And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. 2 So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him for three months. (Exodus 2:1-2)
This speaks of intercession. Father and mother should hide their children through intercession.
But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank. (Exodus 2:3)
She took an ark of bulrushes for him:
This refers to Moses' mother gathering papyrus reeds and making a small basket-like vessel to hide baby Moses in. Bulrushes were used because they float and could hold the baby safely on the river.
Daubed it with asphalt and pitch:
Asphalt and pitch were waterproofing agents that sealed the basket to keep it afloat and prevent water from entering. This showed the ingenuity and resourcefulness of Moses' mother to protect her son.
Laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank:
Hiding the basket among the reeds kept it hidden from view. The river's edge was strategic - this allowed the basket to float downstream where the Egyptian princess bathed.
And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him. (Exodus 2:4)
This shows that Miriam was older than her brother Moses.
Then, the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it. (Exodus 2:5)
The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river:
Pharaoh's daughter, identified later as Bithiah (1 Chronicles 4:18), went down to the Nile River to bathe, which was common practice. This positioned her to find baby Moses.
And when she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” (Exodus 2:6)
This clearly tells us that the Hebrews looked different from the Egyptians.
7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?” 8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the maiden went and called the child’s mother. 9 Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. (Exodus 2:7-9)
Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.”:
In God's providence, Pharaoh's daughter agreed with Miriam's suggestion, not knowing the baby was Hebrew. This further shows God's sovereignty over rulers' decisions. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” (Proverbs 21:1).
The woman took the child and nursed him:
Jochebed was overjoyed to bring up her own son and instill in him the faith of the God of Israel. She followed the Lord's leading despite uncertainty about the future.
And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. So she called his name Moses, saying, “Because I drew him out of the water.” (Exodus 2:10)
She brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter:
When Moses was old enough, likely around 3-5 years old, his mother brought him to live in Pharaoh's palace as Pharaoh's daughter's adopted son.
He became her son:
Though born a Hebrew, Moses was raised with all the privilege and education of an Egyptian prince. This put him in a strategic position to later deliver Israel.
She called his name Moses:
"Moses" sounds like the Hebrew word for "draw out". Pharaoh's daughter named him this because she drew him out of the water. But God also drew him out to be Israel's deliverer.
Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. (Exodus 2:11)
When Moses was grown:
After being raised in Pharaoh's palace as an adopted prince of Egypt, Moses reached adulthood. The Jewish historian Josephus says he was about 20 years old at this point.
He went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens:
Though raised in privilege, Moses went to see the Hebrew slaves, identifying with them as his kin. He observed their hard labour and burdensome existence.
He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew:
Moses witnessed the ruthless oppression and violence inflicted on the Hebrews by their Egyptian taskmasters. This moved him to act. Despite being a prince of Egypt, Moses still recognised the Hebrews as his true brethren and people. This familial bond motivated his efforts to defend them.
God moves on the hearts of leaders to identify with the oppressed and act for justice
3 Defend the poor and fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and needy.
4 Deliver the poor and needy;
Free them from the hand of the wicked. (Psalm 82:3-4)
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy. (Proverbs 31:9).
Moses offers a model of servant leadership that refuses indifference. God's people should defend the vulnerable against the powerful. True leadership requires courage to confront injustice.
So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. And when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, “Why are you striking your companion?” Then he said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” (Exodus 2:12-14)
Notice the phrase: Your sin will always find you out. What is the meaning of this?
But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23)
In the statement “be sure your sin will find you out” is revealed the mystery of sin. The nature of sin is such that, whether or not others discover your sin, your sin will “discover you.” You cannot run from the consequences.
Sin cannot be tamed, outrun, or shaken off. No matter how safe you think you are, if you are a sinner, your sin will find you out.
15 When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well. 16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. And they came and drew water, and they filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 Then the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. (Exodus 2:15-17)
When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses:
After killing the Egyptian slavemaster, Pharaoh found out and wanted to put Moses to death for the crime. This forced Moses to flee Egypt. To save his life, Moses escaped Egypt and travelled to the land of Midian, likely across the Red Sea on the Sinai Peninsula. Josephus adds that Moses was very courageous to speak to Pharaoh so boldly and rebuke him before fleeing Egypt. This showed Moses' integrity.
He sat down by a well:
Weary from travel, Moses rested by a well, a common public place to meet community members. This is where Moses met the seven daughters of Jethro, the priest of Midian, who came to draw water for their sheep.
The shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them:
Moses defended these women against the unruly shepherds, drawing water for their flock himself. He did the right thing to protect the vulnerable.
18 When they came to Reuel their father, he said, “How is it that you have come so soon today?” 19 And they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and he also drew enough water for us and watered the flock.” 20 So he said to his daughters, “And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” (Exodus 2:18-20)
When they came to Reuel, their father:
Reuel (also called Jethro) was surprised his daughters returned so quickly from watering the flocks. Their fast return was unusual. The daughters explained to him that an Egyptian man (Moses) had helped them by driving away the unruly shepherds and drawing water for their sheep.
And where is he? Why is it that you have left the man?
Jethro was grateful and hospitable, asking his daughters to invite Moses to their home to eat, repaying his kindness. Jethro sets an example of how to show appreciation and extend gracious hospitality to strangers who do good.
9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (1 Peter 4:9-10).
Josephus adds that Jethro saw Moses' excellent character in protecting his daughters. This event laid the foundation for Moses to prosper in Midian.
21 Then Moses was content to live with the man, and he gave Zipporah his daughter to Moses. 22 And she bore him a son. He called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.” (Exodus 2:21-22)
Then Moses was content to live with the man
Settling down with a wife and son in Midian, Moses might seem okay with leaving Egypt and his people behind. But remember, he's content, not complacent. God's plans can unfold even when life takes unexpected turns. Tending sheep wasn't Moses' dream job, but who knows what lessons awaited him in the desert? ️
He called his name Gershom:
This name – meaning “stranger” – was evidence of some loneliness, living apart from either the Egyptians or the Hebrews. In Midian, God trained Moses, shaping him for his future calling. In Egypt, Moses learned how to be somebody. In Midian, he learned how to be a nobody.
and they cried out, and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. (Exodus 2:23)
Bartimaeus cried out, and so did many others who needed a miracle from the Lord.
24 So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them. (Exodus 2:24-25)
Even if Moses “forgot” about Israel in Egypt, God did not. God remembered Israel and their affliction. God did not turn His attention to Israel because they were morally good people but because of the covenant He made with them. He gives His love and attention to us on the same basis – the covenant relationship we have with God through Lord Jesus Christ.
Chapters
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11
- Chapter 12
- Chapter 13
- Chapter 14
- Chapter 15
- Chapter 16
- Chapter 17
- Chapter 18
- Chapter 19
- Chapter 20
- Chapter 21
- Chapter 22
- Chapter 23
- Chapter 24
- Chapter 25
- Chapter 26
- Chapter 27
- Chapter 28
- Chapter 29
- Chapter 30
- Chapter 31
- Chapter 32
- Chapter 33
- Chapter 34
- Chapter 35
- Chapter 36
- Chapter 37
- Chapter 38
- Chapter 39
- Chapter 40