Overview:
Exodus 2 introduces one of the most pivotal figures in the Bible: Moses. The chapter recounts his birth, preservation, and early life, showing God’s providence at work in protecting Moses despite Pharaoh’s murderous decree. Born under the threat of death, Moses is hidden by his mother for three months, and when she can no longer conceal him, she places him in a basket on the Nile River. Through divine intervention, Pharaoh’s daughter discovers him, and Moses is raised in Pharaoh’s household, receiving the best education and training Egypt could offer.
As Moses grows, he becomes aware of his Hebrew heritage and takes action when he sees an Egyptian taskmaster beating a Hebrew slave. His impulsive killing of the Egyptian, however, leads to his flight from Egypt to the land of Midian, where he begins a new life as a shepherd, marrying Zipporah, the daughter of Reuel (Jethro), a Midianite priest. Meanwhile, the Israelites’ suffering increases, and their cries for deliverance reach God. The chapter closes with a reminder that God remembers His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, preparing to act on behalf of His people.
This chapter emphasizes the themes of God’s sovereignty, Moses’ identity as a future deliverer, and the foreshadowing of Israel’s eventual redemption. Despite Moses’ failure to act wisely, God’s plan remains intact, and this chapter highlights how God uses flawed individuals to accomplish His purposes.
Historical and Literary Context:
Exodus 2 continues the narrative flow from the first chapter, transitioning from the general condition of Israel in Egypt to the specific story of Moses, who will lead them out of bondage. Historically, Egypt was a dominant power, and the Pharaoh’s edict to kill male Hebrew infants (Exodus 1:22) reflects the harsh reality of living under such tyranny. Moses’ birth and survival are significant because they occur in a time of great peril, yet God’s hand is clearly at work from the beginning.
The chapter is rich with literary motifs that foreshadow future events. Moses being placed in a basket on the Nile evokes imagery of Noah’s ark, symbolizing salvation through water, and anticipates Moses’ future role in parting the Red Sea. The chapter also highlights key geographical settings—Egypt and Midian—which will play major roles in Moses’ life and leadership. The irony of Pharaoh’s daughter rescuing and raising Moses in the very palace that sought his death is a literary device underscoring God’s providence.
Key Themes and Doctrinal Points:
God’s Sovereignty and Providence:
God’s providence is seen throughout this chapter. Despite Pharaoh’s decree, Moses is saved through the faithful actions of his mother and the unlikely intervention of Pharaoh’s daughter. God’s plan to raise up a deliverer is not thwarted by human opposition.
“When she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile” (Exodus 2:3).
God often works in unexpected ways, and the story of Moses’ preservation highlights how God is in control, even in the midst of human oppression and danger.
The Formation of a Deliverer:
Moses’ early life foreshadows his future role as a deliverer. Though he initially acts impulsively by killing an Egyptian taskmaster, this act reveals his growing sense of identification with his people and his desire to intervene on their behalf.
“Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand” (Exodus 2:12).
Moses’ actions, though premature, show that God is already shaping him to be a deliverer. His flight to Midian marks the beginning of a period of preparation where God will mold him into the leader Israel needs.
God’s Faithfulness to His Covenant:
The chapter ends with a reminder of God’s faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The cries of the Israelites in their suffering reach God, and He prepares to act on their behalf, demonstrating His covenant loyalty.
“God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob” (Exodus 2:24).
This reinforces the theme of God’s unwavering faithfulness. His plan to deliver Israel is not based on their merit but on His promise to the patriarchs, reflecting the grace that characterizes God’s covenant relationship with His people.
Verse-by-Verse Analysis:
Exodus 2:1-2:
Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months.
Moses is born into the tribe of Levi, the tribe that will later be designated for priesthood. His mother’s decision to hide him reflects her faith in God, even in the face of Pharaoh’s murderous decree.
Exodus 2:3-4:
But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
Moses’ mother’s action of placing him in a basket mirrors the story of Noah’s ark, with the basket being covered in tar and pitch for protection (Genesis 6:14). The Nile, a place of death for Hebrew boys, becomes a place of salvation for Moses. His sister, likely Miriam, watches over him, demonstrating the protective care of his family.
Exodus 2:5-6:
Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.
Pharaoh’s daughter, an unlikely savior, feels compassion for Moses. Her actions are another example of God’s providence, as she rescues the very child who will one day oppose her father’s reign.
Exodus 2:7-9:
Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him.
Moses’ mother is able to nurse her own son, reflecting God’s care for her and for Moses. The irony of this situation—Pharaoh’s daughter unknowingly paying a Hebrew woman to nurse her own child—underscores God’s sovereignty and His ability to bring good out of dire circumstances.
Exodus 2:10:
When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”
Moses’ name, meaning “to draw out,” foreshadows his role in leading Israel out of Egypt. Raised as an Egyptian prince, Moses will have access to education and power that will later equip him for his role as a leader and deliverer.
Exodus 2:11-12:
One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
Moses’ decision to intervene reflects his identification with his people, despite his upbringing in Pharaoh’s palace. However, his impulsive killing of the Egyptian shows that he is not yet ready for the role of deliverer. His actions reveal his immaturity and lack of reliance on God’s timing.
Exodus 2:13-15:
The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?” The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.” When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well.
Moses’ flight to Midian marks the beginning of a period of exile and preparation. His failure to gain the trust of his fellow Hebrews foreshadows the initial resistance he will face when he returns to lead them. His escape to Midian, a place of refuge, mirrors the eventual exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.
