An Exposition of Exodus 2:1–22
Introduction
It was W. H. Griffith Thomas, an Episcopal scholar, theologian, and writer, and one of the founders of Dallas Theological Seminary, who once wrote: “Cultivate the habit of investing every detail of life with significance.”
Unbelievable as this may seem, it is surely true. There is a special significance to every detail of your life. This is the essence of the doctrine of divine providence. Divine providence simply means “God’s continued activity in the world for the realization of His plan.”2 That is, it is God’s continuous involvement in all the details of this world, of this country, of your life. He is involved in all those details for the purpose of working out and fulfilling His eternal and all-wise plan.
Few chapters of our Bible bear stronger witness to the providence of God than Exodus 2. The first twenty-two verses of this chapter:
1. Span the first 80 of Moses’ 120 years (Acts 7:23, 30),
2. Cover the first two of the 3 major periods of Moses’ life,
- Scholar in Egypt—40 years (Acts 7:23)
- Shepherd in Midian—40 years (Acts 7:30)
- Savior of Israel—40 years (Acts 7:36)
The Providence of God in the Birth of Moses 2:1-9
The Circumstances of the Birth
Although it was not recognized as such when it occurred, the birth of Moses was a most important event for Israel. In the land of Goshen, a district of Egypt, there dwelt among the children of Israel a small family. The father was Amram, the mother was Jochebed (Exodus 6:20). Both were of the tribe of Levi. Their first child was a daughter, who was named Miriam (2:4). Their second child was a son, Aaron. As the chapter begins, he is now three years old (7:7).
Since the birth of Aaron, the Pharaoh in Egypt had imposed a new and more severe form of oppression. The decree had been delivered to all the people in the land to destroy all newborn Hebrew males by drowning them in the waters of the Nile. “Then Pharaoh commanded all his people saying, ‘Every son who is born you are to cast into the Nile, and every daughter you are to keep alive’” (Ex. 1:22). And now Amram and Jochebed have their third child—a baby boy!
The Faith of the Parents
Our text says, “And when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months” (2:2). But that is hardly the full story. Why did she hide her son? To trace it to the love of the mother or the beauty of the baby hardly stands the test of Scripture. Hebrews 11:23 tells us “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” This was an exercise of faith!
Apparently the parents had received some direct communication from God informing them of the birth of the son, (perhaps even of his ultimate mission), and instructing them what to do. They believed God and acted accordingly. Their faith saw he was a goodly and beautiful child—beautiful in the sight of God. More than that, their faith overcame their fear of Pharaoh. Choosing to obey God rather than man, they defied the king’s decree and hid him in their house for three months (v. 2). When he could be no longer hidden at home, they made a chest, covered it with asphalt or slime (bitumen, Gen. 11:3), put the baby boy in the box, and set it among the long papyrus reeds in the shallow water of the Nile (v. 3). Here there would be no current to carry it away, little chance of crocodiles, and less chance of discovery. This speaks of the strength of their faith. I would have carried the baby as far away from the water as possible! They hid him along the shallow shore line and strategically placed Miriam up the bank to watch the precious box (v. 4).
But this was all more than happenstance. It was the providence of God. Every detail is significant in God’s providence.
The Details of the Birth
- He was born at this specific time.
- He was hidden on that particular day, in that particular spot.
- Pharaoh’s daughter, Hatshepsut, came on that particular day, to that particular spot, to bathe.
- Hatshepsut saw the treasure box, retrieved it, opened it, and had compassion upon the precious contents. She called the baby “Moses”—a pun based on a similar sound with the active participle of the Hebrew verb מָשָׁה (mās̆â), “to pull out.”
- Miriam was present and attentive. She rose to the emergency and offered to call a woman from among the Hebrews to nurse the child for her.
- A nurse was arranged from among the Hebrew women, Jochebed, the infant’s own mother. “It probably appealed to the robust Israelite sense of humour that Jochebed was ‘spoiling the Egyptians’ by receiving pay for nursing her own son.” [3]
Every detail is significant. Here is God’s continuous activity for the realization of His plan. But what is the divine purpose behind such providence? Surely it is twofold.
The preservation of the chosen deliverer of God’s people.
By these providential circumstances Moses was preserved from certain death. This is often the purpose of God’s providence in the lives of His elect before their conversion. I have a friend who miraculously escaped from an aircraft which crashed into the cold waters of the Atlantic off Boston. A short time later she was converted to Christ. It was the providence of God which preserved the life of one of His elect before her conversion.
The instruction of the chosen deliverer of God’s people.
