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The Life of Moses: God's First Deliverer of Israel
Moses is renowned as a great lawgiver, prophet, friend of God, and deliverer of his people. The events of his life, spanning four books of the Bible, resound throughout Scripture. In this epic undertaking, James M. Boice delves into the narrative to uncover its rich meaning and gospel application to our lives today. We can learn a lot from Moses about faithfulness, prayerfulness, meekness, and good leadership—we can even learn from his sins and failure! But Boice shows how we can also look beyond Moses and the Israelites to the awesome power of God and the promise of a much needed, much greater Deliverer.
456 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2018
24 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
James Montgomery Boice
268 books100 followersJames Montgomery Boice was a Reformed theologian, Bible teacher, and pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia from 1968 until his death in 2000. He was also president and cofounder of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, the parent organization of The Bible Study Hour on which Boice was a speaker for more than thirty years.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 4, 2022
I was really excited about this book because Moses is debatably my favorite Bible character. I started out really loving it and enjoying the insight into his life. However, as it went on, it seemed to turn into more of a commentary of Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy rather than focusing specifically on Moses’ life. There was still a lot of good content, but it wasn’t what I was hoping for. I felt like some parts could have had dove deeper and some were not necessary at all. But overall a good book.
August 4, 2023
I love this book. Though familiar with the various stories of Moses, it was eye-opening to see his life from beginning to end. A great man, indeed. A man of faith in the great and awesome God.
August 18, 2018
As a child, the stories of Moses captivated me much more than "Father Abraham" or even Joseph and his coat of many colors. Sure, they were interesting.....but when my Sunday School teacher (who, by the way, was also my mom) would pull out the manila envelope containing the musty smelling flannelgraph pieces depicting the 10 plagues, and the parting of the Red Sea, and the pillar of fire - ok, well, the fire scared me a bit - I'd usually quit making faces at the red-headed boy in our class, or quit pulling my sister's hair long enough to listen.
I never grew tired of it.
I also recall being allowed to stay up late to watch Charlton Heston in the movie "The Ten Commandments", broadcast each year right around Easter. That booming voice, the burning bush, the Nile river turning to blood....that was good stuff.
And so was the Jiffy popcorn we'd make, to eat while watching it.
Moses was this almost "bigger than life" character to me...along the lines of Spiderman or Wolverine or Captain America. I was captivated by the theatrics of it all....but never really learned about the heart of this man, who walked with God so closely, until many years later when my life was in shambles, and I found myself echoing Moses words to God, when having to make some big decisions: "And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here." (Exodus 33:15) Essentially, Moses was saying to God that He did not want to take one step forward without God with him.
And neither did I.
And, neither do I.
When P&R Publishing requested that I review James Montgomery Boice's book "The Life of Moses", I eagerly took it on. I am so glad that I did.
I came away from this book with a much richer and deeper view of Moses - but, more importantly, when I closed the book after reading the final page, I realized that even more than learning about Moses, Boice's words drew my soul into learning more about the God of Moses...and, my God. While the subject was Moses, we were pointed to God with every word, sentence, paragraph and chapter. God's faithfulness is the real story here...as it should be, in the stories of our own lives.
Boice examined the story of Moses from birth to death...from Exodus 1 through Deuteronomy 34. There was so much material here, but it never felt overwhelming. Instead, his logical path of teaching flowed seamlessly, so that it never felt like a chore. One thing I appreciated in particular was Boice's honesty - when a particular passage was troublesome or hard to grasp, he admitted that. When authors come at their writing with such honesty, it gives readers the courage and hope that what they are learning is accessible - if an educated and expert author struggles with why God allows something, or why God acts in a certain way, then when we struggle, too, it is not as discouraging.
Psalm 90 is an important Psalm to me. Always has been; I even sang a song written about Psalm 90 at our wedding. Even in the face of great uncertainty about the future, God has been, and is, and will always be, my dwelling place. Moses is the author of Psalm 90, and after reading this book and taking a close look at Moses' steadfastness and hope in God, I find the words of Psalm 90 to be just that much more important to me. From everlasting to everlasting, He is God.
