Every detail of a man’s life is significant and has significance. The first 80 years of Moses’ life are crammed into this chapter. It covers the first two of the three periods of Moses’ life. See Acts 7.

• 40 years – scholar in Egypt.
• 40 years – shepherd in Midian.
• 40 years – saviour in Israel.

This chapter touches on four events in the life of Moses that bear vibrate testimony to the fact that God is continuously active in all the affairs of life toward the accomplishing of His purposes.

1 – The birth of Moses (vs. 1-10)

Amram and Jochebed of the tribe of Levi marry and have Miriam and then Aaron. When Aaron is three years old then Moses is born. See Hebrews 11:23. Despite Pharaoh’s decree, Moses’ parents hid the child for three months. Then they place the child in a chest upon a little raft made from papyrus. The providence of God is clear. Jochebed brings up her own baby and receives wages for doing so. The life of Moses was preserved for the providence of God. Moses had a service to perform. God allows Pharaoh to pay the bill for Moses’ teaching. Moses’ character was founded in his early years with his parents. It is likely that this continued until he was twelve.

2 – The training of Moses in Egypt (vs. 10-11)

Moses stayed until he was forty as a scholar in Pharaoh’s court. See Acts 7:11. Moses is educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He learns to read, write, the geography and languages of Canaan and to read legal documents. This is to prepare Moses for his position of leadership. Later Moses will write the Pentateuch.

See Hebrews 11:24-26. Moses considers affliction with the Israelites to be better than the riches of Egypt. Moses could have been king of Egypt and then helped the Israelites. But Moses is called by God to deliver the people of Israel from the Egyptians. Things that are eternal are more important to Moses.

3 – The sin of Moses

Moses murders an Egyptian taskmaster. It expressed his righteous indignation against the injustice of the Hebrew slave master and his love for the Hebrew who had been beaten to death. The intentions were good – to free the Israelites – but the action was evil and wicked. The people of Israel were not ready to accept the leadership of Moses. The timing of God is important. God has a timetable. Moses moved ahead of God’s timetable. God was not going to free the people by rebellion and bloodshed. This was not the way of God. Moses learnt his lesson by failure. God permits this to happen for the good of Moses.

4 – The training of Moses in Midian (vs. 16-22)

Moses gets a home with the Midianites who were true God worshippers. The father was a priest of God. This is the providence of God. For forty years Moses shepherds at Reuel. He leads stupid, weak and defenceless sheep. This is Moses’ preparation for the task that will follow. This is also the providence of God.

Categories: Exodus