Exodus

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Exodus 1:1-7

The book of Exodus is linked tightly to the book of Genesis.  We remember that Jacob took his family to Egypt at the invite of Joseph during the famine (Gen 45:5-8).  We see the eleven sons join Joseph who was already in Egypt.  There were 70 in all who were the sons of Jacob with their households that made their home in Egypt.  The story moves forward quickly in time to ta day when the sons were all dead and their families had multiplied greatly.  It's been said often,

They went to Egypt a family and came out a nation.

They were transiting from a family to the nation of Israel.  It is estimated there were a few million by the time the exodus occurred. 

Exodus 1:8-14

From the 12^th to the 17^th dynasty kings were of mixed Semitic race, known as the shepherd kings, Hyksos dynasty.  The 18^th dynasty king took over and purged the foreign rulers – "rose to power" means took the throne.  This 18^th dynasty king brought Egypt to a world power.  Now the new king came to power and felt threatened by the great numbers of Israelites.  If they were allowed to grow in prominence and power, they could become a military asset to an invading army.  However, they couldn't just get rid of them.  They were an economic asset to Egypt.  The Israelites had been bondservants in Israel, not they were outright slaves, being oppressed and abused.  They were subjected to hard labor building the storage cities, but the harder the Egyptians worked them the more they multiplied.  Hard times made them stronger.

Chuck Smith notes this was the same with the church.  When there was persecution, they grew stronger.  When the persecution stopped, the church grew soft. 

Through those times, God's had was still on them.  They were sustained and strengthened.  They were not broken under bitter and harsh labor.  They were being spiritually strengthened and prepared for the coming days, for the journey home.  God was setting the stage for an event by which He would forever point to and reveal Himself to men.

Exodus 1:15-22

The names of these two women appear to be Semitic so the phrase 'Hebrew midwives' likely means these women were Hebrews midwives to the Hebrews.  The words could mean midwives to the Hebrews, leaving it open that they were of another origin.  Shiphrah means beautiful and Puah means fragrant flower. 

The king of Egypt directed these women to assist him in controlling the growth of the Hebrew nation.  This goes directly against God's covenant promise to Abraham.  This is one of several times in the bible we see rulers trying to conquer God's people by killing the infants.  This is a power-hungry ruler that will stop at nothing to rule and control every aspect of life in the country.  Killing off the males eliminated the Israelites ability to make war within one generation.  However, this man did not know what he was up against. God's plans are not thwarted by the plans of man.  The midwives feared God more than they feared men, even a king.  They had to have known this action might cost them their lives.

These ladies must have been midwives to the Egyptian women also.  In comparison, the Hebrews gave birth quickly.  God was watching over the midwives and honored them for their actions.  He blessed them with a family of their own, a beautiful irony.  The Pharaoh in turn ordered all his people to be involved in the plan to murder newborn males.

Exodus 2:1-10

Imagine Moses' mother having to say goodbye to her child.  She had hidden him as long as she could but she couldn't keep him hidden any longer.  To do so would be a sure death sentence for her child.  To just look at the situation, his chances of living were slim.  But He was part of a greater plan.  The 'fine child' of verse 2 means he was favored; God would protect him.  There's no way she could hide a growing child, especially one that grew louder in their cries.  She put him in a basket in the river hoping for the best.  This was Moses' ark of salvation, a transition from fear and danger to safety and care.  This basket was put in the reads where it wouldn't get swept up in the current and where the daughters of Pharaoh might see him.

The providence of God used the young lady to rescue Moses and put him right back into his mother's arms for a time.  She was able to nurse him and love on him and she even got paid for it.  Only God can pull something like this off.  Later, as Moses got older, he became the son of the Pharoah's daughter.  This was a bittersweet moment and how it must have crushed his mother's heart, but it also kept him alive.

Exodus 2:11-14

Moses became the son of the princess but apparently never relinquished his nationality.  He went out to see 'his own people'.  This is good proof that if you train ups a child in the ways of the Lord, he will not depart from it. 

