October 2, 2020
The book of Exodus tells the story of the birth of the nation of Israel fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham. From the seventy descendants of Jacob, Israel was fruitful and multiplied greatly until they filled the whole land of Egypt. After four centuries of slavery, God answers the cries of His people for deliverance. God raises up Moses for this calling, to lead his people out of bondage to a land of promise and deliverance.
Some of the greatest stories of the Bible are featured in Exodus—from the Ten Plagues, and the Passover, to the crossing of the Red Sea, and the establishment of the covenant at Mount Sinai. The Passover lamb, the exodus from the land of Egypt, the seven feasts, the tabernacle, and even the high priest, are all foreshadows of the ministry of Christ.
Chapters 1-18 contains the events leading up to God’s delivering the Hebrews from their captivity in Egypt, and chapters 19-40 shares the events in the wilderness and the account of God’s instructions to Moses on Mount Sinai to direct the life and worship of the nation.
Exodus 2
The Birth of Moses
1 Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. 3 When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. 4 And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. 5 Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. 6 When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” 8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. 9 And 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. 10 When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”
Moses Flees to Midian
11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” 14 He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” 15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed 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 filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock. 18 When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have come home so soon today?” 19 They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock.” 20 He said to his daughters, “Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. 22 She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.”
God Hears Israel’s Groaning
23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Reflection:
- What things do you find interesting about the birth of Moses?
- What is significant about where Moses grew up?
- What do verses 11-15 tell us about failure?
- How does God show his faithfulness to the people of Israel? What does this say to you about God’s faithfulness to you?
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your goodness and praise you for the incredible ways you work. You are faithful and even when I have failed, there is still hope in you. Help me to live holy and set apart for you and your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Dear Heavenly Father,
The birth and life of Moses shows how God’s plans are worked out so wonderfully. He is the architect and the perfector of our lives. When one examines their lives they can see how God is working for the good of all. We are to be still and know that He is God and just watch Him do His work. He is the miracle worker. Thank You for Your steadfast love and daily provision for us. May we all be eternally grateful. In Jesus ‘ name. Amen.
Heavenly father we know what you’re about; we know that you are about saving your people; we know that you are about delivering your people ;we know that you have not forgotten your people.
Help us to remember your goodness and your mercy every morning; help us with to live today in submission to your spirit encouraged by your word and our faces lifted up because we know that YOUR WILL, will be done ,amen
Good morning Lord!
Just like your servant Moses, many of us have had occasion to flee to our own Midians at some particular time in our lives. It is well for us to remember that, no matter how bleak our circumstances may seem, you will never abandon us. Thank you for your steadfast love and faithfulness.
AMEN and HALLELUJAH!!!!
Father,
What Pharaoh meant for evil, to kill all the Hebrew boys by water, Father, you used the water, a basket, and a baby for the redemption of the Hebrew people.
Did Moses’ mother know your plans? Had the Hebrew children lost all hope?
As we read through Exodus, help us to remember your redemption, your plans for us. Moses was in the wilderness for forty years before you called him. He was eighty years old when he experienced the burning bush.
Speak to each today, Father. Soften our hearts to hear your voice. Fill us with your Holy Spirit.
Work through us, Father, to rescue one more lost soul.
Now, let’s be going together throughout this day.
Amen
Thank you Sweet Father for how well you take care of us your children. You are so WORTHY to be praised. We love you Lord!
God is faithful!!
It occurred to me that the river was inhabited by crocodiles. It is a miracle that Moses was not eaten by one. God protected Moses and kept the crocodiles away. It was akin to Daniel in the lions’ den.
Dear Lord –
Thank you for hearing the cry of your people and sending Moses back to them. Hear our cry Lord and rid our land of this virus among us. Show that you have mercy for us. Heal our people. Use this virus to show us that you care for us and have sent a good Shephard Jesus Christ to save us.
Please touch our President and his family – heal them. Heal our loved ones in our Body who are fighting this virus. Thank you for hearing our cry!
Amen.
God just like you took care of Moses and the Israelite’s when they were fleeing from Egypt you are taking care of us today.
It’s interesting that although his mother gives Moses up, God is faithful to return him to her, allowing her to help raise him. Moses grows up as a prince, but returns to his roots as a slave, not to serve the king of Egypt/Pharaoh, but to servesThe King, Yahweh. God is faithful, even in our failure, and we may suffer consequences for our failure, God is still with and for us. God is listening, hears us and is faithful to rescue us.