Exodus 2 narrates the birth and early life of Moses, the deliverer of Israel. In the shadow of Pharaoh’s decree of death, a Levite couple defies the order, hiding their son and eventually placing him in a basket on the Nile. In a twist of divine irony, Pharaoh’s own daughter discovers the baby, adopts him, and unwittingly pays his own mother to nurse him. Moses grows up in the Egyptian palace but retains his Hebrew identity. As an adult, he attempts to deliver his people by his own hand, killing an Egyptian taskmaster. Rejected by his own people and fearing Pharaoh’s wrath, he flees to Midian. There, he rescues the daughters of Reuel (Jethro), marries Zipporah, and settles into the life of a shepherd, while back in Egypt, the Israelites groan under slavery, and God hears their cry.
1. The Birth and Rescue of Moses (Exodus 2:1–10 NLT)
1 About this time, a man and woman from the tribe of Levi got married. 2 The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. 4 The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him. 5 Soon Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her. 6 When she opened it, she saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Hebrew children,” she said. 7 Then the baby’s sister approached the princess. “Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” she asked. 8 “Yes, do!” the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby’s mother. 9 “Take this baby and nurse him for me,” the princess told the baby’s mother. “I will pay you for your help.” So the woman took her baby home and nursed him. 10 Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.”
Commentary:
- Levite Heritage (v. 1): The text emphasizes Moses’ lineage from Levi, the priestly tribe. His parents, Amram and Jochebed (named in Ex 6:20), display immense faith (Hebrews 11:23).
- “A Special Baby” (v. 2): The Hebrew word tov (good/beautiful) echoes Genesis 1 (“God saw that it was good”). This suggests something divinely distinct about the child, perhaps a sense of destiny.
- The Ark (v. 3): The word for “basket” (tebah) is the same word used for Noah’s Ark. It implies a vessel of salvation from watery judgment. The waterproofing with “tar and pitch” further cements this parallel.
- Pharaoh’s Daughter (v. 5): The agent of salvation comes from the house of the enemy. While Pharaoh commands death, his daughter brings life. Some identify her as Hatshepsut, though this is debated.
- Miriam’s Courage (v. 4, 7): Moses’ sister (likely Miriam) plays a critical role. Her quick thinking to offer a Hebrew nurse ensures Moses is raised in his own culture during his formative years.
- Divine Irony (v. 9): Pharaoh is essentially paying for the nurturing of the very deliverer he tried to kill. God uses the enemy’s resources to fund His plan.
- Meaning of “Moses” (v. 10):
Insight: God’s providence is often woven into human courage. The faith of the parents, the watchfulness of the sister, and the compassion of the princess all converge to save one life that will save millions.
2. Moses’ Failed Attempt at Deliverance (Exodus 2:11–15 NLT)
11 Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews. 12 After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand. 13 The next day, when Moses went out to visit his people again, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. “Why are you beating up your friend?” Moses said to the one who had started the fight. 14 The man replied, “Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?” Then Moses was afraid, thinking, “Everyone knows what I did.” 15 And sure enough, Pharaoh heard what had happened, and he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian.
Commentary:
- Identification with Hebrews (v. 11): Despite his royal upbringing, Moses identifies with “his own people.” Hebrews 11:24-25 tells us he chose to share in their oppression rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
- Vigilante Justice (v. 12): Moses attempts to be the deliverer through human strength and violence. He looks “in all directions” (fear of man) but fails to look up (fear of God).
- Rejection by Israel (v. 14): The Hebrew’s question, “Who appointed you…?” is prophetic. They reject him now, just as they will repeatedly challenge his leadership in the wilderness.
- Flight to Midian (v. 15): Midian was a region east of the Gulf of Aqaba (modern NW Saudi Arabia or Jordan). The Midianites were descendants of Abraham through Keturah (Gen 25:2), making them distant cousins to Israel. This exile transforms Moses from a prince into a shepherd, a necessary humbling before leadership.
Insight: Right zeal, wrong method. Moses had the heart to deliver but not the timing or the character. God had to strip him of his Egyptian power before He could clothe him with divine power.
