Exodus Chapter 2 marks a turning point in Israel’s history with the birth and preservation of Moses, the man God would later use to deliver His people from slavery in Egypt. Despite Pharaoh’s decree to kill Hebrew baby boys, God sovereignly protects Moses and prepares him for his future role as Israel’s deliverer. The chapter also reveals God’s faithfulness to His covenant and His concern for the suffering of His people.
Exodus Chapter 2 Summary
During a time when Pharaoh had ordered the death of Hebrew male infants, a Levite woman gave birth to a son. Seeing that he was a beautiful child, she hid him for three months.
When she could no longer conceal him, she placed him in a basket made of reeds and set it among the reeds along the Nile River. Moses’ sister watched from a distance to see what would happen.
Pharaoh’s daughter came to bathe in the river and discovered the basket. Upon opening it, she found the crying baby and felt compassion for him. Realizing he was a Hebrew child, she decided to adopt him.
Moses’ sister approached Pharaoh’s daughter and offered to find a Hebrew woman to nurse the child. The child’s own mother was brought to care for him until he was old enough to live in Pharaoh’s household.
Pharaoh’s daughter named him Moses, saying, “Because I drew him out of the water.”
As Moses grew older, he became aware of the suffering of his fellow Hebrews. One day he witnessed an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. Looking around and seeing no one nearby, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand.
The following day Moses attempted to settle a dispute between two Hebrews, but one of them challenged his authority and revealed knowledge of the killing. When Pharaoh learned of the incident, he sought to kill Moses.
Moses fled Egypt and settled in the land of Midian. There he defended the daughters of a priest named Jethro from shepherds who were harassing them. In gratitude, Jethro welcomed Moses into his household.
Moses married Jethro’s daughter Zipporah, and they had a son named Gershom. Moses remained in Midian for many years.
Meanwhile, the Israelites continued to suffer under Egyptian bondage. Their cries rose to God, who remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God saw their affliction and prepared to act on their behalf.
Exodus Chapter 2 demonstrates God’s providence in preserving Moses, preparing him for leadership, and hearing the cries of His people during their suffering.
Key Lessons From Exodus 2
- God can protect and preserve His people even in dangerous circumstances.
- God’s plans cannot be stopped by human opposition.
- Compassion and courage can change the course of history.
- God often prepares His servants through seasons of waiting and testing.
- God hears the cries of His people and remembers His promises.
- God’s timing is perfect, even when His plans unfold slowly
Important Verses
- Exodus 2:3 — “And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes.”
- Exodus 2:10 — “And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.”
- Exodus 2:11 — Moses identifies with his Hebrew brothers and witnesses their suffering.
- Exodus 2:24 — “And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant.”
- Exodus 2:25 — “And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.”
