Exodus 2:1-4 (Moments of Moses)

Puah and Shiprah, the Hebrew midwives, were in a difficult place. They sought out how to honor God through their actions, but also how to respect the king. They remained nonviolent, but stood firm by their convictions. They respected the king, but they honored the greater King--the Lord, God Almighty. Honoring God instead of man does not mean becoming violent or argumentative with others even when it is hard to do. It is important to display the ability to "be wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Mt 10:16). They were entrusting themselves to the Father's care! Their obedience led to God using one man for His mighty purposes!

Read Exodus 2:1-4
 

Moses' parents (Amram and Jochebed) were both were from the tribe of Levi. Levi was a significant tribe of Israel. The Levites become the priestly tribe, because of God's grace and their loyalty to God... Jochebed knew she could not hide Moses for long. She was able to hide Moses for three months. But the time came to walk by faith, trusting God to protect her son was her only option. She hid Moses in the reed's where the pharaoh's daughter would find him. Hebrew 11:23 reminds us that Moses' parents were not afraid of the king. They saw that Moses was not an ordinary child. They saw that something was very different in him. The text says that Moses was a beautiful child (Ex 2:1-4). I wonder what they saw that would be different than a parent's joy. What did God show them during this time?

While Jochebed is planning and preparing for leaving Moses in a basket along the Nile, his sister, Miriam, is watching the entire thing. She is sent to keep an eye on her baby brother, Moses, when he is put in the river bank to see what would happen. She witnessed her parents' faith, and how God would provide for them. Miriam must of felt very terrified, not knowing what would happen to her brother. Wonder how she felt years later when he would lead them out of Egypt? I wonder if she just saw her brother or a godly leader?

"Every parent believes his or her child is beautiful--but there was something supernatural about Moses." Hebrews 11 says faith was Moses' parents' motivation. Not just their love for Moses, but FAITH. Faith calls us to action, answering the call, and obeying God rather than man!

Lesson for us: God can do incredible things when we replace our fears with faith in Him. We need to ask ourselves what we are afraid of... Giving it to God is essential, and God can turn that fear into an opportunity for faith!

Exodus 1:15-22 (Moments of Moses)

"These are times that the law of God must supersede the law of men." (Taking a look at Ex. 1:15-22 and Acts 4 today!)

In Exodus 1:15-22, two Hebrew midwives would be interrogated and face questioning for refusing to obey the pharaoh's orders to kill all Hebrew baby boys (vs 15-16). They honored God--obeying Him instead of man, and the nation was tremendously blessed as a result! (vs 17, 20-21)

Man's law is important, but God's law is much more important! Two things grabbed my attention:

1. Reaching out to others (See Luke 6:32;35-36). I do not want to be like the pharaoh~ treating people different.. Things can stop us from reaching out to others, particularly fear. What if we placed our fear of God at the top of our list, devoting ourselves to being obedient to Him instead? He is greater than anything else! He deserves to be put first! Fearing others is not greater than fearing God. For the midwives, they refused to give into the king's command, because they feared God. They chose to honor God! They were blessed and HE took care of them.

2. We must obey God rather than human beings! There is NO substitution for obedience!

There is nothing more important than obeying God. We need to stand by our convictions, devoting ourselves to following Him wholly! The pharaoh wanted to eliminate all the Hebrews. Many wanting to shut up the Christians. (See Acts 4) There is no substitution for obedience! I began thinking about it and pharaoh may have offered the midwives money or to lessen the burden of their husband's work (big thing!). Anything to stop the Israelites from growing. These women knew well that there was no substitute for obedience. 

There is nothing more important than obeying God and sharing the Gospel of Christ! In today's world, we are forced with the same sort of decisions to make as the Hebrew midwives and the apostles (see Acts 4). We need to take a stand! We need to choose to obey God, not man! It was not just the midwives who have had to make a choice whether to be obedient to God or man. The apostles (See Acts 4) have had to make this choice. Countless followers of Christ have had to make this choice! We must choose whom we will serve... If we are His, let's act like it. Loving others compassionately and sharing the Gospel of Christ. Taking a stand for Christ, devoting ourselves to total obedience!

