A Mother s Act Of Desperation Exodus 1:15-3:6 Message by Michael J. Barnard May 10, 2015 Teaching Aim: To realize there are times we must take a stand against governmental authorities when they instruct us to do something wrong, instead we are to do what is right in the eyes of God. To examine the courage of the Hebrew midwives and the desperate move of Jochebed to save the life of her baby son. To see how God chose this child to deliver the Hebrews from the bondage of slavery in Egypt, a foreshadow of Jesus delivering us from the bondage of sin and death. DIGGING DEEPER INTO GOD S WORD (BIBLE STUDY) Part I: A courageous stand by the Hebrew midwives (Exod. 1:15-22) 1. Why do you think Pharaoh was so concerned about the growing number of Hebrew slaves? (See Exod. 1:8-14) Who did Pharaoh turn to for help in alleviating this problem (vs. 15)? What do the names Shiphrah and Puah mean? (See Commentaries) What role did these two Hebrew midwives play in ancient Egypt? 2. What barbaric command did Pharaoh give to the midwives in verse 16? What was the intent of Pharaoh s heart in doing this? Who else has tried to destroy the Hebrew race historically? Were they successful? What makes the Jews unique among all people? 3. How did the midwives respond to Pharaoh s murderous command (vs. 17)? Discuss the statement: We are to obey the civil authorities unless they forbid us to do something God commands or command us to do something God forbids. What are some examples of how this statement might be played out in our own day? 4. How did Pharaoh react to the midwives lack of action (vs. 18)? Did the midwives put their lives on the line by not obeying Pharaoh s order? Why or why not? Do you think Christians in the United States are equally willing to put their lives on the line today to stand against moral wrongs in our country and around the world? Why or why not? 1
5. How did the Hebrew midwives respond to Pharaoh s questioning (vs. 19)? Many have said this is justifiable lying, biblically is there such a thing? How about Rahab the prostitute hiding the two spies? (See Josh. 2:3-7) What about those hiding the Jews from the Nazi s during World War II? Is it possible the Hebrew midwives delayed their arrival to birthing mothers so that they would not have to carry out Pharaoh s order? 6. What did God do as a result of the midwives honoring Him and not Pharaoh (vv. 20 & 21)? How are you fighting the cultural wrongs in our own society today? 7. Since the Hebrew midwives refused to cooperate, what diabolical order did Pharaoh give (vs. 22)? How did this make matters even more dangerous for the Hebrew people? Part II: A loving mother s desperate move (Exod. 2:1-10) 1. In writing this account about his own family, how did Moses describe his parents (vs. 1)? Does he give us their names? According to Exod. 6:20, what were the names of Moses father and mother? What was out of the norm about this particular couple s marriage relationship? (See Commentaries) 2. Why do you think Jochebed was only able to hide her child for three months (vs. 2)? How does the Bible describe the child Moses? (See Acts 7:17-22; Heb. 11:23) What bold move did Jochebed take after she could hide her baby no longer (vs. 3)? What is the only other time in Scripture this Hebrew word for ark is used? (See Gen. 6:14) In both of these cases, what was the instrument of judgment? Where was deliverance found? How is the ark a picture of our salvation in Christ? (See 1 Pet. 3:20-22) 3. According to verse 3, does Jochebed (at least partially) follow Pharaoh s orders? If so how? Who watched the events from a distance as they unfolded along the Nile (vs. 4)? What was the name of this young maiden? (See Exod. 15:20) What was the name of Moses brother? (See Exod. 7:7) How much older was he than Moses? Is it possible the age difference is why Aaron and Miriam challenged Moses later on? (See Num. 12:1-16) 2
4. Do you think it was just an accident that Pharaoh s daughter came to bathe at the exact time and place where the baby was floating (vs. 5)? How do we explain this? What caught her attention? What was it about the baby that especially touched her heart (vs. 6)? 5. What does Miriam do in verse 7? Why was this a bold move on her part? How does Pharaoh s daughter respond to Miriam s offer (vs. 8)? What amazing turn of events takes place in verse 9? How did this event turn the tables on Pharaoh? 6. How many years do you think Jochebed cared for the child before giving him over to Pharaoh s daughter to raise (vs. 10)? Who actually named the baby Moses? What was the child s name before this? What if any significance is there to the baby being named Moses? (See Commentaries) 7. The life of Moses is divided into three forty- year segments, what are they? According to Exod. 2:11-25, what major events and characters were involved in the middle segment? Why did God lead Moses into the Midian wilderness for forty years? How would his training in shepherding help him later? Part III: God s calls this special son to lead His people (Exod. 3:1-6) 1. What do we find Moses doing in verse 1? How do you think Moses felt about it? What mountain was he on? What is another more famous name for this mountain? (See Exodus 19:20) Who appeared to Moses on Mount Horeb (vs. 2)? What made this burning bush so unusual? What did it symbolize? (See Commentaries) 2. What caught Moses eye so that he approached the bush (vs. 3)? What did the LORD say to Moses as he approached the bush (vs. 4)? How did Moses respond? Who else in the Bible responded in a similar way? (See Gen. 22:1,11; Isa. 6:8) 3
3. What did God mean when He said, Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground? Note: This is the first time in the Bible that the word holy is used. Define the word holy? (See Dictionary) 4. Why do you think Christians in other parts of the world take their shoes off when coming to worship, but we in America don t? Have you ever sensed the presence of God during your times of worship at church? Do you take time to prepare your heart before coming to worship? 5. What covenant does God confirm to Moses in verse 6? Why is this important? How does Moses react to the words of Yahweh? Are you humbled in the presence of God as you spend time reading His Word and listening to His voice? 6. Why was the courage of the Hebrew midwives and that of Jochebed so important to the deliverance of Israel and the coming of Messiah? How do we see God s providence at work in our story today? 7. Mothers, like these courageous ladies, are you willing to do whatever it takes to deliver your children from the ways of the world and lead them into the ways everlasting? May God bless you as you carry out the high and holy office of being your child s mother! MINER S CORNER ~ Manna to live by! Satan attempted to destroy the Jewish people through Pharaoh s suspicions. The midwives demonstrated great courage in standing up to Pharaoh and putting their own lives on the line in order to protect the Hebrew babies and race. Moses parents refused to kill their son, instead they chose to do what was right in God s eyes. God did just the opposite of what Pharaoh wanted by having his daughter find the baby Moses, raising him in Pharaoh s home with Pharaoh s own money. The best of Egyptian education was not enough to prepare Moses to lead Israel. Moses was trained forty years in the Midian desert as a shepherd, he would later used these skills to shepherd the flock of Israel. With the obedience of these brave women, God prepared Moses to lead Israel and then called him through a burning bush to do so. 4
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