Day 030- The Bible Recap

First of all, it wasn't until I read through the Bible the first time that it dawned on me this book's name is describing the Israelites leaving Egypt. Kind of crazy I never saw that before :)

400 years later Joseph and his brothers have all passed away and there's a new Pharaoh who didn't know Joseph, so he showed no partiality towards the Israelites at all. In fact, he dealt harshly with them because as they grew in numbers, he feared they would overthrow him. Because they grew larger and had a greater impact, Pharaoh set taskmasters over them and enslaved them. However, interestingly enough, the more the Israelites were oppressed, the more they continued to grow larger in numbers. 1:12

Pharaoh became so fearful he ordered the midwives to kill any Hebrew boy that was born. 1:15 But the Lord had a different plan, as both midwives who were mentioned knew God and spared the lives of the Hebrew boys.

Controversy can arise when people discuss the midwives lying to protect the infant boys, especially when the Lord rewards them. I think what is most important is they were obeying God first and foremost by sparing lives...in that moment their choice was between murder or lying. We know this because the verse says they feared God. 1:17 God is always our first authority. If we are obeying Him, He will take care of the rest! 

Pharaoh was so focused on killing Hebrew boys because he knew they would grow to be strong soldiers and fight against him. However, he didn't count on God using two females to bring about his plan that would eventually lead His people out of Egypt and out of slavery!

I don't believe it was coincidence that Pharaoh's daughter came to bathe at the river the exact time Moses' basket was floating by. And what an encouragement for Moses' mother to be able to care for her son and while being paid to do so. It must have been extremely difficult for her to turn her son over to Pharaoh's daughter once he became old enough...but he was alive and I'm sure she was most grateful for that.

Moses let his anger get the best of him and killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew. He fled as Pharaoh sought to kill him. God heard the groaning and cries of the Israelites in their slavery and remembered the covenant he made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 2:24 So grateful that God sees us in our troubles as well!

God spoke to Moses through the burning bush but lovingly warned him not to remove his sandals because His presence made the ground holy. We will see there will be those down the line who don't take God's presence seriously and things end much differently...so God really was looking out for Moses!

God told Moses to tell Pharaoh (another new one) to let His people go. God said He is "I am". He is the beginning and the end. He promised to be with Moses and told him to tell the people of Israel that He will be with them just like he was with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Remembering generations of God's faithfulness will give His people courage, strength, hope and peace ~ I know it has given me those things!

~Ann Mays