God will protect us. He will guide us. He will give us the words to speak. It is about glorifying God in everything we do! We follow the laws of the government to honor Him. It is when those laws or government violate God's commandments and teachings that we continue to follow Him in His ways! God will protect us. It is more important to fear God and follow Him! He is God! We see through the Hebrew Midwives and the apostles that their goal is to honor God. They fear God, knowing He is greater!! Honoring Him is more important than what others think or may do to us. He is always there, protecting for us just as He did for the apostles and the Hebrew midwives.

Exodus 1:8-14 (Moments of Moses)

God can rescue! From Noah to the raging pharaoh, God has shown that He can rescue His people! In the study, we do not yet see how God will deliver His people from the raging Pharaoh, but we know He will deliver His people! He is our MIGHTY deliverer!!

Israel's going to Egypt moved them. It completely altered their lives, but God would use it to bless them, multiplying them, and all of it would be used for His glory. God promised they would be blessed, and they were.

Today's Scripture was Exodus 1:8-14.  The study brought up different things that we could apply to our own lives.

^{8 "}A new king, who had not known Joseph, came to power in Egypt. ⁹ He said to his people, “Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and powerful than we are. ¹⁰ Let us deal shrewdly with them; otherwise they will multiply further, and if war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.” ¹¹ So the Egyptians assigned taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. They built Pithom and Rameses as supply cities for Pharaoh. ¹² But the more they oppressed them, the more they multiplied and spread so that the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. ¹³ They worked the Israelites ruthlessly ¹⁴ and made their lives bitter with difficult labor in brick and mortar and in all kinds of fieldwork. They ruthlessly imposed all this work on them."

Slavery and Fear is what we see. Pharaoh is afraid. The Israelites are trapped in slavery. Both aspects we experience today. We are stuck in slavery to sin!

Slavery: What kind of things do we obey? Do we obey the flesh and go ahead and eat out of emotional needs? If so, we are making food our master and slave. Lots of things can enslave us. The truth: "Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?" (Rom 6:16)

Fear: "Fear caused the Egyptians to treat their neighbors with cruelty…" How do we treat those that are different from us. How do we show the love of God to strangers? What could we do to show His love?

Finally, I am reminded of these scriptures: They reveal ways I can experience HIM. For me, I have experienced Him the most through Him constantly being there with me. It does not matter what I am facing, because HE is with me! The verses shared on fear:

Gen. 21:7~ Notice how God is there and heard their cry. God hears us. We do not have to fear, for He hears us! What a wonderful truth!

Isa. 41:10 says: "Fear not, for I am with you!"

Isa 41:13 says: "Fear not, I will help you!"

Isa 43:1 says: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you."

Joel 2:21 says: "Do not be afraid...be glad and rejoice. Surely the Lord has done great things!"

One tip the study gives for today is to journal a prayer, thinking about ways we have become fearful. Knowing where we experience fear is so important. We need to confess our fears to Him! He promises to help us. We can trust Him. He will help us to overcome our fears. Fear is such a stumbling block, and steals so much from us!

Exodus 1:1-7 (Moments of Moses)

God's ways are unsearchable. (Rom. 11:33)

God's purposes remain and will be carried out. (Isaiah 14:27)

The life of Joseph is what connects the books Genesis and Exodus. Here's the quick version: Joseph's brothers hated him, slave traded their bro, famine came, bros went to get food in another land, and Joe was in charge... Joe chose to love, not repay his bros back. Now, to the good stuff =)

Joe invited Jacob to move back: The 11 sons of Jacob moved with Jacob to Egypt. Because Jacob's household was so large, they were able to grow to become so fruitful. They would become as numerous as the stars in the heavens! The move involved 70 people to go from Canaan to Egypt. It was a mighty move. On one website, it said it was about an eleven day journey. On another, it was 250 miles to travel. Either way you look at it, it is quite an extensive move for seventy people including children and women. Jacob was very fruitful, so there was much included in moving his livestock, servants, sons, wives, grandchildren, and all else he had with him. It would take planning, diligent planning. The planning would fall on his sons since Jacob was older now.