I'll close this review with a few words from Psalm 90, and a quote from the book, about this Psalm:
Lord, you have been our dwelling place[a]
in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Psalm 90: 1-2
"Moses tells us, through his own example, that if we are going to reflect on life and death with any wisdom, our view of both must begin with God, the eternal one....Those who trust in God have an eternal, secure dwelling place on earth....if we are anchored in God, our dwelling place with Him is secure." Boice; The Life of Moses
I never grew tired of it.
I also recall being allowed to stay up late to watch Charlton Heston in the movie "The Ten Commandments", broadcast each year right around Easter. That booming voice, the burning bush, the Nile river turning to blood....that was good stuff.
And so was the Jiffy popcorn we'd make, to eat while watching it.
Moses was this almost "bigger than life" character to me...along the lines of Spiderman or Wolverine or Captain America. I was captivated by the theatrics of it all....but never really learned about the heart of this man, who walked with God so closely, until many years later when my life was in shambles, and I found myself echoing Moses words to God, when having to make some big decisions: "And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here." (Exodus 33:15) Essentially, Moses was saying to God that He did not want to take one step forward without God with him.
And neither did I.
And, neither do I.
When P&R Publishing requested that I review James Montgomery Boice's book "The Life of Moses", I eagerly took it on. I am so glad that I did.
I came away from this book with a much richer and deeper view of Moses - but, more importantly, when I closed the book after reading the final page, I realized that even more than learning about Moses, Boice's words drew my soul into learning more about the God of Moses...and, my God. While the subject was Moses, we were pointed to God with every word, sentence, paragraph and chapter. God's faithfulness is the real story here...as it should be, in the stories of our own lives.
Boice examined the story of Moses from birth to death...from Exodus 1 through Deuteronomy 34. There was so much material here, but it never felt overwhelming. Instead, his logical path of teaching flowed seamlessly, so that it never felt like a chore. One thing I appreciated in particular was Boice's honesty - when a particular passage was troublesome or hard to grasp, he admitted that. When authors come at their writing with such honesty, it gives readers the courage and hope that what they are learning is accessible - if an educated and expert author struggles with why God allows something, or why God acts in a certain way, then when we struggle, too, it is not as discouraging.
Psalm 90 is an important Psalm to me. Always has been; I even sang a song written about Psalm 90 at our wedding. Even in the face of great uncertainty about the future, God has been, and is, and will always be, my dwelling place. Moses is the author of Psalm 90, and after reading this book and taking a close look at Moses' steadfastness and hope in God, I find the words of Psalm 90 to be just that much more important to me. From everlasting to everlasting, He is God.
I'll close this review with a few words from Psalm 90, and a quote from the book, about this Psalm:
Lord, you have been our dwelling place[a]
in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Psalm 90: 1-2
"Moses tells us, through his own example, that if we are going to reflect on life and death with any wisdom, our view of both must begin with God, the eternal one....Those who trust in God have an eternal, secure dwelling place on earth....if we are anchored in God, our dwelling place with Him is secure." Boice; The Life of Moses
May 31, 2018
"The Life of Moses" is a Bible study of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy based on a sermon series given by the author. The first half focused on Exodus and the second half was divided between Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. While the author spent most of his time on the narrative portions of the text, he did summarize the laws, rituals, and such. He explained how the various sacrifices and feasts point to Jesus and how the New Testament refers back to specific verses.
In each chapter, the author took a section of verses and summarized them. He provided background context and pointed out insights. He drew out principles that apply to our lives, but he also focused on what we learn about God from those verses. When he talked about symbolism in an object or person, he focused on what the New Testament authors point out as divinely intended symbolism.
The text was easy to read but stayed focused on the text and didn't get sidetracked into entertaining stories. Overall, I felt that this was a solid study. I'd highly recommend it, especially to Christians who are unfamiliar with these books of the Bible.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
In each chapter, the author took a section of verses and summarized them. He provided background context and pointed out insights. He drew out principles that apply to our lives, but he also focused on what we learn about God from those verses. When he talked about symbolism in an object or person, he focused on what the New Testament authors point out as divinely intended symbolism.
