Exodus 2:1–10 “My Smallness and the Lord’s Greatness”

Exodus 2:1-10 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• Sovereign ‑ Chris Tomlin
• Elevation Worship – The Blessing ft. Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes
• Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) – Hillsong UNITED

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• Baby Moses | Stories of the Bible – Lesson for Kids
• God is for Me | HLA Babylon | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Trust And Obey | Christian Songs For Kids – Song for Kids
• Rorey Baker, Sly & Robbie – Kids Reggae – I Am A Promise – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth arelocated in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

After describing the crisis faced by the Israelites in chapter 1, chapter 2 shifts focus to a single individual named Moses. A baby boy is born into a Levite family (verse 1). According to Exodus 6:20, the father is Amram, and the mother is Jochebed. This happened after the decree had been issued that every Hebrew boy born must be thrown into the Nile to die. However, the mother, Jochebed, “saw that he was a fine child” (verse 2) and could not bring herself to throw him into the river. Instead, she hid him for three months. The expression “saw that he was a fine child” does not simply refer to his outward appearance. It means that the mother sensed something special in the child that made it impossible for her to give him up.

After three months, the mother realized she could no longer hide the baby. She placed him in a papyrus basket and set it afloat on the Nile River (verse 3). She must have thought that if God willed, the child would live; if not, he would drown or starve. The baby’s sister followed along the riverbank to watch over her brother’s fate (verse 4).

When the basket carrying the baby reached the reeds near the palace, the princess came down to the Nile to bathe with her attendants. She saw the basket floating among the reeds (verse 5). When she opened the basket and saw the baby inside, she was filled with compassion for him (verse 6). Even though she knew about her father’s decree to kill all Hebrew boys, the princess decided to take the child in.

At that moment, the baby’s sister approached the princess and offered to find a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby (verse 7). The princess accepted the offer, and thus Jochebed was able to raise her own son under the guise of being his nurse (verses 8–9). When the child grew older and was weaned, Jochebed brought him back to the princess, who adopted him as her own son and named him Moses (verse 10).

Meditation:

In terms of a play, Exodus 1:1 to 2:10 serves as the “prologue.” In this prologue, the main figure on stage is the king of Egypt—the absolute ruler of the mighty empire of that time (the term “Pharaoh” is the Egyptian word for “king”). Because of his fierce power, the Israelites were subjected to forced labor, and all newborn Hebrew boys were ordered to be killed.

Yet, in the pitch darkness of this era, some lit small flames of hope. The first to light these small flames were the Hebrew midwives, who “feared God” (1:17). They responded passively to Pharaoh’s command to throw all newborn boys into the Nile. Next comes Jochebed, a Hebrew woman. With a heart of entrusting everything, whether to life or death, to God, she placed her baby into a papyrus basket and set it afloat on the Nile.

The third actor in this sequence is the baby’s sister. She likely followed the papyrus basket down the Nile because she understood her mother’s heart toward her brother. Even though she knew her actions could put her in danger, Miriam could not give up. Because of her courage, she brought the joy of holding her son once again back to her mother.

However, the decisive reason the baby survived was because Pharaoh’s daughter felt compassion for him. She was not unaware of her father’s command regarding the Hebrews. Nevertheless, she dared to defy it. She could not turn a blind eye to an innocent young life placed in the face of death.

In all of these events, we can see God’s invisible hand at work. The Hebrew midwives, Jochebed, Miriam, and Pharaoh’s daughter were all led by God’s gentle hand to fulfill their part in His plan. They were minorities in their society. They could not directly resist Pharaoh’s absolute authority, but they did not blindly submit either. Although their resistance was passive, it was still a dangerous act. God wove their small decisions together to accomplish His greater plan.

Prayer:

Lord, the Master of history, we gain courage as we read and meditate on the stories of the Hebrew midwives, Jochebed, Miriam, and Pharaoh’s daughter. We often stumble, thinking, “The evil in the world is so great and powerful; what can I possibly do against it?” But you tell us to do our best in the place you have given each of us. In our own eyes, we seem so small, yet you accomplish great things through these small acts. Oh Lord, help us to trust and hope in your grand design, and to joyfully carry out the small tasks you have entrusted to us today. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: Even small acts of courage and kindness, done with faith in God, are used by Him to accomplish His great plans. God works through people who trust Him, even when they feel small or powerless. God uses our small actions to do big things when we trust Him.

• For Preschool-Elementary
  • Who were some people God used to help baby Moses survive?
  • Why do you think Miriam, the baby’s sister, followed the basket even though it was dangerous?
  • What is one small good thing you can do today to show God’s love?

• For Youth
  • Why is it sometimes hard to believe that small actions can make a difference in a world full of big problems?
  • How do the Hebrew midwives, Jochebed, Miriam, and Pharaoh’s daughter show different types of courage?
  • What is one “small thing” God might be calling you to do in your school, family, or church right now?