3. Moses in Midian (Exodus 2:15b–22 NLT)
15b When Moses arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well. 16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters who came as usual to draw water and fill the water troughs for their father’s flocks. 17 But some other shepherds came and chased them away. So Moses jumped up and rescued them from the shepherds. Then he drew water for their flocks. 18 When the girls returned to Reuel, their father, he asked, “Why are you back so soon today?” 19 “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds,” they answered. “And then he drew water for us and watered our flocks.” 20 “Then where is he?” their father asked. “Why did you leave him there? Invite him to come and eat with us.” 21 Moses accepted the invitation, and he settled there with him. In time, Reuel gave Moses his daughter Zipporah to be his wife. 22 Later she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, for he explained, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”
Commentary:
- The Well Scene (v. 15): In biblical type-scenes, meeting at a well often leads to marriage (Isaac/Rebekah, Jacob/Rachel).
- Moses the Defender (v. 17): Even in exile, Moses’ instinct is to defend the weak against the strong. He saves the daughters from the bullying shepherds.
- Identity Confusion (v. 19): The daughters call him “An Egyptian.” Moses still looks, dresses, and speaks like an Egyptian. His transformation is not yet complete.
- Reuel / Jethro (v. 18): The priest’s name is Reuel (“Friend of God”). Later he is called Jethro. He likely worshiped the God of Abraham, though perhaps with some syncretism.
- Gershom (v. 22): The name means “Stranger there” or “Banishment.” It reflects Moses’ deep sense of alienation. He is a man without a country—too Hebrew for Egypt, too Egyptian for Israel.
Insight: The “wilderness years” (40 years) were not wasted time. They were a school of character where Moses learned the shepherd’s heart—patience, guidance, and solitude—qualities essential for leading Israel.
4. God Hears the Groaning (Exodus 2:23–25 NLT)
23 Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God. 24 God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25 He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.
Commentary:
- The Death of the King (v. 23): The pharaoh who sought Moses’ life dies (likely Thutmose III or Seti I), removing the immediate threat to Moses’ return.
- Four Verbs of Divine Action (v. 24-25): The text gives a powerful sequence of God’s engagement:
- Heard: Not just auditory, but internalized their pain.
- Remembered: Not recalling lost info, but acting on a previous commitment (Covenant).
- Looked: He saw their condition with clarity.
- Knew: (NLT: “knew it was time to act”). The Hebrew yada implies intimate, relational knowledge. He “knew” their suffering personally.
Insight: Silence is not absence. While Moses was herding sheep for 40 years and Israel was making bricks, God was watching. The turning point of the Exodus isn’t Moses returning; it is God “remembering.”
Theological Significance of Exodus 2
- Providence over Miracle: Unlike the plagues to come, this chapter is devoid of overt miracles. Yet, the timing of the princess, the crying baby, and the sister’s suggestion are all sovereignly orchestrated.
- The Pattern of the Savior: Moses’ life foreshadows Jesus:
- Both born under a decree of death (Pharaoh/Herod).
- Both hidden in Egypt to escape.
- Both rejected by their own people initially.
- Both become deliverers through a period of withdrawal/exile.
- Faith and Action: Faith is demonstrated through risky obedience (Jochebed, Miriam, Midwives).
Practical Applications
- Trusting God’s Timing: Moses tried to force God’s hand at age 40 and failed. He had to wait until age 80. Spiritual maturity often involves waiting.
- God Uses Flawed People: Moses was a murderer and a fugitive. Yet, God’s calling was irrevocable. Your past failure does not cancel God’s future purpose.
- The Importance of “Ark-Builders”: We need mothers, fathers, and mentors who will build “arks” of protection (prayer, education, faith) for the next generation in a hostile culture.
- God Hears: No cry of suffering goes unnoticed by heaven. God’s delay is not denial; it is preparation.
Final Insight
Exodus 2 moves from the silence of a hidden baby to the cry of a groaning nation. It strips the hero of his power, position, and pride, relocating him to the backside of the desert. It is here, in the quiet of Midian, that God prepares the man who will confront the noise of Egypt.
Possible Sermon Titles from the Chapter
- The Basket Case that Saved the World.
- When You Try to Do God’s Will Your Way.
- Stranger in a Strange Land.
- God Remembers.
- From the Palace to the Pasture.
- Beautiful Faith in Ugly Times.
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