Ex 2: Chosen by God from the Beginning Moses The Servant of God Ex 2: Chosen by God from the Beginning

Note lack of Names of People in Ex 2 This story is about God’s redemption of His people Humans were involved in critical parts of this salvation, but not the prime movers God wants generations to come to understand that redemption is all of God Individual people play a part by faith God did it because He is faithful and loves His people – that’s still true today! In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:10-11)

God made sure Moses grew up in the right family Moses’ Family Amram was his Dad (Ex 6:20) Jochebed was his Mom Miriam was the oldest child Old enough to deal with Pharaoh’s daughter, so probably a teenager when Moses was born Aaron was 3 years older than Moses (7:7) They were all Godly Israelites God made sure Moses grew up in the right family

Amram & Jochebed were some of the few faithful Israelites Many Israelites had turned to idols (Josh 24:14) Many Israelites responded poorly when God began to deliver them Many Israelites wanted to return to Egypt when they were tested in the wilderness Amram & Jochebed were motivated by faith (Heb 11) Miriam, Aaron & Moses were all faithful (Micah 6:4) Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. (Rom 11:5)

Amram & Jochebed lived by faith Faith overcomes our fears Hebrews 11:23 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command. Faith overcomes our fears

Faith Overcomes Fears Afraid to tell others about Jesus or about our involvement in religion Afraid to commit to Jesus Christ & be baptized because we fear we might fail Afraid to help a friend because we might make mistakes or get criticized Afraid to get involved in CYC or our ecclesia because we might get criticized for the work we do

Moses grew up with Godly siblings They were all leaders in Israel! Micah 6:3-4 3 "O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me. 4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I redeemed you from the house of bondage; And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. They were all leaders in Israel!

Aaron will become a faithful High Priest

Exodus 15:19-21 Miriam would be about 95 now 19 For the horses of Pharaoh went with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them. But the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. 20 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21 And Miriam answered them: "Sing to the Lord, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!“ Miriam continued to faithfully lead the sisters into her old age

Moses’ Family 4 generations from Jacob to Moses 1 2 3 4 Amram married his aunt! She may have been younger than him! 2 3 4 12-15 years older than Moses 3 years older than Moses

The 430 and 400 years 430 years from the Promise to the Law (Gal 3:17) 400 years Abraham’s descendants to be sojourners (Gen 15:13) There were only about 59 years from the death of Joseph till the birth of Moses

Something Special about Moses Exodus 2:1-3 1 And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. 2 So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. Acts 7:20 20 At this time Moses was born, and was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father's house for three months. Somehow Jochebed knew Moses was special to God – maybe angelic visitation

Jochebed’s plan to save Moses At 3 months, she couldn’t hide a crying baby boy any longer She may have had inside information that Pharaoh’s daughter would like to have a child She may have been bathing in the Nile as part of a ritual asking the fertility god Osiris to give her a child Pharaoh came to the water each morning (Ex 8:20) She built an “ark” (like Noah’s), stuck it in the reeds where she knew Pharaoh’s daughter would come to bathe Then she waited and prayed – faith in action! Living by faith involves us doing our part, then trusting God to do the impossible

Amram & Jochebed were not afraid Hebrews 11:23 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command. Faith will motivate us to act for God and His family, and not be afraid of the consequences that might come to us

Acts 7:17-22 God controlled Moses’ education 17 "But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt 18 till another king arose who did not know Joseph. 19 This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, making them expose their babies, so that they might not live. 20 At this time Moses was born, and was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father's house for three months. 21 But when he was set out, Pharaoh's daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son. 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds. Moses was well educated & accomplished!

Moses’ Education Jochebed would try to teach Moses all about Yahweh & the promises He made to Abraham Imagine the pressure & stress on Amram & Jochebed to teach Moses as much as possible before they turn him over to Pharaoh’s daughter Egyptians would have educated Moses in the history of Egypt, all about Egyptian gods, and trained him to be a ruler in Egypt. Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. (Prov 22:6)

Giving up our Children for God Abraham willing to offer up Isaac Isaac & Rebekah willing to send Jacob back to Laban Hannah willing to give Samuel to Eli Amram & Jochebed willing to put Moses in the basket by the reeds, then willing to turn Moses over to Pharaoh’s daughter to raise him till 40 years old Faith completely trusts God to do His part, when we have done our part too!

We have to do our part, but it’s God’s Election work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Phil 2:12-13 Amram & Jochebed taught Moses about Yahweh, God of Israel & His promises to Abraham They prayed for Moses, that God would grant him to come to know Yahweh and choose His ways God chose Moses and raised him up for the purpose of declaring God’s glory to the nations and delivering His people from slavery in Egypt God can’t afford to leave His family up to our selection & effort

Good to keep in mind! Pray for God’s mercy on your family! It’s God’s election Romans 9:14-18 14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. Good to keep in mind! Pray for God’s mercy on your family!

