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Exodus, Part 3 Series
Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Feb 21, 2018 (message contributor)
Summary: First, we see a faithful woman who honors God and is rewarded; and we also see a carnal man who has decided to take control, and has serious challenges. Curious that these are mother and son … yet so very different in how they respond to God.
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Exodus, Part 3
Exodus 2:1-25
Introduction
- Exodus is an incredible study of God's faithfulness to man
-- It is also a great encouragement to see man's ability to be faithful to God
There are two stories in today's passage for us to explore
" The first is about a mother
" The second is about a son
- Read Exodus 2:1-10 / Pray
Point 1 - God's faithfulness to His own plan
- It is my hope that our faith might be strengthened this morning
-- When we get to see a visual example of God working … wow
- First, we see 5 steps of God's faithfulness
1. She was a Hebrew; slave of lowest rank of people (v1)
- She was a generational slave; which means her husband was as well
- She had no knowledge of any other life; for her, this was it
- She also had no way to better herself
2. She was a courageous righteous woman (v2)
- This would've been her third child (Miriam and Aaron siblings)
- Aaron wasn't affected by the king's order, but this baby would be
- When he was born, she noted that he was a "fine child"
- We also learn that she hid him for three months (imagine…)
- APP: when she saw him, she knew that he was to be special
- Her heart knew she must save him … she must find a way
- IMP: Her courage to protect him meant more than her own life (re: decree)
3. She had great wisdom (planned ahead and trusted God) (v3-4)
- Consider: Hiding a newborn would be difficult
- A neighbor might snitch (hoping for favor from Egyptian guards)
- She had to put God in the driver's seat and completely trust Him
- So, she designed a water tight basket, and set him off in the Nile
- She knew if he would be found down-river, he might be saved
- Miriam stood far off to watch … waiting to see
- APP: She put all her trust in God and surrendered her son to Him
4. She witnessed God's sovereign hand (v5-8)
- She got to see first-hand how God works and rescues
- Moses is found by Pharaoh's daughter, who felt sorry for him
- IMP: This is not accidental!
- Basket floating on the Nile? Crocodiles? Over-turned by water? Etc.
- Now … don't miss this … Miriam approaches her and asks (re-read v6)
- Who do you think she went to get? MOSES'S MOTHER!
- God looked after this baby, and then provided a way for his mother to nurse
- Believe Moses's mother had experienced first-hand a verse we know well …
- Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
- APP: God is sovereign; He can do anything; His power is amazing
5. She had her faith rewarded (v9-10)
- This faithful woman now had one job: nurse this child
- She was even paid to look after him; to raise her child for Pharaoh
- I feel it would've been during this time that he learned about God's trust
- His mother would've taught him about his God and faithfulness
- When Moses was older, Pharaoh's daughter would adapt him as her own
-- He was named "Moses" - original spelling is Moseh (def. "drew out of water")
- APP: Love this: Very thing Pharaoh was trying to prevent (rise up leader), was raised in his house, by his daughter, under a slave's watchful eye (nursemaid).
- Consider: Magnitude of this statement … and the fact that we know about it!
- TRANS: So, this is how Moses came to be … but now what does God do?
- Read Exodus 2:11-25
Point 2 - God raises up a mighty leader
- We see that Moses has 5 events in his life that drastically changes him
1. Moses visits his own people (v11)
- Not much is known about Moses's life while living in the palace
- We know his mother was in his life, and perhaps remained there all along
- And we know that he lived under Pharaoh's roof for 40 years
-- Acts 7:23, "When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites."
- This is the first recording that God (and him) want us to know about his life
- He would've known about people, and their plight, but was never stirred
- IMP: Believe God is moving him here - Moses is showing compassion for them
- CHALL: Compassion can give us powerful insight into one another
- We can develop empathy for each other … something needed more today