Coachlight Bible Study – Exodus Lesson 3 – Exodus 1:1 – 2:10

Faith And Grace Demonstrated In The Birth Of Moses

 

Even When Evil Rulers Are At Their Worst, God Has The Power To Place Goodwill And Tender Love In The Heart Of People In That Evil Ruler’s Camp

 

The Book of Exodus is all about God’s protective power in being His people’s Shield and Exceeding Great Reward.  God was protecting His people as they were in servitude to Egypt and facing complete extinction.  From the very beginning, God had a redemption plan in the works, even when neither Pharaoh nor God’s people had any conception of God’s plan.  In fact, for most intents and purposes God’s people had forgotten all about God, all the time longing for a deliverer. God recruits a person of faith.  A Family of seventy of Jacob’s seed quickly multiplies, and at precisely the right time an infant nation is brought out into the world consisting of between two and three million people.  This record gives the story along with all the birth-pangs, guidance, disobedience, etc. by His people.

 

The Book Of Exodus – Shemoth – “Names”

Reference

1

2

3

4-11

12-14:

15-18

19-24

25-40

Focus

Redemption From Egypt

Revelation From God

Plan

Slavery In Egypt

Birth of Moses

Call of Moses

Return of Moses to Egypt

Deliverance By Blood

& Power

Marching To Sinai

Giving of the Law

Blueprint & Con-struction

of the Tabernacle

Purpose

To continue the record of God working in Israel’s birth as a nation, their moving into Egypt and the ensuing slavery endured by them until God comes down and delivers Israel out of bondage into a land flowing with milk and honey.

Subject

Deliverer

Deliverance

Location

Egypt

Midian

Egypt

Sinai

Time

430 Years – From Abrahamic Covenant To Deliverance – (Galatians 3:17)

2 Months

10 Months

 

As Exodus begins, It looks like the Pharaoh may win.  Israel’s extinction seems sure.  Little did the Pharoh know that God is in control.  The king’s edit states that every Hebrew male child is to die.  But God has His plan and carries it out no matter what the opposition. God’s plan is always carried out on earth by people believing God will do what He said He would do.  God picks out people who have true faith, and demonstrates his grace in the process.

 

I. The Few Became A Mighty Nation

 

Deuteronomy 26:5  And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:

 

Exodus 1:1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.

Exodus 1:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

Exodus 1:3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

Exodus 1:4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

Exodus 1:5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.

Exodus 1:6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.

 

A. Jacob Migrates Into Egypt

1. He took all his cattle and possessions

2. He took his sons and grandsons

3. He evidently had daughters (Genesis 46:7) and grand-daughters

Genesis 46:7 His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.

 

a. Dinah is the only daughter named (Genesis 30:21)

b. Sarah, daughter of Ashur, is the only grand-daughter named (Genesis 46:17)

c. The word “daughters” (Genesis 46:7) can not refer to his son’s wives, because they are said to be “all his seed”

d. So, neither Jacob’s daughters-in-law nor his servants were numbered in the totals

B. First Numbered Is The Family Of Leah – 29 Out of 33 Went To Egypt

 

Reuben

Simeon

Levi

Judah

Issachar

Zebulon

Hanoch

Jemuel

Gershon

Er

Tola

Sered

Phallu

Jamin

Kohath

Onan

Phuvah

Elon

Hezron

Ohad

Merari

Shelah

Job

Jahleel

Carmi

Jachin

 

Pharez

Shimron

 

 

Zohar

 

Zarah

 

 

 

Shaul

 

 

 

 

 

1. These total 33, but Er and Onan died in Canaan leaving 29

2. Leah also had 4 daughters or grand-daughters – one was Dinah (Genesis 46:15)

3. 29 went to Egypt, but grand total was 33

 

C. The Sons And Grand-sons Of Leah’s Maid – Zilpah – (Grand total of 16)

 

Gad

Asher

Ziphion

Eri

Jimnah

Haggi

Arodi

Ishua

Shuni

Areli

Isui

Ezbon

 

Beriah

 

1. Also named is a daughter of Asher -  Serah

2. Also named are 2 sons of Beriah – Heber & Malchiel (Great Grandsons of Jacob)

 