The text was easy to read but stayed focused on the text and didn't get sidetracked into entertaining stories. Overall, I felt that this was a solid study. I'd highly recommend it, especially to Christians who are unfamiliar with these books of the Bible.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
June 13, 2018
This book is excellent and it enabled me to delve deeper into understanding the character and ministry of Moses. I found it very easy to read and understand. The first half of the book centres on the book of Exodus and the second on the books of Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Although this is a book about Moses it constantly leads us back to the power and trustworthy nature of God and also helps us apply The Gospel to our life today. This is the first commentary I have read by James Montgomery Boice but it won’t be the last! I received a free copy of this book from P & R Publishing in exchange for an honest review. A favourable review was not required and all opinions expressed here are my own.
May 23, 2018
I have been studying Moses on my own for quite awhile. Yet the details of his life are gripping. This resource sends you back to the scriptures, digging in to see if it's accurate. I love a text that does that!
October 19, 2023
Following after his sermons and commentary on the book of Genesis, this volume contains Boice's sermons on the next four books of the Old Testament, examining them through the lens of the life of Moses, who wrote the first five books of the Old Testament and who is the central human figure in those books. I say "human" because Boice points out, as he always did, how the Biblical text and characters constantly point us to Jesus Christ, the central figure of the Bible.
Unlike his other sermons/commentaries, this one does not take a verse-by-verse approach, but uses a broader, more sweeping approach to the material, covering much more of the text in each chapter. For example, the entire book of Deuteronomy is covered in only four chapters. In contrast he takes 16 chapters to cover the book of Exodus.
Boice consistently shows how Moses pointed forward to Christ, the last and only perfect deliverer. He focuses not only on the sinfulness and continuing rebellion of the Israelites but even more on the patience and grace of God. Each chapter ends with numerous applications derived from the text he has just considered.
If you have ever found it difficult to read through and understand the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, this book will be a tremendous help in understanding, and seeing those books in context of the whole of Biblical revelation. Truly worthwhile!
Unlike his other sermons/commentaries, this one does not take a verse-by-verse approach, but uses a broader, more sweeping approach to the material, covering much more of the text in each chapter. For example, the entire book of Deuteronomy is covered in only four chapters. In contrast he takes 16 chapters to cover the book of Exodus.
Boice consistently shows how Moses pointed forward to Christ, the last and only perfect deliverer. He focuses not only on the sinfulness and continuing rebellion of the Israelites but even more on the patience and grace of God. Each chapter ends with numerous applications derived from the text he has just considered.
If you have ever found it difficult to read through and understand the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, this book will be a tremendous help in understanding, and seeing those books in context of the whole of Biblical revelation. Truly worthwhile!
December 13, 2020
I am grateful that this book accompanied me for the past five months. When I purchased it, I did not realize how applicable it would be to our current situation in the body of Christ. I imagined there would be much to learn about the servant Moses -and there was-, but I also found several relevant foci throughout the book: What is the meaning of our deliverance? How is our kingdom a spiritual kingdom? How do we endure the wilderness period, and seasons of want and suffering? How do we view authorities, political and spiritual? Most applicable to me: are we grumblers? I found myself chastised for complaining and driven more to prayer for all which I stand in need of. The Lord used this book to humble me, grow me in a knowledge of him and a love for his church, and to desire to better honor the authorities he has appointed. Chock-full of meaningful exegetical insights, cultural background, and a redemptive-historical approach, this book is a true 2020 recommendation.
July 22, 2021
The Life of Moses is one of the best books to cross my desk over the past couple of years. It is both scholarly and imminently practical. Boice was a renowned theologian and preacher. This is the precise combination that comes through in the voice of this book.
Essentially a commentary on the Penteteuch, the work is structured around the life of Moses. It does not delve into every detail as it analyzes each chapter, rather it highlights what we see in Moses' life as he follows the God of Scripture.