Hebrews 11:24 

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, ²⁶ esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

Moses has a sense that he had bee called to deliver or rescue his people. It was in his heart, but in killing the Egyptian we see him do it his own way rather than gods.  Doing it his way resulted in guilt, sin and consequence.  Later, when he does it God's way, God is glorified and many Egyptians will be buried in the Red Sea.  All Moses did was believe, worship and pray.  God did all tother

Exodus 2:15-22

In Moses' eyes and thoughts, he fled for his life to Midian.  The Pharaoh wanted him dead.  This may well have been Pharaoh eliminated potential competition for the throne as he saw Moses connecting with this group of people that could make up a large army.  However, we know that Moses had a divine appointment there in Midian and would begin to prepare to become the man of God who would lead His people out of bondage.  

As Moses sat by the well, it was almost a sense of the end of his running and the beginning of the next chapter in his life.  It was if he were saying, "I'm here God, what now?"  It was no coincidence these women came by.  In the confrontation, we see the protector; Moses the deliverer.  In Midian Moses meets Zipporah, gets married and has a son, Gershom.  Moses spent 40 years growing and begin trained in the finest schools of Egypt, no doubt among the best in the world.  Now he entered 40 years of maturing in the presence of God. 

Exodus 2:23-25

While Moses was away the Israelites got a new king.  Things had grown worse.  The days where Joseph ruled in the land and influenced the king were long gone.  They were oppressed and put in bondage so as not to rise up against Egypt.  The cry to God grew louder as their bondage and oppression grew spiritually darker.  God heard their cry, remembered, saw, and God took notice.  All these are human terms of understanding; God had not forgotten them.  However, their hope in God had grown dark and dim.  When we consider the entirety of the story we can see God's sovereign hand beginning to work out His plan for deliverance.  This was a plan that was never at the mercy of men or Pharaohs or anyone else.  It was God's plan, on His time and done to perfection.

Exodus 3:1-3

Midian was on the east side of the Gulf of Aqaba.  Moses was tending the flock for his father in law Jethro, called Reuel in 2:18.  Reuel means 'friend of God' while Jethro means 'excellence'.  This 'far side of the wilderness' is not known, nor is Horeb.  Some believe this is the same as Sinai.  There are several theories around this mountain and some interesting research around Jabal el Lawz.

The angel of the Lord is the angel of Yahweh himself.  The expression is used interchangeably with Yahweh.  Flames of fire at the appearance of the Lord is very normal.  The bush that was not consumed is a bramble or thornbush.  How interesting, since thorns are associated with sin.  Would it be surprising if the thorns came between Moses and the appearance of the Lord?  Moses decided he needed to go closer and inspect this fire.  He knew it was the angel of the Lord. 

Moses was 40 when he left Egypt.  He had been in Midian for 40 years.  He was now 80 years old, having been prepared and brought to this moment to begin the adventure of the Exodus.  He had been prepared whether he understood that or not.  We often find ourselves in difficult or strange settings and wonder what is going on, why does God have me here?  God is always at work, preparing and equipping the humble follower for the next work. 

Exodus 3:4-6

Moses was called by God from within this burning bush.  Did Moses know it was the Lord calling him?  His response is correct and the one we want to have when the Lord calls us.  The use of his name makes the calling specific and personal for Moses.  The repetition is direct, intense and emphatic.  The fact that this was holy ground leads me to believe this is an Old Testament appearance of Christ.  The passage points to Joshua 5:13-15.  While the Lord was drawing near, Moses could not approach God.  Removing his sandals was a sign of humility and reverence.  The difference between the dirt of the ground and Moses was breath of God, for man was made of the earth. 

Using the present tense, God said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob".  This was quoted by Jesus in Luke 20:37 to make the case that God was the God of the living.  He was make the case for the resurrection, the reality of angels and an afterlife.

