# Overview Exodus Chapter 2 begins with the birth of #Moses, a pivotal figure in the history of #Israel. Born to a #Levite family during a time of severe oppression under #Pharaoh's decree to kill all newborn Hebrew boys, Moses' mother hides him for three months. When she can no longer conceal him, she places him in a basket coated with tar and pitch, setting it among the reeds along the #Nile River. His sister, #Miriam, watches from a distance. In a providential turn, #Pharaoh's daughter discovers the basket and, moved with compassion, decides to raise the child as her own. Miriam, seizing the opportunity, offers to find a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby, reuniting Moses with his birth mother until he is old enough to live with Pharaoh's daughter, who names him Moses, meaning "drawn out of water." The narrative then transitions to Moses as an adult, who witnesses the harsh treatment of his fellow Hebrews by the #Egyptians. In a moment of anger, Moses kills an Egyptian who is beating a Hebrew slave and hides his body in the sand. The following day, Moses attempts to intervene in a dispute between two Hebrews, only to be rebuffed with the revelation that his crime is known. Fearing for his life as Pharaoh seeks to kill him, Moses flees to the land of #Midian. There, he defends the daughters of #Reuel, a priest of Midian, from shepherds and is invited to stay with them. Moses marries Reuel's daughter, #Zipporah, and has a son named #Gershom. The chapter concludes with the Israelites groaning under their bondage in Egypt, and their cries for help rise to #God, who remembers His covenant with #Abraham, #Isaac, and #Jacob. ## Theological Insights In Exodus 2, we witness the early life of #Moses, a pivotal figure in the narrative of #Israel's deliverance from #Egypt. The chapter reflects several theological themes central to the unfolding story of #redemption and God's sovereignty. 1. **Divine Providence and Protection**: The birth and preservation of Moses highlight God’s protective hand over His chosen instruments. Despite the oppressive edict of #Pharaoh to kill all Hebrew male infants (as seen in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 1]]), Moses is miraculously saved through the faith and ingenuity of his mother, who places him in a basket on the #Nile. This act of faith leads to the unexpected adoption of Moses by Pharaoh's daughter, placing him directly in the Egyptian royal household. This narrative underscores the belief that God orchestrates events to fulfill His divine purposes, often in unexpected ways. 2. **Identity and Calling**: Moses' upbringing in Pharaoh's house juxtaposed with his Hebrew heritage sets the stage for his dual identity, which becomes significant in his later mission. His compassion for his fellow Hebrews, demonstrated in the incident where he kills an Egyptian taskmaster, reveals an intrinsic connection to his people and foreshadows his future role as their deliverer. This dual identity can be seen as part of God's preparation for Moses’ future leadership. 3. **God's Awareness and Compassion**: The latter part of the chapter (verses 23-25) emphasizes God's responsiveness to the cries of the oppressed Israelites. The text explicitly states that God "heard their groaning" and "remembered His covenant with #Abraham, #Isaac, and #Jacob" ([[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 12]], [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 26]], [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 28]]). This assurance of God's awareness and remembrance of His covenant is foundational for understanding the subsequent acts of deliverance and underlines God's faithfulness to His promises. 4. **Preparation in the Wilderness**: Moses' flight to #Midian and his subsequent life as a shepherd foreshadow the wilderness journey of Israel. His time in Midian (where he marries Zipporah and has a son) can be seen as a period of preparation and transformation. This period of solitude and service symbolizes a refining process before Moses is called back to Egypt, echoing the broader biblical theme of preparation through trials. Exodus 2, therefore, sets the stage for the great narrative of deliverance and highlights themes of divine sovereignty, preparation, identity, and God's unwavering commitment to His covenantal promises. These insights are crucial for understanding the unfolding story of redemption and God's plan for His people. ## Thematic Connections ### Divine Providence and Protection Exodus 2 highlights the theme of God's providence and protection over His people. The story of #Moses’ birth and preservation in the Nile reflects God’s sovereign care, similar to how He protected Noah during the flood ([[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 6]]). This theme of divine safeguarding is echoed in the preservation of #Israel as a nation, such as during the #Exodus from Egypt and their wilderness journey. ### Deliverance and Redemption The chapter introduces Moses, who will become the deliverer of Israel, foreshadowing the greater work of redemption that God will accomplish through him. This theme of deliverance resonates with the deliverance of #Joseph from slavery ([[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 37]]) and points forward to the ultimate redemption through #Christ. ### Identity and Calling Moses’ identity as both a Hebrew and an Egyptian presents a tension that God will use for His purposes. This dual identity theme is seen in figures like #Joseph, who was both an Israelite and an Egyptian official ([[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 41]]), and in the New Testament with #Paul, a Roman citizen and a Jew ([[Acts/Acts Chapter 22]]). God’s calling often involves navigating complex identities for His divine purposes. ### Compassion and Justice The actions of Pharaoh’s daughter in rescuing Moses demonstrate a theme of compassion that runs counter to the prevailing injustice of Pharaoh's edict. This compassion foreshadows the justice and mercy that God will later reveal in the law given to Israel, and ultimately in the ministry of Jesus, who showed compassion to the marginalized ([[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 9]]). ### Preparation for Leadership Moses’ early life and experiences in #Midian serve as preparation for his future role as leader of Israel. This theme of divine preparation is evident in the lives of other biblical leaders, such as #David, who spent years shepherding before becoming king ([[1 Samuel/1 Samuel Chapter 16]]), and #Joseph, whose years in prison prepared him for his leadership in Egypt ([[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 41]]). This connection highlights how God often uses periods of obscurity and hardship to prepare His chosen leaders. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Deliverer from Bondage The life of #Moses, introduced in Exodus Chapter 2, foreshadows the ultimate deliverer, [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]]. Just as Moses was saved from the decree of death by Pharaoh and later became the deliverer of the #Israelites from #Egyptian bondage, so Jesus was saved from King #Herod's decree and came to deliver humanity from the bondage of sin. This reflects the prophecy of a savior who would come to lead God's people to freedom, seen in the overarching narrative of the #Messiah's role as a liberator, as fulfilled in Jesus' life and ministry. ### The Hidden Savior Moses' early life in Exodus 2, where he is hidden by his mother to preserve his life, parallels the prophecy concerning the humble and hidden origins of the Messiah, which is seen in [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 53|Isaiah 53:2-3]]. Jesus' birth in a manger and his upbringing in the obscure town of #Nazareth fulfill this prophetic theme of God’s chosen one arising from humble beginnings. ### The Water of Deliverance Moses' encounter with the #Hebrews and the #Egyptians at the well in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 2|Exodus 2:15-22]] prefigures the prophetic motif of living water, which is fully realized in Jesus. In the New Testament, Jesus speaks of offering "living water" (see [[John/John Chapter 4|John 4:10-14]]) that leads to eternal life, symbolizing the spiritual sustenance and deliverance he provides, much like Moses' actions at the well signify his future role in delivering his people from physical and spiritual thirst. ### The Exile and Return Moses' flight to #Midian and eventual return to Egypt symbolizes a pattern of exile and return that is prophetically significant and is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus' life. The #HolyFamily's flight to and return from Egypt (see [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 2|Matthew 2:13-15]]) fulfills the prophecy from [[Hosea/Hosea Chapter 11|Hosea 11:1]], "Out of Egypt I called my son," highlighting the divine plan of deliverance and redemption through Jesus, paralleling Moses' journey. ## Verses - **Exodus 2:1** - "About this time, a man and woman from the tribe of #Levi got married." - See [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 46]] for the genealogy of the tribe of #Levi. - **Exodus 2:2** - "The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months." - The hiding of the child mirrors the faith mentioned in Hebrews 11:23. - **Exodus 2:3** - "But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River." - The use of pitch connects this narrative to the story of #Noah in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 6]]. - **Exodus 2:4** - "The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him." - The role of the sister here is later revealed to be #Miriam as seen in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 15]]. - **Exodus 2:5** - "Soon Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her." - **Exodus 2:6** - "When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. 'This must be one of the Hebrew children,' she said." - **Exodus 2:7** - "Then the baby’s sister approached the princess. 'Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?' she asked." - **Exodus 2:8** - "'Yes, do!' the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby’s mother." - **Exodus 2:9** - "'Take this baby and nurse him for me,' the princess told the baby’s mother. 'I will pay you for your help.' So the woman took her baby home and nursed him." - **Exodus 2:10** - "Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, 'I lifted him out of the water.'" - The name #Moses is significant for his future role as a leader and deliverer of #Israel. - **Exodus 2:11** - "Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews." - Moses' identification with his people foreshadows his role as a deliverer in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 3]]. - **Exodus 2:12** - "After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand." - **Exodus 2:13** - "The next day, when Moses went out to visit his people again, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. 'Why are you beating up your friend?' Moses said to the one who had started the fight." - **Exodus 2:14** - "The man replied, 'Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?' Then Moses was afraid, thinking, 'Everyone knows what I did.'" - This reflects the later question of Moses' leadership authority in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 3]]. - **Exodus 2:15** - "And sure enough, Pharaoh heard what had happened, and he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian. When Moses arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well." - #Midian is significant as it becomes Moses' place of refuge and revelation. See [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 3]]. - **Exodus 2:16** - "Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters who came as usual to draw water and fill the water troughs for their father’s flocks." - **Exodus 2:17** - "But some other shepherds came and chased them away. So Moses jumped up and rescued the girls from the shepherds. Then he drew water for their flocks." - **Exodus 2:18** - "When the girls returned to Reuel, their father, he asked, 'Why are you back so soon today?'" - **Exodus 2:19** - "'An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds,' they answered. 'And then he drew water for us and watered our flocks.'" - **Exodus 2:20** - "'Then where is he?' their father asked. 'Why did you leave him there? Invite him to come and eat with us.'" - **Exodus 2:21** - "Moses accepted the invitation, and he settled there with him. In time, Reuel gave Moses his daughter Zipporah to be his wife." - #Zipporah becomes Moses' wife and plays a role in his journey back to #Egypt. See [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 4]]. - **Exodus 2:22** - "Later she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, for he explained, 'I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.'" - **Exodus 2:23** - "Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God." - The cry of the #Israelites is significant as it sets the stage for God's intervention in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 3]]. - **Exodus 2:24** - "God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to #Abraham, #Isaac, and #Jacob." - The covenant with #Abraham, #Isaac, and #Jacob can be found in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 12]], [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 26]], and [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 28]]. - **Exodus 2:25** - "He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act."