I was often encouraged to dig deeper into my Scripture knowledge (this work is well researched) and to aspire to a lifestyle of surrender to the loving God of creation. Moses may be the human focal point but this work decidedly settles on an expansive critique of the nature of God Who takes His people from bondage to nationhood under the leadership of His prophet.
I'll revisit this book in the future. Excellent work.
Essentially a commentary on the Penteteuch, the work is structured around the life of Moses. It does not delve into every detail as it analyzes each chapter, rather it highlights what we see in Moses' life as he follows the God of Scripture.
I was often encouraged to dig deeper into my Scripture knowledge (this work is well researched) and to aspire to a lifestyle of surrender to the loving God of creation. Moses may be the human focal point but this work decidedly settles on an expansive critique of the nature of God Who takes His people from bondage to nationhood under the leadership of His prophet.
I'll revisit this book in the future. Excellent work.
February 9, 2022
Wonderful examination of the life of the writer of the Pentateuch and friend of God. Written from a staunchly biblical perspective, Boice takes the reader through the Pentateuch to examine Moses’ life. A man of courage, faith, prayer, humility, and leadership; we all can learn from Moses, the friend, lawgiver, and prophet of God.
Note about the audio book — I will say that if the content of this book was not so rich, I likely would have not listened to audio book. The reader mispronounces every single name except for that of Moses. Even the name “Levi” which is reward countless times, to the extent that is became very frustrating. As the most extreme example, the reader pronounces “Philippians” as “Philistines” every time the NT book is referenced.
Note about the audio book — I will say that if the content of this book was not so rich, I likely would have not listened to audio book. The reader mispronounces every single name except for that of Moses. Even the name “Levi” which is reward countless times, to the extent that is became very frustrating. As the most extreme example, the reader pronounces “Philippians” as “Philistines” every time the NT book is referenced.
August 5, 2020
Dr. Boice is one voice that remains in my head, long after he has gone to his rest. And so it was interesting to hear the voice of another reading his work. He was a great defender of the "inerrancy" of Scripture. He was also a great pastor and so much like Moses, he was plain-spoken. He also paid great attention to detail in this work. And therefore, where the text can be interpreted in various ways, he explained them all and usually chose his best guess for reasons which he put forth. Reading this work was time well-spent.
October 12, 2025
An absolutely excellent book on this phenomenal leader of the nation of Israel. Boice pedals his way through all of the first five books of the Bible, providing explanation for each section. He does a wonderful job of providing clear explanation to hard passages, such as Leviticus and the minute details of the law and directives for the tabernacle.
Each chapter contains not only an explanation of the section but also considers how it can apply to the life of the believer. I treasure this book and it was a joy to read it during my devotional time.
Each chapter contains not only an explanation of the section but also considers how it can apply to the life of the believer. I treasure this book and it was a joy to read it during my devotional time.
November 23, 2025
I really enjoyed learning about the life and leadership of Moses in this book. Like another reviewer mentioned, there is quite a bit of content covering the Pentateuch, so it reads like study on the writings of Moses in addition to being a study on Moses himself. But having finished, I’m not sure a study on Moses would be fully developed without diving into the books of the Bible that he wrote. Good book. We can learn so much from Moses’ example.
May 6, 2021
excelllent book!!!! so much more (and longer) than what i thought it was gonna be.... but covered so much material! what a great way to dig into the life of Moses. covering so much of the Pentateuch, and setting a foundation for all that would come in Christ :) . organized, thorough, and encouraging.
November 15, 2021
A fantastic biography on the life of Moses. Boice shows why Moses is such a towering figure in the Old Testament. That Moses had such a close fellowship with God should make every Christian strive to have the same.
September 23, 2022
Just wow!
October 5, 2022
This is the most excellent and thorough work on Moses I've read.
March 3, 2023
I like to read books about characters in the Bible.
July 28, 2023
so historical and inspirational. Glad I took the time to finish.
January 8, 2026
Exceptional study of the story of Moses. Fabulous!!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews