Read through the chapter a few times, and try to find a copy of the English Standard Version (ESV) if you can. Make notes, and jot down questions as you read. Look for items that you wish the writer had elaborated on, or provided at least some additional background. This is a compressed account, but we have to assume that the points that were included are the important ones, and whatever was left out wasn't as important.
After you have your own set of questions and notes, read through a commentary of two, even study Bible notes may help. Revise your questions and notes based on what you think about the comments and insights of others. Once you have a set of revised notes, go back through the chapter with the questions below.
- In verse 1, we're given almost no detail about Moses' parents, only that they are both from the Tribe of Levi. Why do you think a "genealogy" is missing? Look ahead at Exodus 6:14-25. There's the genealogy, why do you think, if the material was available, it's included so much later in the account?
- Moses' mother sees that he is "good". What do you think is different about her reaction to her child than any other Hebrew mother? What do you think the other Hebrew mothers were doing with their children? Why do you think Moses' mother is successful for 3 months when others probably weren't?
- Moses' mother takes steps to put Moses in a basket in the river, and set's her daughter to watch what happens. How much of what happens, Moses being found by the daughter of Pharaoh, do you think was planned, or intended, by Moses' family?
- The daughter of Pharaoh realizes that the baby is one of the Hebrews. Why do you think she didn't just toss him to the crocodiles? What does her reluctance to kill the boy tell you about the "national" perception of how the king is treating the Hebrews?
- Moses' sister immediately shows up to offer the services of her mother to nurse the child. Pharaoh's daughter is already showing compassion for Moses, but how likely do you think it is that she also guessed that the "nurse" was the child's real mother?
- Pharaoh's daughter gives Moses' mother "wages" to nurse her son, then relinquish him to her when he's weaned. What do you think about the irony of that? What does that teach you about God's provision for His people?
- When he is delivered to the daughter of Pharaoh, she names him Moses, and he grows up as her son. What sort of understanding of his background do you think Moses had while growing up?
- Notice that in verse 11, Moses goes out to his "brothers". It seems he is aware of his Hebrew heritage, but we're never told how. How do you think this came about? What if he was always aware of it? How do you think that would have influenced his formative years?
- Moses strikes an Egyptian who had been beating a Hebrew. Why do you think he did that? He looks around to make sure that no one was looking, and he hides the body in the "mud". So, what do you think he is up to?
- The next day, Moses intervenes in a quarrel between to Hebrews. Notice he knows which one is the wrong. How do you think Moses figured that out?
- What do you think of the "bad Hebrew" response? It seems like he is using extortion against Moses to avoid being called to task for his wrong of his fellow Hebrew, or is he?
- Moses realizes that he wasn't able to hide his murder as well as he thought. Yet, notice that he doesn't run immediately. Why do you think he stayed around after he realized that the murder was known among the Hebrews?
- The king finds out that Moses murdered, and seeks to kill him. Moses flees, and is able to get away. Why do you think he was so able to escape? Why didn't the Egyptians pursue him more diligently?
- Who is this "priest of Midian"? It seems that, in Midian, there is at least knowledge of Yahweh, even if He is not worshiped "exclusively" (see the conversation between Yahweh and Balaam in Numbers 22). Here, the priest is named "Ruel", but later, "Jethro" (Ex. 3:1). Looking at the basic information about those two names, what, if any, connection can you see?
- The daughters of Ruel show up to water their flocks at the well where Moses has sat down. "Shepherds wait for the women to draw water, then use their work to water their own flocks, and prevent the women from watering their flock. At this point, Moses not only drives off the shepherds, he waters the flock for the women. Then they leave him there, and go home. Why do you think the women left Moses at the well? What do you think Moses thought about that?
- Ruel is surprised his daughters are home "early". It seems that this process typically takes a long time. What do you think of the circumstances of this "priest" who has only daughters (that we know of), and can't get the respect of the local shepherds to have his flock watered by his daughters? What sort of situation is this guy in? What do you think of the priest's attitude toward his circumstances?
- Ruel sends his daughters after Moses, and Moses lives with them. Look at how that (verse 21) is worded in various translations. The word literally says that Moses was being polite in consenting to live there. How would you render all that into a single English word?
- Ruel gives his daughter, Zipporah, to Moses. Now, Moses is creating a life for himself in Midian. What do you think about Moses taking a non-Israelite wife for himself? What do you think God thinks about it?
- Gershom is born, and his name is related to the Hebrew word for "sojourner", or one living as a refugee, regardless of reason. We don't hear much of Zipporah nor of Gershom in the migration of the sons of Israel. Why do you think that might be? Why wouldn't Moses include his wife and son in the narrative more? Look at Exodus 18:1-4 and 27. How does this possibly influence how you understand the relationship between Moses and his wife/children?
- The king of Egypt dies, but the situation of the sons of Israel does not improve. But God seems to change how He views their plight. Consider the progression in verses 23 through 25. The groaning of the sons of Israel ascends to God, God hears, God remembers His covenant, God saw, and God knew. What does this progression reveal to you about God's character, and how He might be dealing with His children today?
No comments:
Post a Comment