Exodus Week 1

A baby in a Basket

Exodus 2:1–10 NRSV

1 Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months. 3 When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. 4 His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him. 5 The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. 6 When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him. “This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,” she said. 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” 8 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Yes.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. 9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed it. 10 When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, “because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”

Intro—> Before Moses

—> Joseph

—> Egypt was the land of the Israelites salvation

—> Egypt has now become the source of their demise

—> New Pharoah —> new problems for the Israelites

Exodus: Evangelical Exegetical Commentary Commentary

The special character of the child is mentioned by two NT authors (Acts 7:20; Heb 11:23—“no ordinary child,” NIV; “beautiful before God,” RSV). Houtman (1:273) observes that Acts 7:20 could be translated to mean “well-pleasing to God” or “very beautiful.” In any case the implications of Moses’ appearance are oracular in nature and theological to the core in its current canonical location. Enns (61–62) also sees the most fruitful path to understanding the term in this context to be in an examination of relevant creation language.

What is God offering?

How do we follow/obey?

—> What is God offering?

God offers an alternative path to the reality of the day.

unlikely heroes —> women and a baby

the midwives

Moses Mom

Moses Sister

Pharaoh's daughter

Moses (baby)

Two questions ...

1) are you willing to accept that someone else may be the person God needs in this situation?

2) are you willing to accept that you may be that unlikely person God needs?

—> How do we follow?

We follow God’s leading with bold actions that both keep us within the bounds of civil authority while making huge strides that have Kingdom implications. When we get creative, God responds to our creativity.

—> See’s something special. (Exodus 2:2)

Exodus 2:2 NRSV

2 The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months.

Acts 7:20 NRSV

20 At this time Moses was born, and he was beautiful before God. For three months he was brought up in his father’s house;

Hebrews 11:23 NRSV

23 By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

—> opportunity

—> person

—> season

—> Comes up with a creative solution to move the mission forward. (Exodus 2:3)

Exodus 2:3 NRSV

3 When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river.

—> the outcome doesn’t matter

—> its not about whether or not this will work

—> Its a question of is what we are doing moving our opportunity forward

—> if we constantly dwell on reasons why something will fail, we will never succeed.

—> At some point we have to take a chance in confidence and trust that God will provide.

—> What happens when we trust and take a chance?

—> God comes in clutch

—> Time and time again God comes in clutch

—. God answers the bell and the kingdom is moved forward

—> the opportunity is moved forward

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