EXODUS (The Second Book of Moses)
The children of Israel (Jacob) were fruitful and grew exceedingly mighty filling the land in Egypt. After Joseph, all his brothers and all that generation died, a new king ruled over Egypt. Pharaoh Pithom didn’t know of Joseph and began to fear that the Israelite were becoming to strong. The Pharaoh sent taskmasters out making servants and slaves out of the Israelites. But they continued to multiply rapidly so Pharaoh told the Hebrew midwives to kill all the male babies born and let the females babies live. But the midwives feared God and didn’t do as the King ordered. The Pharaoh found out and asked why the male babies are alive. The midwives said the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to help them (Exodus 1).
Moses was born
A man named Ammran from the house of Levi took a wife Jochebem, daughter of Levi. She gave birth to a son and hid him for three months. Soon she could no longer hid her son so she took an ark of bulrushes, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it and laid it in the reeds near the bank. The child’s sister Miriam watched near by. The Pharaoh’s daughter was bathing in the river when so saw the basket. She opened it and saw a baby crying and felt compassion for the Hebrew child. Miriam said to the Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?” Miriam took the child to his mother and told Jochebem that the Pharaoh’s Daughter will pay a wage for her to nurse the child. The Pharaoh’s Daughter named the child Moses because she drew him out of the water. Moses grew up with Pharaoh Pithom’s son Raamses (Exodus 2).
Moses Flees
Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s palace and he saw how the Egyptians were treating the Hebrew people. Moses saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew and when no one was looking he killed the Egyptian. The next day Moses was out among the slaves, he saw two Hebrews fighting. Moses asked why do you fight your among yourselves. The Hebrew slaves answered, “Who made you prince and judge over us? Do you intend to kill us as you killed the Egyptian?” Pharaoh heard of this deed and Moses feared for his life. Moses fled to the land of Midian.
The priest of Midian, Jethro had seven daughters and they were out to water their flocks. Some shepherds came and tried to drive them away but Moses stood up for them and helped them water their flocks. The Midian Priest was very thankful for Moses’ help and he gave him his daughter, Zipporah. Moses and Zipporah had a son, Gershon, meaning stranger in a foreign land.
Now time had passed, Pharaoh Pithom died, and his son Raamses was even a harsher ruler over the Israelites making their bondage harder. God heard their groans and remembered his covenant with Abraham and called upon Moses (Exodus 3).
The burning bush
While Moses was out tending to the flock, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame but the bush was not burning. The Lord told Moses that he has heard the cry of the Israelites and that He has come to deliver them from the hands of the Egyptians. Moses you will lead them back to Canaan where the land is flowing with milk and honey. Moses gives God four excuses as to why he can’t help Him:
1. I am not worthy! The Lord answers, I will be with you.
2. Will they believe me? The Lord says, “I AM who I am.”
3. Will they listen to my voice? The Lord provided two miracles. * Moses to cast his rod down onto the ground and the rod turned into a snake. The Lord told Moses then to grab the snake by the tail and it turned back into the rod.
* Moses place your hand on your belly and when he did it was covered with leprosy. Touch your belly again and his hand was healed.
4. I am not an eloquent speaker. Now the Lord became angry with Moses and told him that his brother Aaron is a good speaker and he will help you speak. The Lord will provide (Exodus 3 and 4:1-17).
Moses goes back to Egypt.
Moses went to Jethro and received his blessing to take his family and return to Egypt. The Lord told Moses to go and show the Pharaoh the miracles I showed you. The Pharaoh will not let the Israelite leave because I will harden his heart. The Lord also spoke to Aaron telling him to meet Moses on the mountain of God and give Moses a kiss. Aaron met with Moses and shared with him all that the Lord said. Then Aaron spoke to all the elders of the children of God they believed and worshipped God (Exodus 4:18-31).
Encounter with Pharaoh
Moses and Aaron tell Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” But Pharaoh did not listen and sent the taskmasters out to make the Hebrews labor even harder. Moses pleaded with Lord and asks why things are worse for the Israelites? God replied, Pharaoh will now see what He can do (Exodus 5 and 6).
Moses was 80 years old and Aaron was 83 years old when they spoke to Pharaoh again. Pharaoh asked them to show him a miracle so Aaron threw down Moses’ rod and it turned into a snake. Pharaoh called his wise men and sorcerers into the room and they also threw down a rod which turned into snakes. But Moses’ rod swallowed up all the snakes. Pharaoh’s heart grew harder (Exodus 7:1-13).
The Plagues
1. Water becomes Blood--The Lord told Moses and Aaron to return to Pharaoh and ask him to let the Israelites go. Pharaoh will not listen so then you are to strike the river with the rod and the water will turn to blood. The fish will die and no one will drink from the river. The Pharaoh’s magicians were also able to turn water into blood (Exodus 7:14-25).