Acts 7:23-29 Moses makes his choice! 23 "Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. 25 For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand. 26 And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile them, saying, 'Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?' 27 But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?' 29 Then, at this saying, Moses fled and became a dweller in the land of Midian, where he had two sons. He must have been shocked & frustrated that his own people didn’t understand

Moses grows up & decides for himself “when Moses was grown” (v.11) is when he is about 40 years old Moses has to choose for himself which God he would serve He assumed that the Israelites would be aware of his lineage & understand God would use Moses to deliver Israel from Egypt (Acts 7) Amram & Jochebed must have instilled in Moses the belief that God would visit His people and take them back to Canaan as He had promised Abraham (Gen 15:12-16) Pray for help! Pray for your family!

Genesis 15:12-16 God had said it would be 400 years 12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then He said to Abram: "Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. 14 And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete." It’s hard for us to know God’s timetable!

God Provides the Deliverer God used Joseph’s brothers to sell Joseph to Egypt God used a famine to direct Jacob to Egypt God blessed the Israelites with large families & the community grew God raised up Pharaohs who feared the growth of the Israelites God tested & motivated the Israelites by Pharaoh’s decree to kill the Jewish boys God raised up Moses to deliver His people The whole plan was all of God! He was in control all the time & He still is today!

Living by Faith (Heb 11:23-27) Aram & Jochebed Hid Moses 3 months Not afraid of the king’s command (He could have killed them!) Moses: based on parents’ teaching & promise to Abraham! refused to be called the son Pharaoh’s daughter Chose to suffer affliction with God’s people, rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin Considered abuse suffered for the Christ (RSV) greater riches than the treasures in Egypt – he looked to the reward He left Egypt, not afraid of the King’s anger – He endured as seeing Him who is invisible He kept the Passover & sprinkling of blood – lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them Without faith it is impossible to please Him (Heb 11:6)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart Living by Faith today Believing & trusting that everything God brings into your life is right for you, and that He is treating you as His children – training us for life in His family forever Be willing to suffer abuse for Christ – Tell people at school, work & around your home that you are a follower of Jesus Christ. Then be willing to endure whatever abuse might follow. Trust in the Lord with all your heart

Moses was Discouraged He was raised to believe that he was the deliverer He assumed the Israelite community would understand he was their deliverer He made the choice to follow Yahweh, and refuse the pleasures of Egypt He killed an Egyptian and thought the Israelite community would rally behind him Instead, the Israelites refused him and challenged him “who made you a prince and judge over us?” When Moses tried to save Israel his way, it ended in trouble – like Joseph!

God is faithful & remembers. He’s just on a different timetable. Moses in Midian (v.15) Fled to Midian for safety & time to think Linked up with Reuel, a priest Married Zipporah & had Gershom 40 years went by: A new Pharaoh took over Egypt The Israelite community grew larger The bondage of slavery grew worse & the people cried to God for help! God heard their cry & remembered His promise to Abraham God is faithful & remembers. He’s just on a different timetable.

Just out of Egyptian control 2 Why flee to Midian? S Just out of Egyptian control G

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Zipporah’s Family They may have worshipped the God of Abraham Jethro was probably descended from Abraham & Keturah Jethro (or Reuel) Zipporah’s Family Unknown Moses Zipporah Hobab They may have worshipped the God of Abraham Eliezer Gershom

The Family of the Rechabites Some were still faithful in Jeremiah 35 G

Reuel: Priest of Midian Reuel is probably his name: means “friend of God” He is also called Jethro, which is probably a title meaning “His Excellence” Descended from Abraham & Zipporah (Gen 25:1-4) He brought Zipporah & 2 sons to Moses at Mt Sinai (Ex 18:1-12) He acknowledged that Yahweh was greater than all gods (18:11) His descendents became known as Kenites and were included in the nation of Israel (Jud 1:16) Some of his descendents were the Rechabites, who stood as solid reminders to Israel of faithful service to their father (Jer 35) God connected Moses to the right people!

Consider the Involvement of God’s Angels! Designed Moses to be born to Godly parents and older brother and sister Lined up Miriam to work for Pharaoh’s daughter Influenced Pharaoh’s daughter to want a child Designed events to Jochebed could nurse & raise Moses Provided wages for Jochebed to nurse Moses Watched over Moses in Pharaoh’s house Directed Moses to Reuel in Midian Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think (Eph 3:20 RSV)

Lessons from Today  Salvation is all of God! Appreciate His kindness and thank Him every day God organizes our families and puts us in the right one – trust Him and work with Him Choose for yourself – choose to serve God – even if you have to suffer for Christ Do your part – work for God every day – but recognize that God is at work in us to do what is impossible for us to accomplish by ourselves

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W 2  17 !

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Names of Moses G Ex 2, Acts 7 Ruler, judge, deliverer Psa 99 Priest Ex 33 Mediator Isa 63 Shepherd Deut 34 Prophet Deut 33 Law giver Man of God Friend of God Servant of God G

Lessons from Today  Even