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January 21st, 2003
Santa Cruz, California
Received by F.A.B.
I am here, Moses.
I come tonight to deliver a message about my early life on earth,
but before I do, let me express the thought that many blessings
will
be coming to you in the next few weeks.
Well, to begin with, the story in the Torah about my birth and
infancy is quite true. Just as the Bible narrates, my mother sought
to hide me from the wrath of the Egyptians and put me in a basket
in
the river. She chose this way because she had no time to spare,
and
it was really the only way I could be spared. My sister Miriam
followed the basket as it floated down the river. And, by divine
providence, it did in fact end up right where Pharaoh's daughter
was
bathing. She had for awhile desired a child of her own, and
considered my appearance in the basket to be a gift and sign from
the
gods. The royal family was indulgent toward her and let her keep
me.
And so, without realizing my true identity, I grew up in the royal
family, enjoying all the things a prince could enjoy. Only I had
a
good character and was not really spoiled. I was, of course, obedient
to Pharaoh, and he grew very fond of me.
The Hebrew slaves were a very obvious presence everywhere, and
there was something in me, I knew not what, that attracted me to
them. I found myself engaging them sometimes in conversation. It
was
in this way that I discovered their way of thinking and their
religion. I had taken Egyptian religion rather lightly for two
reasons: firstly, as a prince, I was at the top of society, and
secondly, I found the beliefs rather unrealistic and even comical.
There was youthful bravado as well - all through history, young
people have felt alienated at times from the adult religion of their
culture. Actually, I never seriously investigated the claims of
Egyptian religion - I just accepted them as formalities and as a
background to my princely comings and goings, for you must know
that
mine was a relatively carefree youth, since obviously all my needs
and wishes were gratified.
You are wondering how I discovered my true identity. Well, one
day
some members of my true family started talking to me. They drew
me
out and were asking certain questions which I could not answer.
They
asked me if I wanted to know a secret about myself. They knew they
could trust me, as I had a reputation among the slaves for being
kind
and unaggressive. So, by the time our conversation was over, the
secret was revealed. I believed it because there was a throbbing
in
my soul which I had never felt before, and I had no cause to doubt
their sincerity. Of course, normally, an exchange like this between
slaves and a prince could end up quite violently for the slaves.
But
they decided to go out on a limb. I realize now that they were being
guided, as I was.
When I went back to my princely quarters, I lay awake all night
pondering this startling and unsettling revelation. And by the next
morning I knew my life would never be the same.
My sympathy for my people, therefore, increased, to the point
where, when I saw an Egyptian taskmaster beating a slave, I couldn't
stand it, and in a moment of passion, slew the former. Once the
deed
was done, in my distraught state, I realized that I could never
live
the princely life I was accustomed to again. So I fled into the
desert, in turmoil and agitated.
I am pleased with your reception of my thoughts.
Love, Moses
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