We will begin this lesson in Exodus 2:1 “And there went a man
of the house of Levi, and took [to wife] a daughter of Levi.”
It was very important to these Hebrews to not marry these worldly
Egyptians. We see here that this was an honorable man and woman. They
didn’t move in and live together, they married. There were so many
people in these families that they could marry in the family and still
not marry a near kinsman. This marriage would be pleasing to God.
Notice, here, that their specific names were not given. Probably,
because they could fade into obscurity as Moses, their child, was
elevated. These two would be named later, but just as the greatest
things we do for God are, many times, not recognized; this is the
case here. Their part in bringing the deliverer was paled in importance to
the fact God sent the deliverer.
Exodus 2:2 “And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she
saw him that he [was a] goodly [child], she hid him three months.”
This mother is proud of this healthy, handsome child that she
bare. She stands against the powers of Egypt to keep him. She, as well
as all the other mothers, was told to kill their boy children when they
were born. Here we can look at these 3 months that he was hidden as if
he were dead to symbolize the three days that the body of Jesus lay in
the tomb as dead. She could look on this son and see his strength and
his character. We do not read that she knew at this time that he was
sent of God to deliver his people from great bondage.
Exodus 2:3 “And when she could not longer hide him, she took for
him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and
put the child therein; and she laid [it] in the flags by the river’s
brink.”
This mother’s great love for her child brought her to the point
of being willing to give him up, just so that he might live. She was
aware of the bathing of the Egyptian maidens there. This was no
accident she placed her son there. We can see similarities in this ark
of safety made for Moses to the ark of safety of Noah. This mother put
the baby in the ark. God sealed Noah in the ark for his safety. Here
we see God’s handiwork. He (God) puts the thought in this mother to do
this special thing to save Moses for His purpose. God even softens the
heart of this Egyptian ruler so that he will allow the baby to live.
Moses would not only live, but would get an education and would learn
about Egypt and the Egyptians from the inside out. We see in all of
this that sometimes God uses wicked people to bring about His will.
Pharaoh and his daughter accepted this baby as if it was a gift from the
god of the Nile (their false god).
Exodus 2:4 “And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be
done to him.”
Here again we are not told the sister’s name, but this was Miriam.
She was actually guarding this ark to see that no harm comes to her
brother. A child would be inconspicuous. She would carry the message
back to her mother of the fate of Moses.
Exodus 2:5 “And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash
[herself] at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s
side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to
fetch it.”
It was not unusual for the Pharaoh’s daughter to go and bathe in
the Nile. The Egyptians thought this river had special powers. They
felt bathing in the river brought back their youth. Actually, water
was not plentiful in Egypt. When the rains filled the Nile, they had
good crops; and during drought periods, there were very bad crops.
They were so dependent on the Nile that they began to worship it. She
probably had 4 to 5 girls in attendance to her because of her
prominence as a princess. Her maid spoken of here was probably the one
who helped her dress and was very close to her. These flags mentioned
here were just weeds that grew near the bank in the water. They were
probably very similar to water lilies.
Exodus 2:6 “And when she had opened [it], she saw the child: and,
behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This
[is one] of the Hebrews’ children.”
We can easily see that Pharaoh’s daughter did definitely know
that this child was a Hebrew. Here we see the natural instinct that
God has given women to love babies. This daughter of Pharaoh was moved
by the tears of the baby. We can see God’s hand in all of this;
Pharaoh’s daughter being at the river at the precise time, Moses’
mother floating the babe in the ark at the exact time, and the baby
crying at just the right moment to touch the daughter’s heart. This was
part of God’s plan to save Moses for the work God had ordained him for.
Exodus 2:7 “Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I
go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse
the child for thee?”
This was Miriam who spoke to Pharaoh’s daughter. Don’t you think
that Pharaoh’s daughter had some indication that this was a relative
of the baby? Of course, Hebrew women had many children, so it would
not be terribly hard to find one who could nurse this baby. This
“nurse”, I believe, meant to breast feed him, as well as take care of
him.
Exodus 2:8 “And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid
went and called the child’s mother.”
Exodus 2:9 “And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child
away, and nurse it for me, and I will give [thee] thy wages. And the
woman took the child, and nursed it.”
Here we see the miraculous hand of God. Not only did the mother
save the baby’s life, but she now had her baby back. Even more amazing
was that the mother would now be paid to raise her own baby. God always
has the perfect plan, if we will just stand back and let Him do it.
Remember, all Hebrews were now slaves and just barely have enough to
get by on, but Moses’ mother was earning wages raising her own child.
It helped the entire family. It appears that in the early part of Moses
life, he was at home with his natural parents; and yet, Pharaoh’s
daughter had adopted him as her very own. Moses was probably just
brought into her house and given all the privileges of a son.
Exodus 2:10 “And the child grew, and she brought him unto
Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name
Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.”
Amram, Jochebed, and their daughter, Miriam (with God’s help),
had saved Moses’ life. When Moses was approximately two years old, he
was weaned; and now his mother brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter. He
would have all the advantages of a prince, including the best
education. “Moses” means drawing out. This was a very informative name
given him. This was not his Hebrew name. This was his Egyptian name.
There really was no mention of his Hebrew name.
Exodus 2:11 “And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was
grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their
burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his
brethren.”
Moses lived through all his pre-teen and teen years in Pharaoh’s
temple training to be a prince. From verse 11, we may assume that
Moses knew he was a Hebrew. We see him, here, going out to see his
brethren. He saw an Egyptian taking advantage of his Hebrew brethren
Exodus 2:12 “And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw
that [there was] no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the
sand.”
Vengeance is mine saith the Lord. This was a hasty act upon
Moses’ part. He was not careful in that respect. This act, I believe,
was in defense of the Hebrew brother. Whether justifiable or not, God
would use this to further His plan for Moses.
Exodus 2:13 “And when he went out the second day, behold, two men
of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong,
Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?”
It seems as though Moses loved his Hebrew brethren. He appears
here, to me, to be trying to make peace to keep these brethren from
getting into further problems with the Egyptians.
Exodus 2:14 “And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over
us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And
Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.”
It seems to me, here that this Hebrew knew that Moses was a
Hebrew as well. It also appears that he was jealous. He seems to have
very little respect for Moses even though Moses was a prince. Moses had
perhaps been good to them, and they probably did not fear him as they
did the taskmasters.
Be sure your sins will find you out. Moses intended for no one to
see him kill the Egyptian, and now even the lowly Hebrew knew.
Moses would certainly have to run to escape judgement. Even though he
was a prince, there was already bad blood between the Egyptians and the
Hebrews. Moses was afraid. He, being a Hebrew, had little chance for a
fair trial.
We need to take note of the fact here that God uses imperfect
people to serve Him. Moses was no exception.