In the home of Amram and Jochebed he learned of the God of his fathers (3:15), and he learned that the Hebrews were his true countrymen (2:11). His initial training came from godly parents who laid a spiritual foundation and sowed the spiritual seed. God was even then training and preparing Moses for his ultimate calling. How wise is the providence of God—often even in our early years, the years before our conversion.
“Cultivate the habit of investing every detail of life with significance,” even the details of your early life, your pre-conversion days, your birth.
The providence of God is seen, however, not only in the birth of Moses, but also in the training of Moses in Egypt.
The Providence of God in the Training of Moses in Egypt 2:10
Between verses 10 and 11 comes the training of Moses in Egypt. Two New Testament passages throw light on this period. The first focuses upon his training.
The Education of Moses
And Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians (Acts 7:22)Through archaeology and related studies, great light has been shed upon the boyhood and education of Moses in Egypt. As he grew older, he became more involved in formal education. This involved:
- Reading and writing the hieroglyphic script,
- The copying of texts,
- Instruction in writing letters and formal documents,
- Learning the languages and geography of Canaan,
- Studying contemporary codes of law (e.g.. Hammurabi’s). [4]
While at college, in his unconverted days, one of my former professors, Dr. S. L. Johnson, Jr., was dedicated to golf. It was during those days that he began to study Greek, primarily because it was offered at a time that did not conflict with his golf. Behind this, however, was the providence of God preparing one of His elect for his appointed ministry, even before his conversion. Many years later he became a professor of New Testament literature and exegesis.
From the perspective of God training His servants for His service, there is no detail of life that cannot be invested with significance!
At forty years of age Moses’ period of training in Egypt came to a close. He had learned what God had for him to learn in Pharaoh’s court. He was about to be graduated by God. How did this come about? It was by means of a crisis decision made by Moses at this time in his life.
The Crucial Decision
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin; considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward (Hebrews 11:24–26).Because he was looking to the reward of faith and obedience he considered the reproach and suffering with Christ greater riches than all the wealth of Egypt. Therefore, he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. What renunciation! As the only adopted son of Hatshepsut, he was successor to the throne. Yet he refused the wealth, honors, and throne of Egypt. Why? If he had accepted, he would have freed the Hebrews from their bondage. Why then, did he refuse? Again, the providence of God is the answer. God’s purpose was more than deliverance from bondage. It was the removal of the Hebrews from Egypt, the formation of a nation, and their settlement in the land of promise. In Moses’ great act of self-renunciation God was active, working out His wise purposes for Israel.
This crucial decision of Moses triggered an incident which became an important turning point in his life. It is the third incident in our chapter, a further illustration of the providence of God.
The Providence of God in the Sin of Moses 2:11-15
Now it came about in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his brethren and looked on their hard labors. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. So he looked this way and that, and when he saw that there was no one around, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. And he went out the next day, and behold, two Hebrews were fighting with each other. And he said to the offender, “Why are you striking your companion?” But he said, “Who made you a prince or a judge over us? Are you intending to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and said, “Surely the matter has become known.” When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well (Ex. 2:11–15).Moses Murders an Egyptian
What can be said of Moses’ murder of the Egyptian? On the positive side: it was certainly an outward expression of his righteous indignation for the plight of his fellow Hebrews. It was a sincere expression of his love for his own people. It clearly indicated his rejection of the pleasures of Egypt. It revealed his readiness to assume the responsibility of deliverer of Israel which, apparently, he sensed even at this early stage of his life.
And yet, his deed cannot be condoned. It was sinful. His impulse to save Israel was not wrong, but the action he took was. His intention was good, but his deed was ill-advised. He was impatient, in too big a hurry, running before God. He acted in the energy of the flesh.
The Reason God Permitted This
The incident impresses upon us two oft-forgotten truths. First, God’s timing is important. The Hebrews were not yet assured of his leadership. God was not yet ready to deliver His people. Like an impatient horse, Moses rushed ahead of the Lord.
Second, God’s ways are important. Deliverance was not only imperative, but imminent. But God’s way was not insurrection, rebellion, and revolution. If Moses had waited upon God, he would soon have learned how God intended it to be done. Moses’ way led to distrust among his fellow Hebrews and the threat of death from Pharaoh. In the face of such a threat, Moses fled from Egypt, eastward, to the region of Midian (v. 15).
Surely this incident taxes our thesis to its very limit. Can every detail really be invested with significance? Yes, even the sinful acts of men are under the providence of God. He permits our sinful nature to manifest itself freely (e.g. the sale of Joseph into slavery, the crucifixion of Christ). God permitted Moses’ sinful nature to express itself in the murder of the Egyptian. He could have prevented it. Rather, He permitted it! Why?
