Read Exodus 2:1-10.

Introduction⤒🔗

Let me read to you some excerpts from a letter written by a grown child to his parents:

I am writing this letter to tell you something you already know. But it helps me to be able to say it. I want you to know how much I appreciated the Christian home you both provided for me.

Because you loved God’s Word, I learned to love it, too. You always felt the presence of Jesus. You talked to Him all the time.

I want to thank you not only for giving me life, but also for being a special part of my life.

Your loving son, Moses

Actually, this letter was not written by Moses to his parents—it was written by a young woman named Marlene, expressing her love and appreciation for her Christian home. But it could have been written by Moses, because he, too, had a godly home with dedicated Christian parents, just like the home described by Marlene in her letter.

As we consider the second chapter of Exodus, let us turn our attention to Moses’ parents and the powerful role they played in the life of their son. Moses’ parents made a profound spiritual impact on the life of their son, an impact that survived and thrived, despite the seductive allurements of Egypt.

Christian parents, consistently live out your faith, so that you may have a profound spiritual impact on your children.

Live a Consistent Christian Life, by Exercising Spiritual Insight←⤒🔗

Hebrews 11:23 informs us that Moses was hidden for three months because his parents “saw that he was no ordinary child.” Moses’ parents possessed spiritual insight and acted upon it.

At the time of his birth, Moses’ parents, especially his mother, (note Ex. 2:2), noticed the uniqueness of their child. In Acts 7:20, Stephen describes the infant Moses as being pleasing to God, (i.e. as being the special object of God’s favor and purpose); or, literally, “beautiful (αστειοs) to God.” The word used here to describe the infant Moses means an attractiveness or physical beauty that is striking.

In the case of Moses, God chose to use the striking beauty of this infant to call attention to His unique purpose for this child—and Moses’ parents had the spiritual insight to recognize this. They recognized that Moses was beautiful “to God.” Beyond this physical attractiveness, or actually by means of it, Moses’ parents discerned that God had a special purpose for this child.

God could have accomplished this same purpose by giving to the infant Moses an unusual amount of physical strength, or a unique measure of alertness and perception; but in this particular case the LORD chose to accomplish His purpose by giving to the infant Moses an abundant measure of physical beauty.

Recognizing the uniqueness of this child, the parents made every effort to preserve his life. Once again, it is Moses’ mother who takes the lead. She hid him for three months. Then, after the first three months of his life, she built him an “ark,” placed him in it, and set it among the reeds of the Nile. Note: The Hebrew word used here in Exodus 2:3, תֵּבָה , is the same word used in Genesis 6:13-14a, where the LORD commands Noah to build an “ark.” There we read, “Then God said to Noah, I have determined to bring all mankind to an end, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; surely, I will destroy them together with the earth. ¹⁴Therefore, make an ark” ( תֵּבָה ).

In building an “ark,” Moses’ mother is recalling how the LORD spared Noah from the flood waters of death. In making an "ark" for her infant son, by her actions she is reminding the LORD of what He did for Noah, and she is requesting that He would do the same for her infant son, Moses. She stationed her daughter, Miriam, to watch over the “ark,” and then instructed Miriam to offer her mother’s services as nurse to the child when he was retrieved from the river by the Egyptian princess.

Moses’ parents, (especially his mother), possessed spiritual insight and acted upon it. They recognized that their child was uniquely set apart by God and that God had a special purpose for his life. As Christian parents, we should likewise recognize that each one of our children, as covenant children, is uniquely set apart for God, as the Apostle Paul asserts in 1 Corinthians 7:14, “your children are holy.”

Now consider the profound impact their exercise of Christian insight had upon their son:

²⁴By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. ²⁵He chose to share mistreatment together with the people of God, rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. ²⁶He regarded sharing in the reproach of Christ to be of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he looked forward to the reward. Heb. 11:24-26

When he had grown up, Moses came to exhibit the same spiritual insight that had been characteristic of his parents: “he refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. ²⁵He chose to share mistreatment together with the people of God.” He willfully renounced the privileges of Egyptian royalty. He willingly chose to identify himself with Christ and His people, even though it meant hardship, deprivation, ostracism, and persecution. Why did Moses make such a choice? What enabled him to do so? He did so because he recognized that the pleasures of sin “are only for a short time”— i.e. they are only temporary and fleeting. Moses was looking to eternity and the reward God promises to those who love Him and serve Him.

Moses possessed true spiritual perception—discerning the true nature of things, appreciating what is of true value, taking into consideration the long-range view of eternity—and he acted upon it. He chose allegiance to Christ instead of following the course of this present world. By the grace of God, Moses in his day was able to discern the truth of which the Apostle John writes:

^15aDo not love the world ¹⁶for everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 Jn. 2:15a, 16-17

May we live a consistent Christian life, by exercising spiritual insight. May God grant us the ability to distinguish between right and wrong; the ability to distinguish between truth and error; the ability to distinguish between the superficial and the profound; the ability to distinguish between the holy and the unclean. What are the means by which you gain and grow in spiritual insight?

