Coachlight Bible Study – Exodus Lesson 4

God Prepares Moses For Service

 

Hebrews 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

The book of Exodus covers a period from the death of Joseph until the building of the Tabernacle, or the beginning of the second year after leaving Egypt.  In fact, chapters three through forty cover a period of two years.  These two years consist of the last year before leaving Egypt and the first year of the journey in the wilderness.

The date of the Exodus can be found by looking at I Kings:

 

I Kings 6:1 And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.

 

This tells us that from the date of the building of Solomon’s Temple (Approx. 965 B.C.), the Exodus began.  This gives us a date of 1445 B.C. for the Exodus, and gives us Hatshepsut as the Pharaoh of the Exodus (according to ancient-egypt.org).  Since Moses was about 40 years old at this time, that would place his birth at approx. 1525B.C. and Ahmose as the Pharaoh at Moses’ birth.  Forty years earlier, or about 1485 B.C. is about the time that Moses killed the Egyptian making Thutmosis II Pharaoh at that time.

 

 

18th Dynasty Egypt From Ancient-Egypt.Org, Which Lists The Kings And Queen

Name

Manetho

Highest Year

Dates (*)

Ahmose

Amosis

 

1540 - 1515

Amenhotep I

Amenophis

 

1515 - 1494

Thutmosis I

Tethmosis

 

1494 - 1482

Thutmosis II

Khebron

1 [or 3 (?)]

1482 - 1479

Thutmosis III

Misphragmuthosis

 

1479 - 1425

Hatshepsut

Amensis

 

1473 - 1458

Amenhotep II

 

 

1425 - 1401

Thutmosis IV

Tuthmosis

 

1401 - 1391

Amenhotep III

 

 

1391 - 1353

Amenhotep IV
Akhenaten

 

 

1353 - 1335

Semenekhkare

 

 

1335 - 1334

Tutankhamun

 

 

1334 - 1325

Ay

 

 

1325 - 1321

Horemheb

Armaios

13

1321 - 1307

(*) Note that all dates are approximations only and that even the length of each king's tenure of power is subject to debate.

 

Moses’ live is divided by three sets of 40 year periods.  The first period of 40 years has Moses in Egypt.  The second period is Moses living in Midian, and last we have Moses in the wilderness for 40 years.                                                                                                                 

 

I. Moses Looks On The Burdens Of The Hebrews

 

Exodus 2:11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.

Exodus 2:12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.

Exodus 2:13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?

Exodus 2:14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.

 

A. Moses Was Known For His Accomplishments And Military Prowess.

 

Acts 7:22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.

 

B. The Apostle Paul Fills In The Historical Gap

 

Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Hebrews 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

 

1. Hebrew tradition teaches his royal mother had proposed to make him coregent and successor to the crown

2. Whether that is true or not, Moses would rather be called an Hebrew

3. Moses could do this because he esteemed the reproach of Christ

a. More than riches

b. He had respect for the recompense of reward

C. Moses, Went Out To Inspect The Condition Of His Brethren (Verse 11)

 

Acts 7:23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

 

1. Moses saw an Egyptian hit a Hebrew without cause

 

Acts 7:24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:

2. Moses killed the Egyptian and buried him in the sand. (Verse 12)

a. This act y Moses may seem unjustifiable – an assasination

b. We should not judge their culture by our own

c. Nowhere in Scripture is this referred to as a crime

d. A citizen had the right to avenge his brother – But

e. The man Moses killed was an Egyptian Official

3. Moses saw two Hebrews fighting (Verses 13-14)

a. Moses asked one of them Why?

b. And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?

c. Intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian?

d. Moses now knew that everyone knew what he had done

 

Hebrews 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

 

D. The Last Two Incidents Demonstrate:

1. The Israelites were not ready to leave Egypt

2. Moses was not ready to lead them out

 

James 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

 

3. It was to be by the staff and not the sword that god was going to lead

 

Isaiah 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

 

II. Moses Flees From The Face Of Pharaoh

 

Exodus 2:15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

Exodus 2:16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.

Exodus 2:17 And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

Exodus 2:18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?

Exodus 2:19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.

Exodus 2:20 And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.

Exodus 2:21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.

Exodus 2:22 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.

 

A. Moses Flees To The Land Of Midian (Verse 15)

1. Midian was offspring from Abraham and Keturah

2. Midian is situated on the eastern shore of the gulf of the Red Sea

a. It extended north to the top of the gulf

b. It extended west across the Sanai desert

B. The Priest of Median (Verses 16-22)

1. Also known as ruler of Cushites or Ethiopians

2. Still held to the worship of the True God

3. Had seven daughters – Shepherdesses

4. Moses protected them from rude shepherds

5. Moses stayed with the family

6. Moses married one named Zipporah – “little bird” – She was called a Cushite

 

Numbers 12:1 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

 

7. Moses undoubtedly obtained her as Jacob had earlier

 

Exodus 3:1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

 

8. Moses had two sons named after family incidents:

 

Exodus 18:3 And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:

Exodus 18:4 And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:

 

III. The King Of Egypt Dies

 

Exodus 2:23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.

Exodus 2:24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

Exodus 2:25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

 

A. Israel After The Pharaoh Dies

1. Israel sighed by reason of the bondage

2. Israel cried

3. Their cry came up to God

B. God’s Actions

1. God heard their groaning

2. God remembered His Covenant

3. God looked upon the children of Israel -  God had respect unto them

C. Why Did God Respect The Israelites?

D. Because of His Unconditional Covenant

E. Because they Cried to god

 

Let’s look again when Moses didn’t fear the king

 

Hebrews 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

 

Moses was able to forsake Egypt, its riches, etc., because faith is seeing He that is invisible

 

Relationships of The Eternal Covenants of God with Israel

Basic Covenant with Abraham

Covenant Extensions

Promise of A National Land (Land)

Genesis 12:1; 13:14-15 & 17

Palestinian Covenant – Gave Israel assurance of final, permanent restoration to the land forever

Deuteronomy 30:3-5; Ezekiel 20:33-37, 42-44

Promise of Numerous Descendants – A Great Nation – (Seed)

Genesis 12:3; 13:16;17:2-6

Davidic Covenant – Dynasty, Nation, Throne forever

II Samuel 7:11, 13, 16

Jeremiah 33:20 & 21; 31:35-37

Promise of Redemption National and Universal – (Blessing)

Genesis 12:3; 22:18 & 3:16

New Covenant – Israel’s Spiritual Blessing and Redemption forever

Jeremiah 31:31-40; Hebrews 8:6-13

Christ And The Gentiles – Not Based On Birth But Rebirth

Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. {accounted: or, imputed}

Galatians 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Galatians 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.