D. The Descendants Of Rachel – 14

 

Joseph

Benjamin

Ephraim

Belah

Naaman

Muppim

Manasseh

Becher

Ehi

Huppim

 

Ashbel

Rosh

Ard

 

Gera

 

 

 

E. The Descendants Of Rachel’s Maid – Bilhah - 7

 

Dan

Naphtali

Hushim

Jazeel

Guni

Jezer

Shillem

 

1. All added to 70 souls of Jacobs lineage

2. Actually only 66 departed with Jacob because Joseph and his two sons were already in Egypt.

3. This all does not include any wives of Jacob’s sons or grandsons nor husbands of his daughters and grand-daughters– only his seed

4. So, This included Jacob, and

a. 12 sons

b. 51 grandsons

c. 2 great grand sons

d. 1 daughter

e. 1 grand-daughter

f. 1 unnamed daughter of Leah

g. 1 unnamed granddaughter of Leah

5. The key to understanding Stephen’s account from the Septuagint is the word “kindred” – Adding five servants or other kindred not of Jacob’s seed.

 

Acts 7:14 Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred[4772], threescore and fifteen souls.

 

 

4772 suggeneia suggeneia soong-ghen'-i-ah - from 4773; TDNT-7:736,1097; n f

kindred 3; 3

1) a kinship, relationship

2) kindred, relations collectively, family

 

G. Few In Number Become A Mighty Nation

 

Deuteronomy 26:5  And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:

 

II. Demonstrates How God Is Always Able To Guard His People

 

A. Even When They Are Small In Number

 

Exodus 1:5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.

Exodus 1:6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.

Exodus 1:7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

 

B. Even When Under Great Oppression

 

Exodus 1:8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

Exodus 1:9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:

Exodus 1:10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.

Exodus 1:11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

Exodus 1:12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.

Exodus 1:13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:

Exodus 1:14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

 

C. Even When Threatened With Extinction

 

Exodus 1:15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

Exodus 1:16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

Exodus 1:17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

Exodus 1:18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?

Exodus 1:19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.

Exodus 1:20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.

Exodus 1:21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.

Exodus 1:22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.

 

III. Faith And The Birth of Moses

 

The Pharaoh had, from every earthly point of view made an edict that spelled the complete extinction of the nation of Israel.  How could the nation survive if every male child is to be drowned in the river?  Every member of the nation was commissioned to help in this evil endeavor, there seemed to be no means of human resistance that could work.  But God has a plan.  God has a man and woman from the House of Levi.

 

Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

 

Exodus 2:1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.

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.

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.

Exodus 2:4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.

 

A. God’s Secret Plan Given To The Parents Of Moses By Faith

1. Moses was not their first-born

a. Miriam, Moses’ sister, was old enough to watch over her brother

 

Exodus 6:20 And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years.

Numbers 26:59 And the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.

 

b. Pharoh’s Edict went into effect after Aaron’s birth

c. Moses was the first of Amram & Jochebed’s kids whose life was in danger

 

2. Faith Plays An Important Part Of God’s Plan – Faith Brings Action

a. Jochebed saw that he was a goodly child

b. Jochebed hid Moses for 3 months

c. Jochebed Then placed him in an ark daubed with slime and pitch

d. Jochebed placed the ark in the reeds by the Nile’s bank

e. Miriam watched to see what happens to 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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

 

3. Jochebed was living by her faith

a. Jochebed demonstrated cleverness because of her faith

1. Placing the ark where the princess usually went to bathe

2. Placing Miriam in a strategic place to answer the princess’s question

b. It was an act of faith for a Hebrew woman to place her child in the hands of an Egyptian

c. Jochebed demonstrated faith as did Mary later

1. Both knew that their child was chosen By God

2. Both were willing to trust their child to God’s Providence

B. Grace Is Portrayed In God’s Plan By The Compassion Of The Princess

1. Pharaoh’s money was used to pay Jochebed to nurse her own baby

2. In the case of Moses

a. Raised and educated with Egypt’s best

b. His name Moses – A constant reminder of his origin

1. Egyptian meaning is “saved from the water”

2. Sounds like a similar Hebrew word meaning “drawn out”A.