We are back to the OT for the next four weeks as we go through the book of Exodus. Israel is growing in Egypt – Joseph is forgotten and the scene is being set for the deliverance of the Lord’s people.
Exodus 1: Israel Increases Greatly in Egypt
1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household:
2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,
4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
5 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt.
6 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation.
7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.
Pharaoh Oppresses Israel
8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.
9 And he said to his people, "Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.
10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land."
11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses.
12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel.
13 So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves
14 and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.
15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah,
16 "When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live."
17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.
18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this, and let the male children live?"
19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them."
20 So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong.
21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.
22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, "Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live."
Exodus 2: The Birth of Moses
1 Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman.
2 The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months.
3 When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank.
4 And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him.
5 Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it.
6 When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, "This is one of the Hebrews' children."
7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?"
8 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go." So the girl went and called the child's mother.
9 And 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.
10 When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, "Because," she said, "I drew him out of the water."
Moses Flees to Midian
11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people.
12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
13 When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, "Why do you strike your companion?"
14 He answered, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moses was afraid, and thought, "Surely the thing is known."
15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.
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.
17 The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock.
18 When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, "How is it that you have come home so soon today?"
19 They said, "An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock."
20 He said to his daughters, "Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread."
21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah.
22 She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, "I have been a sojourner in a foreign land."
God Hears Israel's Groaning
23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God.
24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
25 God saw the people of Israel---and God knew.
Things to think about…
Ex 1:1-7 has a good parallel with the Church of Christ. Like Israel they are despised by the world – yet they multiply and grow exceedingly strong. Hallelujah!
These two midwives Shiphrah and Puah who let the male children live are like pastoral carers within the church that nurture babes in Christ. Pray for those that have this (discipleship) role within our church – cell group leaders, Kids and Youth group leaders.
The story of Moses being saved by a mini ark is similar to Noah and his family – even down to the pitch and bitumen being applied to the outside. Noah saved his generation, Moses would save his generation. Jesus saves in every generation – hallelujah!
Moses as a 40yo man tries to save by his earthly strength, as such he has to flee to the land of Midian, Ex 2:11-22. As such, Moses begins his own 40 year wilderness experience. The poor man had to on and endure two of them. No wonder he became the most humble man on the face of the earth.
Do you see any similarities between what Moses does in Ex 2:16-22 and what happened with Abraham’s servant as he waited to know whether the woman (Rebecca) who was watering his flock was the one for Isaac. Here Moses waters the flock of the daughters of the Priest of Midian – a Gentile. A marriage eventuates with one of these daughters. We know Moses was told to go to war with the Midianites by Moses about 80 years later. Midian would constantly be a thorn in the side of Israel. But the Lord saves and blesses those who find his favour. Moses’ father-in-law and his family are a case in point.
Do you think the Lord is taking his time with hearing your prayers? The Israelites could say the same – it took over 400 years for the Lord to answer, yet in Ex 2:23-25 it says that they were on His heart the whole time. Our Lord loves you and you are constantly on His mind. God sees and knows – Ex 2:25 “God saw the people of Israel---and God knew.
VisionPoint! For cell groups from Sunday morning’s message.
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Cell group’s on break for 2 weeks.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for our “Beirut Blessing” fund. Will be sent off this week. $1200 raised.
2. Continue to pray for Victoria and clusters around Ipswich, numbers of infections are going down, but the increased lockdown will see many businesses go under and depression and mental health to be a problem in the state.
4. Continue to pray for our government for wisdom and economic management.
6. Sunday’s messages. The message this week – “Whose that you say?” Exod 3– Pr Jay.
7. Church finances to meet our expenses and to put a roof over our café.
8. Our City and Country – Pray for revival over our city and the leadership of our country even through these challenging times.
Praise Points.
1. Luke’s preaching from Matt 22. Thanks Luke!
2. Wonderful worship led by Dan, Suzanne, Jean, Rod, Zac. Thanks guys!
3. Finances continue to be maintained.
4. Wonderful spirit of joy in our church. Thankyou Jesus.
5. Donations to Café roof ($5,175) and Blessing Beirut ($1200). Thankyou!
6. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
7. Praise God for all those who serve at CBC.
Announcements
1. Prayer meetings on break for 2 weeks. Please continue to pray for CBC however.
2. One service at 9:30am Every Sunday morning. This service will also be live streamed on Youtube. No kisses, hand-shakes or hugs are allowed. Hand sanitizer is to be used, tables will be wiped and chairs arranged for appropriate distancing. Families can of course sit together. CBC is allowed up to 50 people inside, then we have an overflow in the cafe.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
6. Kids Church will be run in the house when the message starts.