One such means is Prayer:

⁹Give your servant a discerning heart so that I may distinguish between good and evil. 1 Kgs. 3:9

this was Solomon’s prayer the Apostle Paul’s prayer for the church should also be our own prayer:

⁹I pray that your love [for Christ] may abound more and more in knowledge and all insight, ¹⁰so that you may discern the things that are worthy, in order that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ— ¹¹being filled with the fruit of righteousness, which is through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.Phil. 1:9-11

Another means is Probing into the Word of God:

⁹⁹I have more insight than all my teachers, because I meditate on your statutes. Psl. 119:99

The most important means is Practicing what we learn from God’s Word:

¹⁰⁰I have more understanding than the aged, because I obey your precepts. Psl. 119:100

¹⁴[Spiritually] mature [men] by means of use, have their senses exercised to distinguish good and evil.Heb. 5:14

May our choices, our outlook, our lifestyle, be consciously fashioned by the exercise of godly spiritual insight.

Live a Consistently Christian Life, by Exhibiting Christian Courage←⤒🔗

Hebrews 11:23 further informs us that Moses’ parents took the action they did because they did not fear the king’s edict. At the time of Moses’ birth, there was in force a royal edict that stipulated that all sons born to the Hebrews must be thrown into the Nile River: “Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, ‘Every boy that is born [to the Hebrews] you must throw into the River, but you must let every girl live’” (Ex. 1:22).

Moses’ mother took a great risk in hiding her infant son for three months. She could have lost her life and she was putting her whole family into jeopardy. Sometimes we must sacrifice our safety and security for the sake of obedience to Christ.

Moses’ mother took an apparently foolish risk. There would come a time when the child could no longer remain hidden, and then what would they do? Sometimes we must take an act of obedience and leave to God the ordering of future events. Moses’ parents, (especially his mother), lived a bold Christian life. They not only possessed spiritual insight and discernment, they also exhibited the courage to act upon that insight.

Now consider the profound impact their life of Christian courage had upon their son:

²⁴By faith, Moses, when he had grown up ²⁷forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king—and he survived, almost seeing him who is invisible. Heb. 11:24,27

When he had grown up, Moses came to exhibit the same spiritual boldness that had been characteristic of his parents: he forsook Egypt, “not fearing the wrath of the king.” Here is a reference to his flight into the wilderness of Midian, following his killing of the Egyptian taskmaster, as recorded in Exodus 2:11-15,

¹¹Now it came about in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to see his brothers and he observed their hard labors. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of Moses’ brothers. ¹²He looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no one else present, he killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand. ¹³And he went out the next day, and he saw two Hebrews fighting with each other. He said to the offender, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?” ¹⁴The man replied, “Who made you a ruler and judge over us? Do you plan to kill me like you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses became afraid and thought, “Surely, what I have done has become known.” ¹⁵When Pharaoh heard about this, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh’s presence and went to live in the land of Midian...

Note, rather than viewing his flight into Midian as an act of fear, Scripture presents it as an act of boldness. The reason for this is found in such a passage as Ecclesiastes 10:4, “If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; meekness can moderate great offenses.” The act of fleeing from a king indicates to him that you are both guilty of offense and a potential threat to lead rebellion against his rule. By refraining from fleeing, you indicate your willingness to be under his jurisdiction and that you are seeking his mercy. When one exhibits a meek spirit it makes it easier for the king to tolerate and forgive great offenses.

Like his parents before him, Moses’ courage stemmed from his faith in Christ: “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king” (Heb. 11:27). It was his relationship with Christ that enabled him to display godly courage—and it was his commitment to Christ that caused him to display such courage. Displaying a godly courage that stemmed from his faith in Christ, “he survived.” God upheld him, provided for him, and did not let him perish. Indeed, his relationship with God actually became deeper, more personal and more real; this seems to be expressed by the statement, “he survived, almost seeing him who is invisible.”

May we live a consistently Christian life, by exhibiting Christian courage. May God not only grant us the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, but the courage to do right; not only the ability to distinguish between truth and error, but the courage to live the truth; not only the ability to distinguish between the superficial and the profound, but the courage to embrace the profound; not only the ability to distinguish between the holy and the unclean, but the courage to choose the holy.

What are the means by which we gain and grow in spiritual courage?

