INTRODUCTION: This lesson describes the protective hand of God over the one who was to be the deliverer of the children of Israel from Egypt. God’s hand of providence is seen throughout this story. Just when it seems the darkest for the Israelites, God is already working out the way to bring them deliverance.
I. THE BIRTH OF MOSES (2:1-2)
A. The Parents of Moses (v.1; 6:20; Num.26:59)
1. His father, Amram
a. Name means high people
b. Died at age of 137 – same as the age of Levi at his death (Ex.6:16)
c. Married Jochebed, his father’s sister, and with her had three known children: Miriam, Aaron, Moses
2. His mother, Jochebed (meaning glory to Jehovah)
B. The Son is Born (v.2)
1. A goodly child
2. Exceeding fair (Ac.7:20)
3. A proper child (Heb.11:23)
C. The Infant is Hidden for Three Months (v.2; see Heb.11:23)
1. He was hidden by faith (Heb.11:23)
2. The parents had a seeing faith – they “saw…that he was a goodly child” (see Heb.11:1; 2Cor.5:7)
3. The parents had a fearless faith – “they were not afraid of the king’s commandment” (Heb.11:23)
II. THE ARK OF MOSES (2:3-4)
A. Unable to Hide Him (v.3)
B. The Ark of Bulrushes (v.3-4)
1. Bulrushes – a reed-like plant the stems of which could be dried and woven into baskets
2. Slime and pitch
a. Two different forms of the asphalt that was found naturally in different parts of the Bible world; evidently,
referred to the paste or solid form and pitch referred to the liquid form
b. Often used, as here, for waterproofing (Gen.6:14)
3. The ark placed at the river’s bank in the reeds (v.3)
4. The infant’s sister, Miraim, placed to see what would happen (v.4)
C. NOTE: Three Arks in the Bible; an ark is a coffin-shaped container
1. The ark of Noah; it had 3 stories (Gen.6:16) and was used to preserve the human race
2. The ark of Moses; it had a 3 month old baby and was used to preserve Israel’s deliverer
3. The ark of the covenant; it had 3 items in it (Heb.9:4) and was used to preserve the two tables of stone containing
God’s word
III. COMPASSION ON MOSES (2:5-6)
A. Pharaoh’s Daughter Came to Wash (v.5)
1. Her maidens walked along the river
2. She saw the ark among the flags; notice God’s providence in that, though her maidens walked along the river, she
herself saw the ark
3. She sent her maid to fetch it
B. Pharaoh’s Daughter Had Compassion (v.6)
1. The baby wept as is on cue
2. She recognized it as a Hebrew baby
3. She had compassion on the baby
C. NOTE: This first use of the word compassion gives a perfect illustration of the compassion of Christ to us when compared to Romans 5:6-10
1. Christ loved us when we were “without strength” (Rom.5:6). Pharaoh’s daughter had compassion on a helpless,
crying 3-month-old baby
2. Christ loved us when we were “yet sinners” (Rom.5:8). Pharaoh’s daughter loved one who was already judged
(as a male infant – Ex.1:22) and had been condemned to die (see Jn.3:18)
3. Christ had compassion on us when we were His “enemies” (Rom.5:10). Pharaoh’s daughter had compassion on
one who was feared as an enemy (Ex.1:10).
IV. A NURSE FOR MOSES (2:7-9)
A. Miriam Offers a Nurse of the Hebrews (v.7-8a)
B. Miriam Goes and Gets the Child’s Mother (v.8b-9); again, we see the wondrous providence of the Lord
V. THE REARING OF MOSES (2:10)
A. The Child was Called Moses (meaning drawn out)
B. The Child Grew
1. Physically
2. Mentally – “learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Ac.7:22)
C. The Child Became the Son of Pharaoh’s Daughter
CONCLUSION: Are you discouraged? Are you giving up? Perhaps the Lord is right now working out the deliverance that you need so dearly. We must learn to trust in Him.
MEMORY VERSES:
1. Romans 5:6
2. Romans 5:8
3. Romans 5:10
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