What are the three 40-year periods of Moses' life?
Moses' life is divided into three 40-year segments. The first 40 years were spent in Pharaoh's palace as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. The second 40 years were spent on the backside of the desert herding sheep. The third 40 years began at Sinai's burning bush, when he returned to deliver and lead Israel.
Les explains that Moses' whole life is broken down into three 40-year segments, not counting the five years in his mother's house. The first 40 years, Moses was in Pharaoh's palace as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. The second 40 years, he was on the backside of the desert herding sheep, and he married a Gentile, with Gershom born to him. The third 40 years began when, as Acts 7:30 says, 40 years were expired and the angel of the Lord appeared in the wilderness of Sinai in a flame of fire at the bush. Moses then went back to deliver the children of Israel and lead them in the wilderness. Acts 7:23 notes that at a full 40 years old, it came into his heart to visit the children of Israel. Exodus 2:23 adds that in the process of time the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel sighed and cried because of the bondage, and their cry came up to God.
More Questions
What event marked the beginning of Moses' third 40-year period?
The appearance of the angel of the Lord at the burning bush marked the beginning of Moses' third 40-year period.
What happened when Moses was 40 years old according to Acts 7:23?
Acts 7:23 says that when Moses was a full 40 years old, it came into his heart to visit the children of Israel.