Birth and Call of Moses [Exodus 2:1-4:31]

Date of Events & Date of Writing & Primary Audience

Date of Events: The events of Exodus 2:1-4:31 likely occurred during the 13th century BCE.
Date of Writing: The traditional dating of the writing of Exodus is around the 15th to 13th century BCE, attributed to Moses.
Primary Audience: The primary audience was the Israelites, both contemporaneous to Moses and future generations, to remind them of their heritage and (God’s deliverance).

Story Summary

Moses was born to a Levite family and hidden to avoid Pharaoh’s decree. He was found and raised by Pharaoh’s daughter. As an adult, Moses fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian. God called Moses from a burning bush, commissioning him to deliver Israel from bondage.

Story Background

The narrative follows the earlier account of Israelite oppression in Egypt. Moses’ birth occurs under Pharaoh’s harsh decrees against Hebrew boys. Raised in Pharaoh’s household, Moses is uniquely positioned with both Egyptian royal education and Hebrew heritage.

Story Highlights

• Moses’ birth and rescue: “She got a papyrus basket for him… and placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile” (Exodus 2:3).
• God’s call to Moses: “There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush” (Exodus 3:2).
• God’s commissioning of Moses: “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10).
• God’s assurance: “(I will be with you)” (Exodus 3:12).
• Moses’ hesitation: “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11).
• God’s revelation of His name: “(I AM WHO I AM)” (Exodus 3:14).
• Signs and wonders to convince the Israelites and Pharaoh: “This is so that they may believe that the Lord… has appeared to you” (Exodus 4:5).

Story Purpose

The story serves to introduce Moses, the divinely appointed leader, and to recount (God’s plan) for Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, emphasizing the preparation and calling of Moses for his pivotal role in this redemptive history.

Story Theme

Themes include divine calling, deliverance, identity, and obedience. The narrative underscores God’s faithfulness and His choice of seemingly unlikely individuals to fulfill His purposes.

Jesus Connection

Moses as a deliverer prefigures Christ. Moses’ mission to free Israel from physical bondage parallels Jesus’ mission to free humanity from spiritual bondage. The burning bush (reveals God’s holy presence), similar to how Jesus (reveals God in human form).

Kingdom Connection

Moses’ calling and mission illustrate the Kingdom principle of God’s sovereignty and active intervention in history to redeem His people. It highlights the obedience to God’s call and the empowerment (God provides to fulfill His purposes).

Archeology or Scientific Discovery

Archaeological findings, such as references to Semitic slaves in Egyptian records, support the plausibility of the biblical account. Discoveries of ancient Egyptian texts and artifacts provide context for the narrative’s setting.

Hebrew Meanings of the Keywords

• Moses (מֹשֶׁה, Moshe): Means “drawn out” (Exodus 2:10), signifying his rescue from the Nile.
• Burning bush (סְנֶה, sneh): A thorny bush, symbolizing (God’s presence) in a humble, ordinary place.
• I AM (אֶהְיֶה, Ehyeh): (God’s self-revealed name), expressing His eternal, self-existent nature.

Kingdom Teaching(s)

This passage teaches about obedience to divine calling, trust in God’s provision, and the importance of recognizing and responding to (God’s presence and direction). It encourages believers to understand that (God equips those He calls) and to be faithful in their missions, no matter how daunting they may seem.

In summary, the birth and call of Moses highlight (God’s sovereignty and faithfulness) in delivering His people, showcasing themes of divine calling, preparation, and obedience that resonate with the overarching narrative of the Kingdom of God.