Exodus 2:16-19:
Now a priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father’s flock. Some shepherds came along and drove them away, but Moses got up and came to their rescue and watered their flock. When the girls returned to Reuel their father, he asked them, “Why have you returned so early today?” They answered, “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock.”
Moses’ intervention on behalf of the daughters of Reuel (also known as Jethro) again reflects his instinct to deliver and protect. Although mistaken for an Egyptian, his Hebrew identity is becoming more pronounced as he aligns himself with the oppressed.
Exodus 2:20-22:
“And where is he?” Reuel asked his daughters. “Why did you leave him? Invite him to have something to eat.” Moses agreed to stay with the man, who gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage. Zipporah gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, saying, “I have become a foreigner in a foreign land.”
Moses’ marriage to Zipporah and the birth of his son Gershom symbolize his new life in exile. The name Gershom, meaning “a foreigner,” reflects Moses’ sense of alienation from both Egypt and his own people, Israel. This period in Midian will be a time of preparation, as Moses learns to lead a flock before he is called to lead a nation.
Exodus 2:23-25:
During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.
The chapter closes with a reminder that God has not forgotten His people. Their cries reach Him, and He remembers His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This sets the stage for the calling of Moses and the unfolding of God’s plan of deliverance.
Theological Implications and Connection to Jesus Christ:
Exodus 2 points forward to the ultimate deliverer, Jesus Christ. Just as Moses was spared from death and called to deliver Israel, so Jesus was preserved from Herod’s murderous decree and called to deliver humanity from sin and death (Matthew 2:16). The story of Moses being drawn out of the water also foreshadows baptism, a sign of deliverance and new life in Christ.
Moses’ flight to Midian mirrors Jesus’ time of preparation in the wilderness, and just as Moses returns to Egypt to lead Israel out of slavery, Jesus begins His public ministry by calling people out of the slavery of sin. Moses’ identification with his people and his desire to defend them, even when it leads to exile, prefigures Christ’s identification with humanity and His ultimate sacrifice for our deliverance.
Sermon Outline and Flow:
- Introduction: The Birth and Preservation of Moses
- Highlight the danger Moses was born into and God’s providence in protecting him.
- Connect this to the broader theme of God’s care for His people in times of trouble.
- Point 1: God’s Sovereignty in Unlikely Circumstances
- Emphasize how Pharaoh’s daughter becomes the instrument of Moses’ salvation.
- Application: God often works in unexpected ways, and we must trust His providence even when we don’t understand His methods.
- Point 2: Moses’ Growing Sense of Identity
- Explore Moses’ identification with his people and his attempt to act as their deliverer.
- Application: God often calls us to roles that we feel unprepared for, but He uses even our failures to shape us for His purposes.
- Point 3: God’s Faithfulness to His Covenant
- Discuss how the chapter ends with God remembering His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
- Application: God is always faithful to His promises, and we can trust Him even in the midst of suffering and delay.
Illustrations and Examples:
- Use a modern example of someone who overcame a difficult upbringing or threat to become a leader or agent of change, much like Moses.
- Share a personal story of trusting God’s timing in a difficult season of life, paralleling Moses’ period in Midian as a time of preparation.
Application for Today’s Christian:
Exodus 2 reminds Christians that God is sovereign, even when circumstances seem dire. Just as He protected Moses and prepared him for his role as a deliverer, God is working in our lives, often behind the scenes, to bring about His purposes. This chapter also encourages believers to trust in God’s timing, knowing that He is faithful to His promises.
Connection to the Father in Exodus 2:
God the Father’s providential care is evident throughout this chapter. From the preservation of Moses as a baby to the preparation of Moses in Midian, God is actively involved in every detail of His people’s lives. This reflects His role as a loving and protective Father who works all things for the good of His people.
Connection to Jesus Christ in Exodus 2:
Moses, as a deliverer, prefigures Christ. Just as Moses was saved from death and later called to lead Israel out of physical bondage, Jesus was preserved from Herod’s decree and called to lead humanity out of spiritual bondage. Moses’ identification with his people points to Christ’s ultimate identification with humanity, culminating in His sacrificial death on the cross.
Connection to the Holy Spirit in Exodus 2:
The Holy Spirit’s role in empowering individuals for God’s purposes is seen in Moses’ growing sense of identity and mission. Though his early attempts to deliver his people are misguided, the Spirit will eventually guide and empower Moses for the monumental task ahead. The Spirit works similarly in believers today, shaping and preparing us for the roles God has for us.
Connection to God’s Love in Exodus 2:
God’s love is evident in His care for Moses and His concern for the Israelites in their suffering. His remembrance of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob reflects His steadfast love and faithfulness. Ultimately, God’s love is displayed in His plan to deliver Israel, which points forward to the greater deliverance in Christ.
Reflection Questions:
- How does Exodus 2 reveal God’s sovereignty in preserving Moses and preparing him for his role as a deliverer?
- In what ways can we identify with Moses’ sense of failure and exile, and how can we trust God’s work during our own seasons of waiting?
- How does Moses’ story point forward to the deliverance brought by Jesus Christ?
- What does this chapter teach us about God’s faithfulness to His promises, even when circumstances seem bleak?
- How can we apply the lessons of Moses’ early life to our own spiritual journey today?