Exodus 2 : Moses s life

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2 Exodus 2 : Moses s life Main Idea - God displays a loving determination to free Israel from oppression in order for them to be able to worship Him. God desires the same for us. Unpacking Exodus 2 - Read Exodus 2, think through what it would be like for Moses mother as she gives birth to a son in the Egyptian society we read about in Exodus 1. What would it be like for Moses to grow up as the son of Pharaoh s daughter? If you were Moses, would you have sided with the Israelites or the Egyptians? How would Moses feel as he is fleeing Egypt? What are issues of justice in our own day? - After having read through Exodus 2 for the first time, go back and start at the beginning, Exodus 2:1. As you begin to read through this chapter again, read the notes below to get additional background, context, Bible references, and questions to think about and discuss. - Two things to keep in mind as you study this chapter. 1. We may think that things are falling apart sometimes, but remember God s mysterious providence. God works out his perfect will in amazing ways. Trust in Him One should avoid having spiritualized application only in Exodus, meaning evangelism with no social action that is, so emphasizing the spiritual freedom in Exodus that we neglect real physical needs. While proclamation remains the most important task of the church, this does not mean that kingdom citizens should neglect practical acts of mercy and justice. Plus, in some cases people cannot hear our message until they are liberated from physical injustice. 2 What areas of justice are you passionate about? What are you doing for those in our world who are in need of mercy? This is a conversation with many facets that we will continually seek to engage, both in understanding and tangible application. - Exodus 2:1 - Moses specifically highlights that he is a Levite in order to emphasize his priestly pedigree. Note, we will talk more in future chapters about why his priestly Levite Christ Centered Exposition - Tony Merida - Pg. 13 Christ Centered Exposition - Tony Merida - Pg. 17

3 heritage is important, but, Suffice it to say now that Moses will later play the ultimate priestly role by being the one through whom God s law is given to the people. 3 - Exodus 2:2 - The birth of Moses, in keeping with the re-creation theme in chapter 1, is not merely about the birth of one man, but represents the birth of a people. The savior of God s people is born, and through him they will receive a new beginning. Their slavery will end and their savior will bring them safely into their rest, the Promised Land. 4 How does understanding Moses birth with this background help us to see that Jesus is a better Moses? - Exodus 2:3 - In verse 3, The term used here for what Moses' mother put him in is tēbāh, found elsewhere in the Bible only in the flood story in Genesis 6 8, where it is translated ark. Moses apparently was consciously drawing the reader's attention to the fact that God, through Moses' mother's actions, was graciously protecting him from death by a small ark, just as God had protected Noah and the animals by a great ark in the days of the great flood. 5 Both he and Noah were carried to safety on the very body of water that brings destruction to others. 6 - Exodus 2:7-8 - Egyptians the enemy had found the baby she had so carefully hidden! however, The turning point of the story is contained in a one-word command, that of the princess: Go! With that decision of the king's daughter, Moses' protection was assured. After this encounter, think about what these circumstances must have been like for Moses determined mother as she met the daughter of the source of her worst fears, God having turned the circumstances toward hope and salvation. 7 - Exodus 2:10 - Exodus does not provide us with the psychological details of Moses relationship to Pharaoh s daughter. Nevertheless, what is clear is that God could have chosen any way to deliver his people, yet he chose to work through a non-israelite, an Egyptian, an enemy. One cannot help but conjecture what effect this close association with Pharaoh s house had on Israel s redeemer. One can say, however, that this was not a random act of God but a purposeful one Exodus - the NIV Application Commentary - Peter Enns - Pg. 58 Exodus - the NIV Application Commentary - Peter Enns - Pg. 62 The New American Commentary - Volume 2 - Exodus. Pg 88 Exodus - the NIV Application Commentary - Peter Enns - Pg. 62 The New American Commentary - Volume 2 - Exodus. Pg 92 Exodus - the NIV Application Commentary - Peter Enns - Pg. 76

4 - Exodus 2: Most Christians can readily give testimony to God s faithfulness in their lives. The individual circumstances are as varied as the testimonies. Some reading this have no doubt their own story to tell of real, deep pain felt right now. It is a great comfort to know that the Lord is so mighty that he actually uses these circumstances for our good what a mystery this is! He does not always do battle with them and defeat them. As Moses birth and Christ s resurrection show, he sometimes acutely converts those same debilitating circumstances into some benefit for his saints. In one sense, it is easy to talk this way in a commentary or from a pulpit, but no one is suggesting that this is a simple solution to make all of life run without a hitch. We should not forget that involved in this process may be a period of intense suffering, longing, questioning, and doubt. Nevertheless, God has shown himself faithful in the past and will complete a good work in his people. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Paul asks (Rom. 8:35). Any trouble or danger? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 9 - Exodus 2: I want us to take a minute and to reflect on God s incredible, ironic provision so far. God chose for Israel s redeemer to be born as a boy in a time of genocide for baby boys. Moses was placed in the Nile River, the very river Pharaoh demanded he was to be killed in. Moses was found by Pharaoh s daughter and yet his life was spared, and he was given protection. These are just a few of the incredible ironies of Moses life. In this, we see God s ability to use whatever means he wishes to free his people from oppression in order for us to worship him. God is not merely a functional, pragmatic God, but he himself delights in beauty and depth, and this is clearly seen in His mind-blowing creativity and ability to guide history toward beautiful redemption. Furthermore, His loving beauty and creative self-sacrificial love is most perfectly demonstrated in the cross. Through Jesus s death and subsequent resurrection, death was defeated. His death brought about the death of death. Additionally, through his death, we receive life. Furthermore, through dying to ourselves and our own will/desire, we receive life. Incredible irony radiates throughout much of the Bible. - Read Matthew 16: Reflect on the beauty and difficulty of Jesus s command. To what degree are you vainly clinging to save your life on your own? What things do you think will save you? To help you reflect on this, consider, what things do you worry about when trying to fall asleep? - Exodus 2: In the space of these few verses, Israel s deliverer goes from privileged status in Pharaoh s house, to fugitive, to virtual exile in a foreign land Exodus - the NIV Application Commentary - Peter Enns - Pg. 74 Exodus - the NIV Application Commentary - Peter Enns - Pg. 78