Exodus 3:7-12

God had seen their misery, heard their cry and determined to come down to them, in order to bring them up to a new land.  This is like a mini presentation of the gospel.  God saw, heard, came down to bring us up.  The oppression of his people was severe and the cry to Him grew louder.  It is persecution and difficult times in life that draw us closer to our God, train us to cry out to Him and hear His voice.  We see God's nature of compassion and mercy in that he was 'concerned about their suffering'. 

The cry of Israelites reached Him and Moses was now to go.  I think Moses was like so many of us.  We agree with God that something needed done and the oppression was awful and they needed hope and a deliverer.  However, he never dreamed it was him.  God had said in verse 8, "I have come down to rescue them."  And then in verse 10 He said, "Now go. I am sending you°"  Sometimes we are in awe that a God so big would allow us to take part in what He's doing.  Other times, it frightens us, because these things seem so much bigger than we know our selves to be.

God said 'go' and Moses said, "Why me?"  He saw himself as a nobody, an old man herding sheep.  How could he deliver them?  But this is just what Moses was created for.  He didn't have to understand or agree with God.  He only had to obey.  We can learn from this.   

God gave His assurance that He would be with him.  This alone should have been all it took to bolster his courage.  It should be enough for us also in our most frightened place.  God was gracious in giving a sign, but what is 'this' sign?  Is the sign God's presence or was it the burning bush?  Possibly it is the worship that would come later, a future hope that he could look to as a sure, future event. 

In the remainder of this chapter and the beginning of the fourth, we'll see Moses work through his fears and inadequacies with the Lord.  Moses had four primary things on his mind:

• Who am I?  (3:11-12)
• Who are You? (3:13-22)
• What if they don't believe me? (i.e. What if they say, "No!") (4:1-9)
• I'm not good at speaking. (4:10-17)

Exodus 3:13-15

Moses first concern was trying to work through who he was that God would ask and expect him to do such a great task.  He was a mere man, eighty years of age, hardly fit or equipped for such a task.  God said He was sending Moses.  This then begs the question, "Who are you?"  Who is this God and why does He care?  It's not clear to us if Moses understand the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  He probably knows of Him by heritage and word of mouth but  doesn't know Him in the sense of being at work in His life.  

Names had meanings to people at that time; names equated to nature, character, being.  When Moses asked for His name, he was asking of the identifying means and nature of God.  The Lord said, I AM.  He is the self-existent one.  He was not created; He is not sustained anyone or anything.  He doesn't rely on any outside Himself.  His like no other.  No one would look to Yahweh and say He is like this one or that one; like this thing or that thing.  He is Yahweh, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  He is the Elohim of the Israelites.  His name is forever, eternal; from eternity past to present to eternity future.  In this declaration we see He is eternal. 

Exodus 3:16-20

Moses was to go, to assemble the elders and speak to them as instructed.  He would repeat the promise given to Israel, the promise of going home to their land (Genesis 46:4).  How do you suppose they would react when God declared that He was watching over them even while they were being abused and oppressed?  God said they would listen.

They were then to go to Pharaoh and request a leave of absence to go on a 3-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices.  This kind of leave of absence had been granted to other people groups so it was not without precedence.  The Lord lets Moses know the king would not grant it until God's mighty hand was upon him.  The word for hand is

'yad' and is sometimes translated power.  God's mighty power would compel him to let His people go.  In verse 20 God said He would stretch out his 'yad' or power to strike the Egyptians. 

Exodus 3:11-22

God would bring the Egyptians to a place where they would be willingly give all they had just to see these people go.  They would give their wealth to be free from the plagues brought by keeping them captive, brought by their God.  As God brought the Pharaoh to a place where his will was broken, the people were brought a place where they would willingly provide for all the needs of Israel for their trip. 

They were to ask for silver and gold, for clothing for their children.  They will plunder the Egyptians that had oppressed and lived off them for so long.  Some of the wealth that was acquired by their hard labors would be taken with them to the Promised Land.

©2020 Doug Ford