EXODUS: The Love of Our Parents Introduces Us to the Love of God; "So the woman conceived and bore a son. And she hid him three months. And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son."

So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.” (Exodus 1:22)

We studied in the previous lesson that the children of Israel stayed in Egypt after Jacob, And Joseph died, all his brothers, and all that generation. But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.” (Exodus 1:6-10)

Working them to death and making them into slaves didn't stop them from growing as a nation; But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel. (Exodus 1:12) Next, he tried to get the Hebrew midwives to kill all male babies; But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. (Exodus 1:17) Finally, when that didn't work, Pharaoh commanded his people to kill all the Hebrew male babies.

And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months. But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank. And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him. (Exodus 2:1-4)

The love of our parents is our first introduction to the love of God. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. (Psalm 127:3) Regardless of the circumstances behind a child's conception or the circumstances surrounding their birth, if a child is born, God meant for that child to be born. For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. (Psalm 139:13-16)

How similar the circumstances surrounding Moses birth were to Jesus birth. When the wise men came to Jerusalem to Herod the king, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:2) Herod was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. (Matthew 2:16)

Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river. And her maidens walked along the riverside; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it. And when she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” (Exodus 2:5-6)

Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?” And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the maiden went and called the child’s mother. Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. So she called his name Moses, saying, “Because I drew him out of the water.” (Exodus 2:7-10)

Just as God spared His Son, Jesus life by an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” (Matthew 2:13) God spared Moses life by allowing the princess of Egypt to draw him out of the water and raise him as her own. God didn't want Jesus or the children of Israel to stay in Egypt, but He can deliver and save us while we're in our "Egypt", until He brings us out.

Not only did God spare Moses life, but He allowed Moses sister to follow him and approach the princes to make the suggestion, unbeknownst to her, that Moses biological mother become his milk nurse.  DIVINE INTERVENTION! Not only did Moses mother still get to raise him, but she got paid to do it. He will bless those who fear the Lord, both small and great. May the Lord give you increase more and more, you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 115:13-15)

As for Moses, Stephen, the first martyr of the church, paid him homage, “But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt till another king arose who did not know Joseph. This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, making them expose their babies, so that they might not live. At this time Moses was born, and was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father’s house for three months. But when he was set out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son. And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds." (Acts 7:17-22)

Just as his grand uncle, Joseph was wise among the Egyptians, so was Moses. As the lesson continues, we will learn more about the man that Moses would grown up to become and how God would use him to help his kinsmen, the children of Israel...