2. Frogs--Moses and Aaron returned to Pharaoh after seven day had passed. Again Aaron asked Pharaoh to let the Israelites go but Pharaoh would not listen. So Aaron took the rod and stretched it over the river and the frogs came onto the land covering all the territory. The Pharaoh’s magicians were also able to begin frogs up for the river. Moses said tomorrow the frogs will die and there was a big stink in the land (Exodus 8:1-15).
3. Lice--Moses and Aaron returned to Pharaoh and asked let my people go. Pharaoh didn’t listen so Aaron stuck the ground with the rod and lice covered the beasts and man. The pharaoh’s magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh did not listen (Exodus 8:16-19).
4. Flies--Moses and Aaron returned to Pharaoh and asked let my people go. Pharaoh didn’t listen so Aaron stuck the ground with the rod and flies swarmed the area. Pharaoh said takes a three day journey into the wilderness and make your sacrifices to your Lord but do not go far. Moses told Pharaoh that the flies will depart tomorrow when the Israelites begin their journey (Exodus 8:20-32).
5. Livestock becomes Diseased-- the Lord told Moses and Aaron to return to Pharaoh and ask him to let the Israelites go. If Pharaoh refuses then in the morning all the livestock will be died but the Lord will spare all the Israelites livestock. The Pharaoh’s heart grew hard and he did not let the Israelites go (Exodus 9:1-7).
6. Boils—The Lord spoke to Moses, take a hand full of ashes and scatter them in the heavens towards the Pharaoh. The ashes became fine dust spreading over the Egyptians causing boils on every man and beast. The Pharaoh’s heart grew hard and he did not let the Israelites go (Exodus 9:8-12).
7. Hail-- The spoke to Moses, stretch out your hands to the heavens towards the Pharaoh. Hail pours down from the heaven over the Egyptians crushing the crops and beast. The Pharaoh’s heart grew hard and he did not let the Israelites go (Exodus 9:13-35).
8. Locust—The Lord sent locust to cover the land and inside the homes of every Egyptian. The Pharaoh’s heart grew hard and he did not let the Israelites go (Exodus 10:1-20).
9. Darkness—The Lord told Moses to stretch out his hands towards the Pharaoh and darkness covered the Egyptians. The Hebrews were spared with a light in there dwelling. Finally after three day the Pharaoh sent for Moses. Moses released the darkness and warned the Pharaoh that at Midnight the Lord will take all the firstborn of the Egyptians. Moses also spoke to the Hebrews about the First Passover (Exodus 10:21-29 & 11).
The First Passover
The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron the rules of the first Passover. On the tenth of every month every man shall sacrifice a lamb and the blood of the lamb is to spread over the door frame until the fourteenth day. They were instructed to eat unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Eat all of the sacrifice that was roasted on the fire and leave nothing (Exodus 12).
10. Death of the Firstborn—at midnight death swept through Egypt killing all the first born sons and He spared all the firstborn of the homes that followed the Lords instructions regarding the first Passover. Pharaoh Raamses’ firstborn son died and he finally let the Hebrews go. (Exodus 12:29-42 and 13).
The Lord led the Hebrews out of Egypt through the wilderness not through the land of the Philistines by a cloud during the day and fire at night. Soon the Hebrews came upon the Red Sea. The Pharaoh questioned his decision on let the Hebrews go and took 600 choice chariots and the captians chariots plus all the horsemen and his army to chase down the Hebrews. The Hebrews began to complain and question if they were set free to only die in the wilderness. Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid” the Lord will fight for you. Moses lifted his rod over the red sea and it parted. The Hebrews walked across the riverbed on dry land. The Egyptians were in pursued and again Moses stretched out his rod and the walls of the sea callaposed killing all the Egyptians (Exodus 14).
Journey through the Wilderness
1. Complaining of no water--The Hebrew children of Israel began to sing a song of praise to the Lord and Moses (Exodus 15:1-19). Miriam danced and sang a song also (Exodus 15:20-21). For three day there was no water and in the land of Marah the water was bitter. Soon the people of Israel began to complain. The Lord heard their cries and in the land of Elim there were 12 wells of water with 70 palm trees. This is where the Hebrews camped (Exodus 15:22-27).
2. Complaining of hunger--After two months and 15 days the people started to complain again of hunger. The Lord heard their cries and made it rain bread. But the Lord said they must do as I instruct as a test. They are to gather their quota and on the sixth day prepare twice as much.
3. Complaining of no meat—the Hebrew now began to complain that there was no meat to eat so the Lord sent quail to fill the camp.
As the Israelite continued their travels through the wilderness every morning the Lord let it rain Manna (a wafer that taste like honey) and this is what they ate for 40 years until they came to the land of Canaan (Exodus 16).