Exodus 2:10 When the child grew, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses; for she said, “I drew him out of the water.”
Culture plays a very important role in shaping a person’s identity. Personal identity is impacted by customs, practices, values, ethnicity and society. A child who is exposed to more than one culture can grapple with an identity crisis as they choose between the different sets of values, belief systems and practices. They may struggle to find their sense of belonging and acceptance.
Moses faced cultural confusion which resulted in an identity crisis in his early years. He was raised by his birth mother during his early childhood but was adopted by the Pharaoh’s daughter in his formative years. The Pharaoh’s daughter, who saved baby Moses from the king’s verdict to kill all the Hebrew boy babies, wanted a nursing mother to nurse the child. By divine orchestration Moses was brought back into the arms of his birth mother Jochebed. So, the Hebrew religion, language, culture and values were fed into him at an early age. When he was probably 5 or 6 years, he was taken back to the palace to be raised as the son of the Pharaoh’s daughter. Hence, Moses was proficient in the knowledge, culture and beliefs of the Egyptians as well. The dual culture left Moses crippled with identity crisis.
When Moses saw the Egyptians oppressing the Hebrew his blood boiled (as he was a Hebrew by birth), and he reacted instinctively. People with identity crisis are normally reactionary. With the advancement in technology, television and travel the present generation is confused with multicultural exposure.
Reshape Your Identity:
1. Reaction: A person quick to react is unsure about their identity and purpose. Be slow to speak.
2. Retort: A person quick to retort and judge is narrow-minded. Don’t give your judgement in haste. Wait, analyze and allow the Spirit of Discernment to guide you.
3. Reshape: Exposure to different cultures should broaden our thinking, allowing us to take the best from each culture and reshape our identity. Look for whatever is good, noble and praiseworthy and inculcate it into your identity.
“Don’t be confused by culture; discern wisely—embrace what is good, and reject anything that contradicts Scripture.”
Prayer: Father God, show me right from wrong and to reject anything that will corrupt my identity. Amen.
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