Moses

The TNT-produced “Moses” was a compelling and dramatic portrayal of a man who lead an extraordinary life, but remained very true to the Biblical picture of the man himself. Though not as glamorous or fast-moving as some recent versions of Moses’s life, I found this version to the most true to life and the truest to the Scriptures.

I will not retell the story that everyone knows so well, but will rather contrast this Moses with other portrayals. Ben Kingsley plays a Moses who stutters, feels inferior, and is laughed at by the court of the Pharaoh for not being a “true” Egyptian. Confused and tormented by his origins, he kills an Egyptian guard in anger and flees his mistakes. Finding peace for a time in Midian, Moses begs the Lord not to send him back to free the Israelites. This is a human Moses who doubts God at times, yet still presses on in faith, never knowing what the next day will bring. He endures disappointment, setback and hardship, yet perseveres to fulfill his divine mission.

This picture had terrific acting, production design and a script that did a great job accurately fitting four Old Testament books into four hours of screen time. There is disturbing violence, but no more than in the Biblical story itself. Overall, I found this picture strengthened my faith and helped make Moses more real to me as I read the Bible.