Exodus 1, Exodus 2:5-10, 3:1-10, 4:1-31
Today we learned about a man called Moses, who despite his reservation was called by God to become a leader to free His people.
Many years after the story of Joseph (after his brothers moved to Egypt, and generations have passed), the number of Israelites in Egypt had increased. The new king that ruled the land and he did not favored the Israelites, and he saw the growing numbers as a threat to his kingdom. So he decided to destroy the Israelites. How?
Exodus 1:22
Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.”
Exodus 1:22
Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.”
But as God would have it, a baby boy was saved from this faith. In Exodus 2, we read a man from the tribe of Levi had a son, and when the mother saw her baby boy, she hid him for three months. However once no longer able to hide him, she put him in papyrus basket, then placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile while his sister stood at a distance watching over him. |
The basket later found its way to the place where Pharaoh’s daughter went down to bathe. There Pharaoh's daughter found him and she felt sorry for him. She then adopted the baby (after being nursed by the mother as his sister offered to Pharaoh's daughter) and named him Moses, because she drew him out of the water.
Now this was just the beginning of Moses's journey in God's plan.
Later the story follows as we read on in Exodus 2:11-25. After Moses has grown up, one day he went out to see the Hebrew, but he found an Egyptian beating a slave. When no one was looking, Moses killed the Egyptian. The story then followed with Moses, afraid of what he had done and the consequence that might come from Pharaoh, he fled and settled in Midian.
Now this was just the beginning of Moses's journey in God's plan.
Later the story follows as we read on in Exodus 2:11-25. After Moses has grown up, one day he went out to see the Hebrew, but he found an Egyptian beating a slave. When no one was looking, Moses killed the Egyptian. The story then followed with Moses, afraid of what he had done and the consequence that might come from Pharaoh, he fled and settled in Midian.
But God heard the cry of His people in Egypt and this was where God called Moses to free His people. Something amazing happened! One of the ways recorded in the Bible of God communicating to Moses was through the burning bush. We read from Exodus 3, as Moses was tending the flock, God appeared to Moses in flames of fire within a bush, however the bush did not burn up. |
Exodus 3:4-6
4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” 5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
God said that He had seen the misery of the Israelites in Egypt, so He is sending Moses to Pharaoh to release His people from Egypt. But Moses was very fearful, he said (verse 11), “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” God reassured Moses that He will be with him. However Moses had many doubts about this task that God has given, so God gave him three signs (Exodus 4):
Discussion Questions
MEMORY VERSE : Exodus 3:14
To watch a video of Moses click here.
Next week we will continue on with the story of Moses, on his return to Egypt and how the Israelites escaped from Egypt.
4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” 5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
God said that He had seen the misery of the Israelites in Egypt, so He is sending Moses to Pharaoh to release His people from Egypt. But Moses was very fearful, he said (verse 11), “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” God reassured Moses that He will be with him. However Moses had many doubts about this task that God has given, so God gave him three signs (Exodus 4):
- Moses staff thrown on the ground turned to a snake, then once picked up by Moses, turned back into a staff.
- Hand put into Moses's cloak had leprous, but then back again into his cloak, became normal again.
- God said if they still will not listen to you, pour some water from the Nile unto dry ground and it will become blood.
Discussion Questions
- What happened to the Israelites while Moses was in Midian? How did God respond?
- How did Moses felt about the call? How did Israelites react to Moses and Aaron?
- God is always at work. God works through many different people. God had amazing ways to call on people to work for Him, even those who seemed unlikely and doubtful.
MEMORY VERSE : Exodus 3:14
To watch a video of Moses click here.
Next week we will continue on with the story of Moses, on his return to Egypt and how the Israelites escaped from Egypt.