Chapter 1: The Baby Drawn Out of the Water
Exodus 2:1-10
Q1 - In Exodus 2:2 when Moses’s mother gave birth, she saw that he was a “fine child” (other versions use various terms, such as beautiful, healthy, special baby, goodly child). Consider that the birth of a healthy child was a precious gift, especially during these desperate times. Do you think God had a hand in his birth as well?
A1 - Considering how hard the Hebrews worked as slaves, God likely had a hand in not only Moses's birth but in the births of all the other Hebrew babies as well in order for the people to be able to multiply at the rate at which they did. If babies were not born healthy and robust, the possibility of them being able to survive would have been greatly diminished even under the best of circumstances in ancient times.
Q2 - In Hebrews 11:23, NIV, the writer includes Moses’s parents among those who showed great faith: “By faith Moses’s parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” What did these people know about God that gave them such faith in Him? Contrast the knowledge and resources available to you today to learn about God with those available to people living during the time of Moses’s parents.
A2 - The Hebrew people at the time of Moses's birth knew God only from second-hand information that had been passed down to them by their ancestors. God had not communicated directly with anyone, at least that’s recorded in scripture, since the time of Jacob when God told him to go on down to Egypt (Genesis 46:2–4). While priests seem to have existed, it was certainly not the organized system of priests which was established under the Law which God later presented to Moses.
Today we have many resources available to help us learn about God, the most valuable of which is our Bible. This incredible privilege which we tend to take for granted has been available for only a few centuries. Bibles were not available to very many people until after the invention of the printing press which occurred around 1436. Even then, the Bible was printed in Latin, and few common people were literate in any language. Finally, when King James authorized an English translation, which first appeared in 1611, the Bible started to become more widely available. Think of the many generations of God’s people who lived before that time, both under the Old Law and the New Covenant, who had little direct access to the scriptures.
Through the centuries since Bibles have been more available, people have studied and researched God’s Word, and we can benefit from their knowledge and insight by reading their works. With many Bible concordances, commentaries, and dictionaries available in libraries and online, we can easily learn more on almost any Bible topic. Today, most of us are limited in our search for knowledge of God’s Word only by our own desire and motivation.
Q3 - Do you feel like you’re only supposed to bother God with the hard stuff, the problems you can’t handle on your own? Why do you feel that way? What if you decided to turn your burdens over to God sooner? Read and comment on these scriptures: Matthew 11:28–30, 1 Peter 5:6–7, and Philippians 4:6–7. Perhaps you have other favorite scriptures that you can share.
A3 - The cares and worries which we deal with every day often distract us from the joy Christians are afforded in Christ Jesus. Jesus encouraged us to come to Him in Matthew 11:28–30 (NIV): “‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’”
The Apostle Peter further instructed us in 1 Peter 5:6–7 (NIV): “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
In Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV), the Apostle Paul provided these words of comfort: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
You’ll notice in these scriptures there is no litmus test we are told to apply, there is no filter we are told to use in determining which of life’s cares to turn over to the Lord. He is more than willing and able to handle them all. Allow Him to do so, and accept the peace and comfort which He so graciously offers.