Life began for Moses when he decided to take sides. Of course, that's when life begins for anyone. We dare not oversimplify the complex issues of life and society to the point where we see everything as black and white, because this is too easy a solution. The fact that it is a delusion which has often beset reformers and crusaders does not make it right. Having acknowledged this caution, however, we still need to recognize life began for Moses when he stopped being a neutral observer and willingly became a participant in the struggle for justice and human rights.

There is a puzzling aspect to this whole matter which we cannot answer. What brought Moses into the fray at this point? It seems pretty obvious his attack upon the Egyptian guard did not come about because this was the first tim…