Something that I have overlooked talking about is the fact that the Passover story is perhaps one of the earliest records of an adoption taking place. Moses, as an infant, was placed in the Nile River in a basket (because Pharoh had decreed that all male infants should be killed, Moses' mother was trying to save him) and he was retrieved by the daughter of Pharoh himself and raised in his household. The name Moses, as the Bible states, comes from "because I drew him out of the waters." Although one could say that there is an earlier adoption story in the Bible with Abraham and Lot, I think that was more of a case of Lot being taken under Abraham's wing and helped out in life. Besides, Lot was older, whereas Moses is clearly being raised in a different family.

How much did Moses' background influence the man he became? How much information was he given about his biological background as he was raised? Clearly there was some information given to him, and it is clear from the text that others recognized him as a Hebrew rather than an Egyptian, though I've always wondered how it was that Pharoh allowed him to be reared in his house.

Is this a good adoption story? I think it's hard to say, as the Bible provides few details. On the one hand, I could share it with Anna saying "look - Moshe (Moses) was adopted too!" On the other hand, am I really eager to share with her the fact that Moses returns to the people of his birth and seemingly rejects those who raised him? I know that she will learn the truth, and I hope that we can work through the story together. As much as I've often wondered how Moses' adoption affected him, I now think about how his story will affect my own daughter.