppression, the Israelites continued to grow, leading to increased brutality. Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill all newborn Hebrew boys, but they were God-fearing women and defied Pharaoh. As a result, God blessed the midwives with families, and the Israelites continued to multiply. Frustrated, Pharaoh decreed that all newborn Hebrew boys be thrown into the Nile River.

Lessons from St. Gregory of Nyssa (‘Life of Moses’):

St. Gregory, reflecting on the birth of Moses during Pharaoh’s decree, explains that while our physical birth is influenced by external circumstances, there is also a concept of "birth by choice." This notion denotes that although we cannot choose the circumstances of our physical birth, we have the autonomy to decide how we live our lives.

According to St. Gregory, anything subject to change will not remain static, but will continuously transition from one state to another, resulting in either an improvement or deterioration from the previous condition. The spiritual meaning of this concept entails that individuals have the capacity to shape their lives through their free will, choosing to align their actions with either virtue or vice according to their desires.

Like Pharaoh favoured one form of life and decreed to kill the another, likewise, the Evil one will favour the materialistic form of life where one is subservient to passions and will oppose the life of virtue. Despite the tricks and acts of the evil one (‘ruler of the world’), we certainly have the choice to enter into the realm of godly light which is a better state of existence.

To put it simply, our choices shape who we become- we can ‘give birth to ourselves’ and define our identities through our actions and decisions. We can either choose to live virtuously (whose birth/life will not be allowed by the ‘world’) or succumb to our passions (whose birth/life will be favoured by the ‘world’).

Pharaoh’s decree and the response of the midwives highlights the struggle between living a life of virtue versus a life driven by base desires. The midwives symbolize our free will. The midwives had the choice to obey Pharaoh’s orders, but they defied it. Even when faced with opposition, we have the power to transform ourselves through our choices- we can strive for a virtuous life, which brings joy to God, our true parent. The birth that distresses the ‘Pharaoh’ (or the evil one) denotes the beginning of a virtuous life which is achieved through free will and often involves struggle and pain. 

Questions for Personal Reflection:

The saga of the Israelites' redemption from Egyptian tyranny begins with the stories of courageous women who acted righteously despite having a tyrannical ruler at the helm.  Consider areas in your life where you may need to address injustice or wrongdoing. Injustices can occur in various forms, either subtle or obvious, at homes, schools, or workplaces, and can impact self, family members, colleagues, or less privileged people. Are you addressing this call? Reflect on the times when you chose to quieten the still small voice of the conscience and maintained the status quo due to the fear of “pharaohs” of the society. In the light of St. Gregory’s teaching on us having the ability to ‘give birth to ourselves’, reflect on how are you holding yourself accountable for your choices in the face of external influences and temptations?

In Christ,

Rincy

Ref: Gregory of Nyssa, Saint. The Life of Moses. Translated by A.J. Malherbe and E. Ferguson, HarperCollins, 2006, pp. 32-33. HarperCollins Spiritual Classics series. (Original translation published by Paulist Press, 1978)

Disclaimer: The content presented here is a paraphrased summary based on my reading and understanding of the book cited above and is intended solely for educational and devotional purposes during Lent. They are not intended to replace the original work or represent the views of the author or publisher. Readers are encouraged to refer to the original book for a comprehensive understanding.