5 - Exodus 2: This was his first attempt at delivering his people acting alone and in secret and relying on his own strength and wisdom and though it failed miserably, it certainly shows the strength of Moses' sentiments on behalf of his people Exodus 2:14 - It is not difficult to imagine why Moses was disliked or why the news about his murderous act had spread so far so fast: an Egyptian overseer was missing, an investigation probably was underway or soon would be, and there was every likelihood that the Hebrews would be blamed and severely punished for the overseer's murder. Such a situation would become the talk of the community Exodus 2: The account of the encounter at the well in Midian tells several things about Moses' character: his flight from Egypt had not blunted his instinct for intervening against injustice and righting wrongs; he was quick to act against oppression, even alone, isolated, and with the odds against him; he was sufficiently imposing and/or assertive to intimidate several shepherds; he was physically vigorous enough to chase off a group of shepherds and then do work that seven girls were planning to do Exodus 2: These circumstances are not entirely positive. From Moses' point of view, he was now permanently separated both from what he regarded as his homeland, Egypt, and also from the people he now identified with as his own, Israel. Consider, then, the spiritual challenge that was his. He was a failure as a deliverer of his people, a failure as a citizen of Egypt, unwelcome among either of the nations he might have called his own, a wanted man, a now-permanent resident of an obscure place, alone and far from his origins, and among people of a different religion Exodus 2: This little postscript prepares us to expect that God will now take action Exodus 2: However little they may have known about the true God at this stage in their emerging corporate theological education, they were during this time earnestly praying to him for help; and God, faithful both to his nature and to his past promises, heard them The New American Commentary - Volume 2 - Exodus. Pg 96 The New American Commentary - Volume 2 - Exodus. Pg 96 The New American Commentary - Volume 2 - Exodus. Pg 99 The New American Commentary - Volume 2 - Exodus. Pg 101 The New American Commentary - Volume 2 - Exodus. Pg 102 The New American Commentary - Volume 2 - Exodus. Pg 103

6 - Exodus 2: For the first time the identity of Israel s true redeemer is introduced. It is God who sees the Israelite s plight. God is in complete control. The next scene of the drama of Israel s redemption is about to unfold Exodus 2: There is a massive takeaway to be had from Moses s life here. Moses foreshadows both the redeemer and the redeemed. He first experienced Israel s rejection and became an outcast and alien before he himself became worthy to be her redeemer. Christ, too, became like us before he could deliver us. But he did not simply descend from the comfort and prestige of an Egyptian palace, but from heaven itself, becoming not only a man but a despised man for our sake. As Moses became Israel s savior by embodying her suffering, Christ from highest heaven took onto his own body the sin of humanity. He is a savior through suffering. - Consider the way in which Jesus suffered through coming to our world. He experienced hunger, fatigue, loss of friends, rejection, temptation, false accusations, betrayal, mocking, and ultimately crucifixion and death. I want us to consider two points here. First, Christ voluntarily subjected himself to this suffering to unite His people with God. Take a moment and just sit in awe! What must He be like! What a beautiful, loving, selfless God we worship! He is worthy of all worship! Second, He did this because He loves you! Yes, I am talking to you! No matter what you have gone through or done, the gift of grace is available to you! Trust in Him if you never have. Continue to trust in him if you already do! He is worthy and good, and loves you so much that he would give up his life for you! - Read Philippians 2:1-18. Reflect on Christ s motivation for coming to this world. How should that impact the way we live our lives - interacting with God, with others, and with our own internal dialogue? Final Thoughts Song to Listen to: - Enjoy the song, All the Poor and Powerless by All Sons and Daughters. Reflect on God s goodness, his welcoming of all, his mighty works, and our response to Him The New American Commentary - Volume 2 - Exodus. Pg 103

7 All the poor and powerless And all the lost and lonely All the thieves will come confess And know that You are holy Will know that You are holy And all will sing out Hallelujah And we will cry out Hallelujah And all the hearts that are content And all who feel unworthy And all who hurt with nothing left Will know that You are holy Chorus Shout it Go on and scream it from the mountains Go on and tell it to the masses That He is God Chorus Shout it Go on and scream it from the mountains Go on and tell it to the masses That He is God Reflection on the beginning 2 chapters of Exodus - I stumbled upon a footnote as I was researching that gave some background on the knowledge of the Israelites during their time in Egypt. It reads, The Israelites in Egypt did not necessarily have a fully accurate biblical faith after so many centuries of exposure to the pagan influences of Egypt, and among the reasons Moses wrote Genesis was presumably to help the exodus generation gain some sense of their ethnic and spiritual history: the sort of thing each generation has to learn afresh in any culture. 18 This quote generated several thoughts and questions. First, we have so much to learn! As we have dug into the first 2 chapters of Exodus, I hope your eyes have begun to be opened to God s goodness in Exodus and the incredible history he has written. Additionally, what are the ways that we have been exposed to pagan influences in our own culture, resulting in a loss of our history? Scripture Memory - Week 1 s verse related to Exodus 1 was - Genesis 12:2-3 - And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. - This week we will memorize Exodus 2: And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel and God knew The New American Commentary - Volume 2 - Exodus. Pg 88