But before the move, Joseph and his brothers would face each other again after all those years. It is through all this that God's promises really shone through. God promised Abraham that He would provide. He told Abraham what his ancestors would experience: great hardship (1st few chapters of Exodus). Israel would be fruitful, increasing abundantly, multiplying, and growing exceedingly mighty. It was not just growing in number. They were fruitful. They were growing in leaps and bounds. There was no limit to how God would bless His people! Growing in numbers probably would be difficult for Egypt, possibly a reason to work them to the bone. They were jealous. They were fearful. They knew that Israel would continue to be a powerful group of people! Probably Israel got the profits and things that would otherwise go to the king of Egypt.

Famine led the people here. A place of distress led them to a place of abundance. The study points out that a famine is not merely food. It could involve family, finances, fellowship with God, friends, feelings, food, and/or freedom. Famine: "being without" and "struggling" could involve many different areas of our lives. This is an important point, and we need to bring it before God asking Him to deliver us from the famines we've known and pray for fruitfulness, favor, and to be filled like the children of Israel instead!

"Please Father, deliver me from these famines. Deliver me. Make me instead to be fruitful, growing greatly. Let me experience Your great spiritual harvest. Help me to enjoy sweet fellowship with you, my Lord!"

The study asked me the question of whose fault it was for Joseph's situation of being sent to Egypt. There is much blame to go around. The brothers, for not forgiving and allowing hatred to steal their hearts. (See Genesis 4:6-7) Jacob allowed himself to be passive for the majority of the time and play favorites. He was passive with the other children, but with Joseph he showed affection.That played a big part of the situation also. Even though others do things, we ARE responsible for our actions. The bros' of Joe were responsible for what they did. Check out Gen. 4:6-7!

The brothers harbored much anger. Joseph's life hanged in the balance of where their anger would lead them: to kill or sell him. Joseph's life would reflect their choice to sell him. The better option would of been to have self-control. God used what they intended for bad, and used it for good! It was an opportunity for God to work in their lives, but also Joseph learned to trust God. His faith is seen through the book of Genesis!

Exodus 5-6.27

Exodus 5-6:27

After talking with the elders of Israel, Aaron and Moses go and speak to the Pharaoh. This is the first time that God is referred to as the God of Israel. Israel is God's people! God instructs Aaron and Moses to go speak His command to Pharaoh~ "Let my people go that they may go and worship me." Pharaoh's response is much like many today: "Who is God that I should listen?" "Who is God that I should change what I am doing and change my ways?" God is going to show Pharaoh exactly the answer to this question through the plagues that would be sent to Egypt!

The Pharaoh was stubborn, and refused to let go of God's people. Instead of obeying God, he forces even harder labor on God's people (Israel). Pharaoh probably thought he was big and bad, but God is greater. God's ways are always better! Love what it says in 1 Corinthians 1:27: God uses the weak to shame the wise. Pharaoh may have thought he was tough, but he wasn't. Pharaoh may have thought he was bigger, but he isn't. A mere human (or group of humans) are no match for God. Nations are viewed as "less than nothing" in compare to God (See Isaiah 40:17). Nations, which are filled with millions of people. They are less than nothing in comparison to God. God is GREATER, STRONGER, and worthy of our praise! Also God can use anyone, and He chose to use Moses and Aaron!

Moses faced two struggles in following God in His plan for Israel. These struggles may have gave Moses' questions, but it did not void God's plan to deliver His chosen people. Moses' two struggles were Pharaoh and the people of Israel.

Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) had a distorted view of the Israelites. He saw them crying out as a sign that they were lazy. He failed to see that God is real. He chose to believe lies himself, but stated that they were the ones believing lies (Ex 5:6-9). Even when the Israelite overseers went to Pharaoh, the Pharaoh blamed the Israelites, calling them lazy.

