Exodus: Birth of a Nation

Israel in Egypt
Chapters 1:1-12:36

Exodus opens with a list of "the sons of Israel" (verse 1) who were the focus of the last part of Genesis. The attention shifts quickly in verse 7 to the "Israelites" (people of Israel). From this point on, the name Israel usually refers to the nation of people, not to the patriarch.

Jacob’s descendants had been "fruitful and multiplied greatly and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them" (verse 7). By this time, a new pharaoh ruled over Egypt who did not know about the friendship that once existed between the Egyptian rulers and the family of Joseph. This pharaoh feared that the Israelites might become powerful enough to challenge his authority, so he began to oppress them.

But no matter how much Pharaoh exploited the Israelites and how hard he worked them, their numbers continued to grow. As the Israelites multiplied, Pharaoh began to see them as more than just a labor pool. He became concerned that this large alien population would organize. and pose a threat to Egypt.

Pharaoh decided to tackle the problem in a more cruel way, only to be defeated by the faith and courage of the Hebrew midwives (verses 15-21).

Pharaoh decreed that all Hebrew baby boys were to be drowned in the Nile River (Exodus 1:22). Moses’ life was saved by his mother’s resourceful action. She placed him in a watertight basket (the same Hebrew word, tebhah, used for Noah’s "ark") and set it adrift in the river. Moses was later rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter.

As a child growing up in the palace, Moses would have received a traditional Egyptian education, learning to read and write the Egyptian hieroglyphics and cursive scripts. As he matured, he would have gained expertise in military, religious and political affairs (Acts 7:22). It was not unknown for foreigners to be trained in this manner for responsible posts in the army, priesthood or civil service.

At age 40, Moses came to the defense of a fellow Israelite, and he killed an Egyptian taskmaster. Consequently, he was forced to flee into exile (Exodus 2:11-15; Acts 7:23-29). It has been said that Moses spent 40 years in Egypt learning to be somebody, and 40 years in Midian learning to be nobody, and this prepared him for the mighty task of delivering the children of Israel.

	These wall paintings are from the tomb of Rekhmere, an Egyptian nobleman of the mid-second millennium B.C. They depict Egyptian laborers preparing clay bricks. Such images are reminiscent of Pharaoh’s orders in Exodus 5:6-8.

"Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush" (Exodus 3:1-2). Moses was at Mt. Sinai (Horeb), the place where God later gave the Ten Commandments to Israel (Exodus 19 20). God had a great commission for Moses. He was to be God’s messenger to Pharaoh, and lead the Israelites to freedom. However, Moses was extremely reluctant. He raised one objection after another, but each was countered by God.

Throughout the burning-bush incident, Moses showed a profound reverence for the presence of God. He realized how unworthy he was to stand before his Creator. As we study this account, we should reflect on our own attitude and approach to God. One thing that did not please God, however, was Moses’ resistance to his special calling. Moses wanted God to find a better man, but God promised to help him fulfill his commission. Similarly, Godpromises to be with us today: "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).

	Startled perhaps by the cries of the baby Moses, who was found among a thicket of bulrushes by Pharaoh’s daughter, an ibis takes flight in this depiction by Frederick Dillon (top). The coiled reed basket (left) is typical of those used in ancient Egypt.

Egyptian war chariots, like the ones used against Israel, are shown here on "The Painted Box from the tomb of King Tutankhamen (14th century B.C.). This view shows Tutankhamen in battle against the Syrians.

God instructed Israel to leave Egypt in order to worship him. Pharaoh’s reaction revealed his rigid hostility, already predicted by God (Exodus 3:19). "Egyptian hieroglyphics pictured the word for foreigner as a bound man with blood flowing from a wound in his head; the Israelites felt the full weight of such oppression" (The New Student Bible, NIV, commentary on Exodus 6:9). Moses’ request to Pharaoh only made life harder for the Israelites. They blamed Moses for their trouble, and Moses pleaded with God for deliverance once again.

As is often the case in Scripture, this family record is selective. Moses and Aaron are shown to have descended from Jacob through the line of Levi. The list covers the period of Israel’s stay in Egypt. This biblical genealogy more firmly identifies Moses and Aaron. As well as outlining the history of a family, genealogies were used to establish family credentials and authority.

Pharaoh again rejected Moses’ request. The Egyptian ruler had already shown what sort of person he was: "I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel (Exodus 5:2).

Pharaoh was not concerned about Moses’ message, for he had not yet seen any evidence of God’s power. So God initiated a series of judgments to teach Pharaoh and his people who the Lord was, and to show them the extent of his sovereign power over all creation (Exodus 7:5).

The 10 plagues convinced the Egyptians, and the surrounding nations, of the might and majesty of the God of Israel. After the death of Egypt’s firstborn, Pharaoh ordered the Israelites to leave the country immediately (Exodus 11:1-6; 12:29-36). For Israel, this day when God saved his people was to be remembered throughout the ages. The Passover festival was instituted to commemorate the day. The blood of the Passover lamb symbolized God’s protection and mercy for his people, Israel, as his firstborn (Exodus 4:21-23; 12:1-14, 21-28). This foreshadowed the sacrifice of "Christ, our Passover lamb" (1 Corinthians 5:7).