Exodus 2
Main Highlights
Moses's birth amidst Pharaoh's decree to kill all male Hebrew infants highlights God's miraculous preservation. He is hidden, then placed in a basket on the Nile, found by Pharaoh's daughter, and providentially raised in the royal court, nursed by his own mother. Later, Moses identifies with his people by killing an Egyptian and subsequently flees to Midian, where he marries Zipporah and begins a new life.
Key Verses
"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's bank."— Exodus 2:3
"And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go." So the girl went and called the child's mother."— Exodus 2:8
"He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand."— Exodus 2:11-12
Scholar Insight
"In the birth and preservation of Moses, we see the amazing providence of God, who prepares His chosen instrument in the most unlikely of circumstances within the very court of the enemy." - John Calvin, Commentaries on the Four Last Books of Moses
Questions
What do we learn about God?
Exodus 2 reveals God's powerful and meticulous providence, demonstrating His sovereign hand over human schemes and even the cruelest decrees of powerful rulers like Pharaoh. He orchestrates seemingly random events to preserve His chosen people and prepare His deliverer. We learn that "God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob." - Exodus 2:24. God actively remembers and acts on His promises, even when His people are in distress.
How is Christ Connected?
In Exodus 2, Moses serves as a significant type of Christ, foreshadowing Jesus's role as the great deliverer and shepherd of God's people. Just as Moses was saved from certain death and became a leader for Israel, Jesus was preserved from Herod's decree and became the Savior for all humanity. This chapter demonstrates God's preparation of a savior figure, a concept fulfilled perfectly in Christ, who "looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian" - Exodus 2:11-12, acting on behalf of his people, much like Jesus intervened for us.
What Theology concept is taught?
The primary theological concept illuminated in Exodus 2 is divine providence, showcasing God's sovereign control and foresight in all circumstances. Even amid Pharaoh's genocidal decree, God's plan unfolds meticulously, ensuring Moses's preservation and preparation for leadership. This demonstrates that "God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob." - Exodus 2:24, highlighting God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and His active involvement in human history.
Do we see Law or Grace?
Grace is profoundly evident in Exodus 2 through God's unmerited favor and protective hand over the Israelites, particularly in the miraculous preservation of Moses. Despite Israel's slavery and apparent hopelessness, God initiates their deliverance through divine intervention, demonstrating His covenant love. Moses's escape from Pharaoh's decree and subsequent upbringing in the royal court are acts of sheer grace, preparing him for the future role of mediator, where "the man was afraid, and thought, "Surely the thing is known!"" - Exodus 2:14, showing that God's plan moves forward despite human fear or failure.
Personal Application
Believers should respond to the lessons of Exodus 2 by cultivating profound trust in God's sovereign providence, recognizing that His plans cannot be thwarted by any earthly power. We are encouraged to show compassion for the oppressed and to identify with God's people, even when it involves personal sacrifice, just as Moses did when he "saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people." - Exodus 2:11. This chapter calls us to believe that God hears the cries of His people and will act in His perfect timing.
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