 The people of Israel (God's chosen people) were severely afflicted. When things got worse, their focus was not on God or what He may have been doing, but their pain: their harsh treatment by the Egyptians. They blamed Moses and Aaron for adding to their pain. They refused to listen when God spoke through Moses and Aaron. They refused to listen, making it more difficult to led a nation out of slavery and oppression.

God chose to work greatly through these two brothers! When criticism comes upon Moses, he returns to God (meeting with Him) to ask Him for His guidance. It can be frustrating when we seek to follow the Lord and things look different than we expect. We need to keep seeking His guidance, just as Moses did!

God spoke to Moses in the midst of his discouragement. He was facing criticism from the Israelites. He knew what God had spoken to him before regarding speaking to Pharaoh. He knew the encounter he had with God. God had given Moses something to do. God was working through Moses and Aaron to bring deliverance to the entire nation of Israel. Even when it was hard and Moses faced discouragement, he knew that God had a plan. Even when he is questioning and asking God for guidance, he knew God had a plan: one mightier than any could expect. God spent this time alone with Moses: speaking the truth to him. God was revealing to Moses who He really is. God was showing Moses what to do and say. He would be speaking to the Israelites. We need to be obedient to do what God is asking us to do: immediately following Him, and doing it. "If we have an obedience problem, we have a love problem." (From Experiencing God) Moses was obedient to God. He went and spoke the words God told him to Israel, but Israel was discouraged from their harsh treatment so they did not listen. Still even when they did not listen, Moses did what God told him to do. He spoke God's Word to His people. We cannot rely on our perception of things, but trusting God in all things! We know He has a greater plan for us! He will guide and direct us!

Our important task is to follow God wholeheartedly. Others may not listen to us, but we need to diligently follow the Lord and speaking the words He gives us. We cannot let our mindset, become like Moses' when he said to our Lord and Creator:"If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips?” (Exodus 6:12)

Luke 12:12 says: "For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say." In Matthew 10:19, it says it a bit different. It reminds us not to worry what to say or deliberate beforehand, because God will give us the right words at the right time! Just as He gave Moses the words to speak, He will do the same for us. Giving us His words to speak at just the right time, allowing us to be His instruments and His witnesses.

Exodus 3-4

Exodus 3-4

This would set the stage for much of Moses' journey. While Moses led his flock, God appeared to him through a burning bush. During this time, the burning bush and fire represented God's presence. God would go before the Israelites into the land of Canaan. God would protect Israel! God would save Israel from the hand of the Egyptians! The place of the burning bush  was not an ordinary place. "Horeb" is just another name for Mount Sinai and mountain of God. God would tell Moses something that would forever change his view of this place. It was not just the place where he worked leading flocks. It was an ordinary place, but God's presence was there! God told Moses: “Don’t come any closer. Remove your sandals from your feet. You’re standing on holy ground. (3:5)” Moses was coming to know that this place was holy ground, because of God's presence there. It was a place he went to plenty of times (and would continue to go), but something was changing! God's presence was there; God would be using it to meet with and speak to Moses. "The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend." (Exodus 33:11)

God chose to share with Moses about how He will deliverer Israel and give them their own land. God is very specific about what land he is giving them. Then, God says those few little words: "I am sending you to bring my people out of Egypt!" Moses' responds with a question: Who am I? Who are we to go and do what the Lord calls us to do? It is not us, but HE who works in us! Love the way my study Bible words it: "When the OT says that God is "with" someone, it stresses God's power enables the person to carry out the call." Bold, true statement!