It was an indispensable lesson in Moses’ spiritual education. Failure always is! It is God’s way of preparing us to learn deep and significant truths. Moses had to learn to wait for God. He had to learn the importance of doing things in God’s time and in God’s way. He had to learn that doing things in his way, in his time, in the energy of the flesh led only to disaster. God allowed him to fail, allowed his sinful nature to function unchecked. It was an important preparation for learning the spiritual truths that made him a great man of God.
Although God in His providence often restrains evil, just as often, it seems, He permits some sin to manifest itself fully. When He so acts in His providence, He overrules the evil for the fulfillment of His plan, He brings good out of the evil. It was just so in the case of Moses’ sin. He was forced out of Egypt into the desert of Midian for a postgraduate course in the wisdom of God—a course designed to prepare him further for his role as leader and deliverer of Israel.
This brings us, then, to the fourth incident which witnesses to God’s wise providence.
The Providence of God in the Training of Moses in Midian 2:16-22
Moses’ Life in Midian
It was at a particularly critical moment that Moses made his appearance at the main watering-well of the Midianites. The shepherds of the area had converged upon the well. They were not the only ones at the well however. Already there were the seven daughters of Reuel, the priest of Midian, with their flocks. As the men were driving the women and their flocks away from the well, Moses came to their assistance. Single-handed he withstood the shepherds, befriended the daughters of Reuel, and won the esteem of their father. Here a home was provided for him during his exile from Egypt. In due course, he married one of the daughters, Zipporah, who later bore him a son, Gershom. For forty years Moses lived there in Midian with the family of Reuel, tending his flocks in the fields.
The Evidence of the Providence of God
Simple and common though it seems, every detail of this part of his life is again to be invested with significance.
The heroic and courageous assistance to the defenseless daughters opened the door to a home during the time of his exile. It was a home among the Midianites—descendants of Abraham by Keturah. These were actual kinsmen from the same stock. Surely they were worshippers of God, too.
More than this, was the home of Reuel, a priest. He may have been a priest of the true God (18:12–23). Think of it. After forty years of the learning of Egypt’s wisdom, God placed him for another forty years among the worshippers of God for his further maturity and reflection upon the things of God (Acts 7:29 ff.). How wise is the providence of God!
But that was not all. While in Midian, Moses labored—undoubtedly a new experience for the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. This discipline of physical toil was a necessary and indispensable preparation for his future ministry.
And what was his labor? For forty years he was a shepherd. God was preparing Moses to be a leader of men by forty years’ experience leading flocks. His education in the fields of Midian included course after course on rounding up strays, keeping the flock together, preventing rebels from wandering away, leading them into places of pasture and refreshment, protecting them from vicious wild animals, waiting patiently for stragglers to catch up, and binding up bleeding wounds. Here God cultivated those qualities of leadership that made him one of the world’s great leaders of men. In the providence of God, for forty years he led stupid, defenseless, weak sheep.
Conclusion
“Cultivate the habit of investing every detail of life with significance.” Why? Because in the providence of God it is significant. It may be God’s means:
- Of cultivating a quality of Christlike character,
- Of preparing you for some future responsibility,
- Of preparing you for some imminent danger,
- Of surfacing some flaws and faults,
- Of creating some need—the ingredient for growth,
- Of evangelizing one of His elect.
- “Cultivate the habit of investing every detail of life with significance.”
- It is within the all-wise and purposeful providence of God that:
- You live in Dallas, or Toronto, not Colorado or New York.
- Your home is in its particular area, on its particular street, between those two particular homes.
- You work in that particular office, with those particular people.
- You suffer from the particular affliction that plagues your body.
- You lost that contract or investment last week.
- Your application was accepted or rejected.
- You are in that particular class with that particular teacher, with those particular students.
- Last, but by no means least, you are reading and studying the Word of God and the Good News of Jesus Christ.
- “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
- Emmaus alumnus Bill McRae, well-known Bible expositor, author, and educator, presently serves as Chancellor of Ontario Bible College and Seminary. This is the second in a series of expositions on the Book of Exodus.
- Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, 4th ed (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1939), 167.
- R. Alan Cole, Exodus, TOTC (Downers Grove, Ill.: Inter-Varsity, 1973), 58.
- Cf. John J. Davis, Moses and the Gods of Egypt (2nd ed., Grand Rapids: Baker, 1986), 64.
No comments:
Post a Comment