The Oppression of the Israelites and the Birth of Moses (Exodus 1-2)

These chapters set the stage for the dramatic rescue of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, while introducing one of the most significant figures in biblical history—Moses. Through their suffering and God’s providence, we witness the preparation for an extraordinary deliverance.

Exodus 1: The Oppression of the Israelites

The Israelites Multiply in Egypt

The narrative opens with the descendants of Jacob thriving in Egypt, a prosperity that had lasted since Joseph’s leadership. Over generations, the Israelites multiplied and filled the land. However, a new Pharaoh, who did not remember Joseph’s contributions, saw their growing numbers as a threat to Egypt’s security.

Pharaoh’s Harsh Decrees

Pharaoh sought to control the Israelites by subjecting them to forced labor, compelling them to build supply cities such as Pithom and Rameses. Yet, the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied—fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham that his descendants would grow into a great nation.

In desperation, Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill all newborn Hebrew boys. These women, fearing God more than Pharaoh, courageously disobeyed, allowing the boys to live. When questioned, they cleverly responded that Hebrew women gave birth too quickly for the midwives to intervene.

The Final Edict

Enraged by their defiance, Pharaoh issued a chilling decree: every newborn Hebrew boy was to be cast into the Nile. This dark command underscored Pharaoh’s determination to stifle the growth of God’s chosen people, yet it also set the stage for God’s intervention through Moses.

Exodus 2: The Birth of Moses

The Birth and Rescue of Moses

Amid Pharaoh’s brutal edict, a Levite couple welcomed a son into the world. Recognizing that he was no ordinary child, they hid him for three months. When hiding him became impossible, his mother placed him in a waterproofed basket and set it afloat among the reeds along the Nile’s edge.

His sister, Miriam, watched over him from a distance. By divine providence, Pharaoh’s daughter came to bathe in the Nile and discovered the basket. Compassion moved her to rescue the child, even knowing he was a Hebrew.

Moses Raised in Pharaoh’s Palace

Miriam approached Pharaoh’s daughter with a bold suggestion: she could find a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby. Agreeing, Pharaoh’s daughter unknowingly allowed Moses’ own mother to care for him during his formative years. When Moses grew older, he was brought back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him and named him Moses, meaning “drawn out of water.”

Moses Flees to Midian

Years later, Moses became acutely aware of his people’s suffering. When he witnessed an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, his outrage drove him to kill the Egyptian and bury him in the sand. The act became known, and fearing for his life, Moses fled Egypt to the land of Midian.

In Midian, Moses rested by a well where he defended the daughters of Reuel (also called Jethro), a Midianite priest, from aggressive shepherds. Grateful for Moses’ intervention, Reuel welcomed him into his family. Moses married Zipporah, one of Reuel’s daughters, and they had a son named Gershom, signifying Moses’ sense of being a foreigner in a strange land.

God’s Concern for His People

Back in Egypt, the king died, but the Israelites’ suffering continued. Their cries for deliverance reached God, who “remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” This marked the turning point in the story, as God prepared to act decisively to fulfill His promises.

Conclusion

Exodus 1 and 2 vividly portray the suffering of God’s people and the miraculous preservation of Moses. These events set the foundation for God’s mighty intervention, demonstrating His faithfulness to His covenant and His care for His people even in their darkest moments.

Stay tuned as we continue this journey through the book of Exodus, exploring how God raises up Moses to confront Pharaoh and lead the Israelites to freedom!