God gave Moses even more insight into what will happen as he follows God wholeheartedly (Exodus 3:16-22). Many powerful signs and wonders will be done as God frees his people. He could instantly free his people, but he chooses a different way. It is through all of this that the Egyptians and many more come to know and follow the Lord. We know that it is through all these things taking place that Rehab came to follow our Lord! (Joshua 2)

When Moses asked God's name (what he should be called), God tells Moses 'I am what I am'. God has no limits! He is ALL powerful! He is worthy of being praised! Moses knew God was all powerful, yet he was still fearful. God knew Moses was scared. God provided him with signs (4: 3-9). The signs would be used for others, but I think they were to reassure Moses that God's got this! Moses needed to trust not in himself, but in God- the holy One!

Moses tried to reject the call God had placed on his life (4:10-16). God's anger was kindled. This was not just dealing with fear. This is Moses continuing to give into the fear, placing it higher than how God wanted to work in his life and the lives of the Israelites. Moses was continuing to make excuses, and even scorning how he was made~ GOD made Moses! He knows all Moses is, and God still desired to use him (4:11-12).

Exodus 4:31: The people believed, and when they heard that the Lord had paid attention to them and that He had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped. "Not only has the Lord remembered his covenant promises (2:24), but his people are also called to remember the covenant."

Exodus 1-2

Exodus 1-2

 

A new Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph (1.8). Thinking about the concept of forgetting something who has died is intriguing me. After so many years, we are forgotten. Others cease to know anything about us. They do not know of our troubles or fruitfulness. This was true in this case: the Pharaoh did not know Joseph! It is a mighty statement! Not only did he not know Joseph, he would not understand why the Israelites came to Egypt or how they became so numerous and fruitful. He would not know of their fear of God or what they believed. All he saw was that they were too numerous and the fear that they would break out in war against the people of Egypt. We see people having fear over God's chosen people time and time again. (See Genesis 26:12-16) Genesis 26:16 and Exodus 1:9 parallel very close: "too mighty for us." While Abimelech sent them away, the Egyptian pharaoh oppressed them! If the Israelites were to leave Egypt instead of becoming slaves, there would be a great loss in Egypt, for the Israelites were highly blessed and worked for the pharaoh.

They were incredibly fruitful. This is one of the reasons why they were afflicted with heavy burdens (Genesis 1.11). The pharaoh placed "taskmasters" over them to afflict them. Genesis 15:13 is an important passage to consider when wanting to understand what it involved. The Lord told Abraham ahead of time the trouble that Israel would face. Genesis 15:13 states: "Then the LORD said to him, "Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there." This helps me to understand that the taskmasters were not only there to enforce the labor. Most likely, they were there to beat or harm the Israelites so that they would not stop working regardless of how they felt or their physical condition….. Even though they were severely oppressed, they continued to multiply. The Egyptians were in fear of the Israelites. So to act by their fear, they made the people of Israel their slaves~ to work, make store cities, bricks, and work in the field. But, it was not enough…..

The Pharaoh sought to kill all the men newborns. This pharaoh's fear was not much different than King Herod's, is it? A fear of someone coming in and taking over? (See Matthew 2:16-18) The midwives would not carry out the Pharaoh's hopes. They chose to honor God rather than carry out the sinful desires of those in leadership. So, the pharaoh would give the command to all the people in Egypt to kill the newborn baby boys by casting them in the river…

Despite all the pharaoh's plans to bring down Israel, there would be someone who acted and became someone God chose to use: Moses! Moses would be born, protected, cared for, and given a chance to not become a slave. Instead, he would be viewed as an Egyptian, but was a Hebrew. He identified with the Hebrews as well. He would lead the Israelites out of Egypt in due time.

The people of Israel groaned, and God heard their cry. He saw their oppression. My study Bible shares these words about 2:23-25: "The verses... [give a] reminder that the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will not be defined by their years of slavery, but by their covenant relationship with the GOD who has heard their cries (and who saw and knew their affliction) and remembered his promises." The same is true for us. I am still God's child. Affliction and problems do not change that. I am still His. Jesus Christ has died on the cross for my sins, so that I can have a RIGHT relationship with my Father! I am His, and He is mine! Affliction... Problems... They do not alter my relationship with God. They can only strengthen my walk with Him!