This dense chapter contains many events, so I will attempt to summarize.
“[a Levite] woman conceived and bore a son; and… hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got him a wicker basket and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile… and she saw the basket among the reeds… When she opened it, she saw the child… and said, ‘This is one of the Hebrews’ children.’ … and he became her son. And she named him Moses, and said, ‘Because I drew him out of the water.’ …when Moses had grown up… he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. …when he saw there was no one around, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian… Moses was willing to dwell with the [priest of Midian, Reuel], and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses. Then she gave birth to a son, and he named him Gershom, for he said, ‘I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.’ ” (v2-3,5-6,10,11-12,15,21-22 abr)
Moses, a baby boy, is born to a man and woman from the tribe of Levi, however, baby boys are to be killed by order of Pharaoh. Moses’ mother hides him, but then is allowed to raise him for Pharaoh’s daughter. When he’s older, Moses sees the oppression of his people and kills an Egyptian who is beating them, though he flees Egypt because Pharaoh orders him to be killed. He settles in Midian, marries a Midianite woman, and has a son named Gershom. (I had to skip over many details, so please feel free to read the chapter for yourself)
Now for fun, I’ll mention that Midian, where Moses fled, is still a Hebrew nation. As you may recall, Sarah, Abraham’s first wife, dies in Gen 23. “Now Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. She bore to him Zimran and Jokshan and Medan and Midian and Ishbak and Shuah.” (Gen 25:1-2) So, the Midianites are still descendants of Abraham, though they are not descendants of Israel.
Another interesting fact, is Gershom (and later Moses’ second son Eliezer), is barely mentioned in scripture – apparently only Moses’ role is important in the Bible, neither of his sons are mentioned outside of genealogies (and the verses in which each of them is said to be born).
Back to Moses, who God makes an integral part of Hebrew/Israelite history – similar to Joseph, he is raised as an Egyptian, and he sees the lament of his people. Moses however handles it much differently than Joseph, he kills someone and runs away from everything he knows, attempting to hide from his past. This seems to be a little cowardly, but keep in mind the Israelites have been in slavery in Egypt for nearly four hundred years, and they’ve probably forgotten who the God of Israel is – I’m guessing Moses doesn’t walk with the Lord on a daily basis, and probably doesn’t draw his strength and courage from the abundant strength God offers. Joseph had a strong relationship with God, which may factor into the difference in behavior and level of courage.
The chapter concludes with “the sons of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God. So God heard their groaning;” (v23b-24a) It doesn’t state the Israelites cried out to God, they simply cried out in general and God heard them – they’ve probably forgotten who God is, though it says “God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God saw the sons of Israel, and God took notice of them.” (v24b-25) So clearly, even though Israel may have forgotten God, God did not forget about Israel.
Thank you Father that even when we “forget” You, You do not forget us. You draw near to us, even when we run away from You. No matter where we flee, be it Paddan Aram or Midian, You are there. There is no place in this universe You will not find us. Thank you for Your loving persistence. Thank you for being present even when we don’t wish You to be. Thank you for Your provision of protection and deliverance, even when we haven’t earned or deserved it. Even in the midst of our disobedience, You are still there. We praise You for the gift of Your presence.
~ Conqueror in Training