One means is Reliance upon Christ to supply the strength needed to exercise Christian courage:

¹³I am able to do all things by him who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13

¹You then, my son, be strong with the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. 2:1

Another means is the Recognition that Christ commands us to exercise Christian courage:

^33bIn the world you have tribulation. But have courage; I have conquered the world. Jn. 16:33b

⁹Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Josh. 1:9

²⁷Live your life only in a way that is worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that if I come and see you­ or if I remain absent what I will hear about you is that you are standing firm in one spirit, and with one soul are contending for the faith of the gospel, ^28aand that you are in no way being intimidated by those who oppose you. Phil. 1:27-28a

May our decisions, outlook, and lifestyle, be informed and fashioned by true spiritual insight—being lived out by the exercise of godly courage; and may it be a life that has a profoundly Christian impact on our sons and daughters.

Conclusion←⤒🔗

As we read the Scriptures carefully, we discover that Moses’ parents were used by God to make a profound spiritual impact on the life of their son, an impact that survived and thrived despite the powerful allurements of the world.

Like Moses’ parents, may we also have a profound spiritual impact on our sons and daughters; like Moses’ parents, may we, too, by the grace of God, live a consistently Christian life.

Discussion Questions←⤒🔗

1. What made Moses’s mother view her infant son as unique? See Ex. 2:2; note, also, Acts 7:20 and Heb. 11:23 Moses’s mother discerned that God had a special purpose for her child; as Christian parents, do we recognize the uniqueness of our covenant children, and do we consciously seek to raise them for Christ? Note Eph. 6:4.

²The woman conceived and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him for three months. Ex. 2:2

[Moses] was beautiful to [or, for] GodActs 7:20

By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child... Heb. 11:23

i.e. by faith they saw this child was unique and that God had a special purpose for him

⁴...fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; on the contrary, nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.Eph. 6:4

2. How long was Moses’s mother able to hide her son at home? See Ex. 2:2b During that period of time, was she not putting her whole family at risk (note Ex. 1:22)? As Christians, are there times when we must obey the LORD in the present moment, even though it may be dangerous, and leave the future outcome to Him? As Christians, what assurance is given to us in Romans 14:8?

²When she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him for three months. Ex. 2:2

²²Pharaoh commanded all his people, 'Every boy that is born to the Hebrews you must throw into the River, but you must let every girl live.' Ex. 1:22

⁸...if we live, we live unto the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Rom. 14:8

3. After the three months, what did Moses’s mother do with her son? See Ex. 2:3-4 Notice how the basket (lit. “an ark”) into which she placed her son corresponds to the ark Noah was commanded to build: cp. Ex. 2:3 with Gen. 6:14 What does this tell us about her confidence in the LORD based on the LORD’s previous faithfulness to His people? Do we, as Christians, entrust our children, and ourselves, to the LORD’s care? Note 1 Pet. 5:6-7.

³When she could no longer hide him, she got an “ark” made of bulrushes for him and coated it with tar and pitch. She placed the child in it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the River. ⁴His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. Ex. 2:3-4

The LORD instructed Noah: ¹⁴Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood...cover it inside and out with pitch. Gen. 6:14

⁶...humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, (so that he may exalt you at the appointed time), ⁷by casting all your cares upon him, because he cares for you. 1 Pet. 5:6-7

4. How did the LORD reward Moses’s mother for her confident obedience demonstrated in preserving his life? See Ex. 2:5-9 Have you ever seen the LORD bless you in a wonderful way as a result of an act of confident obedience to Him? Have you ever experienced a measure of that of which the Apostle Paul speaks in 1 Corinthians 2:9?

⁵Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe in the River... She saw the “ark” among the reeds and sent her servant to retrieve it. ⁶She opened it and saw the child; the baby was crying and she had compassion on him. She said, 'This is one of the Hebrews’ children.' ⁷Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, 'Shall Igo and call a nurse for you from among the Hebrew women so that she might nurse the child for you?' ⁸Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, 'Go and do so.' So the girl went and called the child’s mother. ⁹Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, 'Take this child away and nurse him for me and I will give you your wages.' Ex. 2:5-9

⁹...this is in accordance with what has been written, 'Things that the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard and that have not entered into the heart of man, these are the things God has prepared for those who love him.' 1 Cor. 2:9

5. In what ways did Moses imitate his godly parents? See Heb. 11:24-27 When did Moses exhibit the same faith as his parents? Note Heb. 11:24a. With regard to our children, are we setting the same example for them as did Moses’s parents? What does the godly father of Proverbs testify to his son? See Prov. 4:11 Can we make the same testimony to our children?

²⁴By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. ²⁵He chose to share mistreatment together with the people of God, rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. ²⁶He regarded sharing in the reproach of Christ to be of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he looked forward to the reward. ²⁷By faith, he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Heb. 11:24-27

¹¹I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in paths of uprightness. Prov. 4:11