Journal Through the Bible: Week 12 Monday

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Exodus 1:1-2:10

Exodus begins with  a repeat of the list of Jacob's family that settled in Israel which excludes the names of any in-laws. One of the things that needs to be remembered when discussing the tally of future generations is that many of the Israelites probably married Egyptians. Jacob's sons all married Canaanite women and most likely the next generations did also. This adds quickly to the number of people in Jacob's family that were not born into it but were added by marriage. They would, of course, be used to add to it by being one of the parents of the next generation. Moses' parents were different. They were both from the family of Levi. Moses' mother was actually Levi's daughter. Unlike her brothers, she was born in Egypt and not Canaan. This would imply that she was a child of Levi's old age.

Can you imagine being Jochebed and not only seeing your son saved from death in the river by Pharaoh's daughter and knowing his future was secure but being allowed to safely take your son home without fear and then being paid as his wet nurse?! Providence at work!

It must also be remembered that the Egyptians were descended from Noah's grandson, Mizraim (Gen 10:6), and therefore were probably not any larger in number than other subdivided people groups. The equivalent of this would be the total descendants of Noah's grandson, Arphaxad (Gen 10:22) from which Jacob descended. Jacob's family made up just one branch from Arphaxad's roots. Therefore, if Mizraim's population growth was slower than that of this one branch of Arphaxad's descendants, and scripture says that it was, the fruitful Children of Israel were swelling in population while the Egyptians' population was declining.



Does God make any promises in this passage?

Not in so many words, but by relating the story of his early life Moses is making it clear that God had a plan to keep His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob through Moses.

Are there any references to Jesus?

The bulrush ark that held Moses safe in the river is a picture of the salvation we have in Jesus. After all, it was a miniature bulrush version of the large gopher wood ark that had saved Noah from destruction several generations earlier.

Are there any references to Eternity Future or End Time events?

Not in so many words, but I see the protection and provision coming from such an unlikely place and the return of Moses to his own nurturing mother a lesson in what is in store for God's people in the future.

Does God issue any commands?

God did not command the Hebrew midwife not to kill the baby boys, but they feared God and refused to do it making it seem as though it was understood that God commanded people not to kill infants. The fact that God blessed them would seem to confirm that they understood correctly.