Now, the new King in Egypt ordered to the Hebrew midwives to kill any male Hebrew child and let the daughters be unharmed. These midwives feared God, and did not harm any Hebrew sons. Pharaoh, upset that the midwives did not obey his commands asked them why they did not follow them. They proceeded to tell him the Hebrew women, unlike the Egyptian women, were more “lively” and gave birth before the midwives could arrive. King Pharaoh told all his people to cast all newborn sons into the river, and save the daughters. But, one Hebrew mother did not do the exact command, for she hid the babe for three months until it became too old to hide. She made a basket of bulrushes and daubed it with asphalt and pitch (probably the first wicker basket made) and placed the child in it, then allowed her son to float away for his safety. This son would later become the follower of God, and the leader of His people.

When the boy’s mother placed him in the river, he later floated towards the Pharaoh’s daughter, who bathed in the river. She sent her maiden to fetch the basket and after her discovery, the babe’s sister, who was the maiden, suggested that Pharaoh’s daughter get a Hebrew mother to nurse the baby. So she sent the maiden to ask one of the mothers to do so, and the maiden asked the boy’s mother to come and take care of the child. Pharaoh’s daughter told the woman to take the baby away and nurse it, and she would pay her the earned wages. Imagine receiving money for raising your own child! After the child grew, the mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she named him Moses saying “Because I drew him out of the water.” Exodus 2:10 Moses’ heart reached out towards his fellow brethren. While walking one day, he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew. Looking in two directions, Moses killed the Egyptian, and buried him in the sand. As the day passed, he went out the next to find two Hebrews fighting, and he asked them why. They asked his who made him judge over them, and if he intended to kill them as he did the Egyptian? Moses saw he needed to flee from Egypt, for if Pharaoh found out about his actions, he would surly be put to death.

Moses fled to the land of Midian, and while he sat at the well the seven daughters of the priest of Midian came to water their flocks. While doing so, shepherds came a drove them away from the well, and as Moses watched, he stood and helped the women water their flocks. When the women journeyed home, their father, Jethro, asked them why they were home so early. They proceeded to tell him that a man by the name of Moses came to their rescue. So the women traveled back to Moses and offered him to stay at their home and sup with them. After living with Jethro for some time, Jethro gave Moses his daughter, Zipporah, for his wife, and she bore him a son, named Gershom. In later years, while Moses still lived in Midian, the King of Egypt died, and the Israelites cried out, for they were still in bondage. God, hearing their cry sent someone to free His people from Egypt.

Tending the flock on Mount Horeb, Moses saw the Angel of the Lord appear to him in a burning bush. This bush continued to burn, but not being consumed in the flame. Exodus 3:4 “So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, god called to him from the midst of the bush and said,” “Moses, Moses!” “And he said, “Here I am.” God told him not to come near the bush, for he was to remove his sandals, for he stood on holy ground. In the midst of the flames, God spoke to Moses telling him to deliver his people from bondage in Egypt, and lead them to the land of Canaan, which flowed with milk and honey. When they arrived at Canaan, they were to drive out all who dwelt there. After hearing his commands, Moses began to doubt, and asked God who would believe him. Exodus 3:14-15 says, “And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: “The Lord God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.” Just as Moses gave God's word to deliver the Israelites, Christians are to go and tell unbelievers of the Word, and of God’s plan for deliverance from sin ‘to all generations’. Moses continued onward with his life, and nearly followed all of God’s commands. For this he was not allowed into the promised land and died on Mt. Nebo at 120 years old (Duet. 34).

Sources:

Bible