Exodus - Chapter 2

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. 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 women 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. 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. 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. 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? 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. Exodus 2.15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. Exodus 2.16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. Exodus 2.17 And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. Exodus 2.18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day? Exodus 2.19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock. Exodus 2.20 And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread. Exodus 2.21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. Exodus 2.22 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land. Exodus 2.23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. Exodus 2.24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. Exodus 2.25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

Exodus : Chapter 2

The Birth and Youth of Moses: A Divine Plan

Exodus chapter 2 presents the captivating story of the birth and youth of Moses, a man chosen by God to be the liberator of his people. In the midst of adversity, how does God prepare this instrument of His will? This account reveals not only Moses' miraculous birth and his adoption by Pharaoh's daughter, but also his escape to Midian after killing an Egyptian, as well as his marriage to Zipporah.

The Cry of the Israelites and the Divine Response

This chapter reaches its climax with the powerful cry of the Israelites to God, followed by God's response. It addresses essential themes such as divine providence, the identity of Moses, and God's timing for the deliverance of his people. In this reflection, we invite you to meditate on five biblical passages that shed light on the themes of preparation and calling present in this crucial chapter.

Illuminating Bible Passages

Acts 7:20-22: "At that time Moses was born, very handsome. For three months he grew up in his father's house. When he was abandoned, Pharaoh's daughter took him in and raised him as her own son. Moses was trained in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in word and deed." This passage summarizes the events at the beginning of Exodus 2, providing additional details about Moses' upbringing.

Hebrews 11:24-26: "By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing instead to suffer ill-treatment with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. For Christ's sake, he considered his dishonor greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking forward to his reward." This text interprets Moses' actions in Exodus 2 as acts of faith and identification with his people.

Acts 7:23-29: "When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his fellow Israelites. He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian and went to his defense. He killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand. The next day, he returned and found two Israelites fighting. He tried to reconcile them, saying, 'You are brothers; why do they want to harm each other?' But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses and said to him, 'Who made you ruler and judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?'" Upon hearing this, Moses fled to Midian, where he lived as a foreigner and fathered two sons. This passage provides a detailed summary of the events of Exodus 2, including Moses' flight to Midian.

1 Corinthians 10:1-2: "Brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact that all our ancestors were under the clouds and all passed through the sea. In Moses, they were all baptized in the cloud and in the sea." Paul uses the events of the Exodus, which begin in Exodus 2 with the birth of Moses, as a foreshadowing of Christian baptism.

Psalm 106:19-23: "In Horeb they made a calf and worshipped a cast image. They exchanged their glory for the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, wonders in the land of Ham, and fearful deeds at the Red Sea. Therefore, he threatened to destroy them, and he would have done it if Moses, his chosen one, had not stood before him in the gap, to prevent his wrath from destroying them." This psalm reflects the importance of Moses, whose story begins in Exodus 2, as an intercessor for the people of Israel.

Conclusion

The life of Moses reminds us that, even in the midst of trials, God prepares His servants and responds to the cries of His people. Let us reflect on how we, like Moses, can respond to God's call in our own lives.