Lesson 15: Moses, The First Forty Years (Exodus 1,2) 
 
Introduction: God told Abraham (Gen.15:13-16) that his descendents
would be afflicted for 400 years in a strange land before being brought 
into the promised land.  He told Jacob (Gen.46:3-4) that his descend-
ants would become a great nation in Egypt.  As the book of Exodus
begins, we see the fulfillment of both of these promises unfolding. In
that setting, God brings forth Moses as a deliverer of His people. 
 
 
I.Israelites in Egypt (Exodus 1) 
  
	A. The Israelites multiplied (vs. 7). 
		1. 70 people came to Egypt with Jacob (Gen.46:27;
		    Ex. 1:5). 
		2. The nation promise to be fulfilled in Egypt 
		    (Gen. 46:3-4). 
		3. 600,000 men left Egypt (Ex. 12:37). 
	B. The new Egyptian king did not know Joseph ( vs. 8). 
	C. The Egyptians were concerned about Israelites growth 
	     (vss. 9-10). 
	D. The Egyptians tried to suppress the Israelites. 
		1. The Israelites were enslaved (vss. 11-12). 
			a. built treasure cities of Pharaoh 
			b. fulfillment of promise to Abraham
			    (Gen. 15:13-16) 
		2. The Israelites' work was made more rigorous
		   (vss. 13-14). 
		3. Decree to midwives to kill Israelites' sons 
		   (vss. 15-21) 
		4. Decree to cast sons into the river (vs. 22) 
		5. The Israelites multiplied, despite Pharaoh's efforts 
		   (vs. 20). 
 
 
II. Birth of Moses (Exodus 2:1-10) 
	 
	A. Faith of Moses' parents (vss. 1-2; Heb. 11:23) 
		1. Parents, Amram and Jochabed (Ex. 6:20) 
		2. Son born and hidden three months 
	B. Son placed in a basket in the river (vss. 3-4) 
	C. Pharaoh's daughter found the child (vss. 5-10). 
		1. Jochabed became nurse to the child (vss. 7-8). 
		2. The child was named Moses (vs. 10). 
	D. Moses was raised by Pharaoh's daughter (Acts 7:21). 
	E. Moses learned all the Egyptian ways (Acts 7:22). 
 
	Principles:      
		1. There is nothing more sure than the promise of God. 
		2. We must obey God rather than men. 
		3. God's purposes will be carried out.  Men cannot 
		    frustrate God's plans. 
		4. God can even use His enemies to bring about His 
		    plans. 
 
 
 
III.    Moses And The Eyptian (Exodus 2:11-15; Acts 7:18-29;
	Heb. 11:23-26) 
 
	A. Moses (age 40; Acts 7:23) faced a choice (Heb. 11:24-26). 
		1. He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 
		2. He chose affliction with God's people over temporary
		    pleasures of sin. 
		3. He considered the reproach of Christ greater riches
		    than Egyptian treasures. 
	B. He killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew 
	    (Ex. 2:11-12). 
	C. He thought he could deliver Israel (Acts 7:25). 
		1. This self-started rebellion wasn't part of God's plan. 
		2. The Israelites did not yet understand that Moses would
		    be their deliverer. 
	D. Flight to Midian, Ex. 2:15-22 
		1. Moses married Zipporah. 
		2. Moses had a son named Gershom. 
 
	Principles: 
		1. Choosing to serve God is the most important choice
		    we can make. 
		2. Nothing is more important than serving God. 
		3. Even the reproaches of Christ are greater riches than
		    any earthly treasure. 
		4. We must be patient and wait on God. 

Questions:

 1. How did the children of Israel come to be in Egypt? 
 2. What promise to Abraham was fulfilled in Egypt (Gen. 15:13-16)? 
 3. What promise to Jacob was fulfilled in Egypt (Gen.46:3)? 
 4. Name some promises of God to us today.  Can we trust that they will 
    be fulfilled? 
 5. Were Moses' parents right in not obeying Pharaoh's decree to throw
    their child into the river? 
 6. What did God use (attitudes, actions, people, emotions, circum-
    stances, etc.) to bring forth a deliverer for the Israelites? 
 7. According to Mat. 6:33, where should seeking God's kingdom fall in 
    our order of priorities? 
 8. According to Mk. 9:43-48, what should we be willing to give up for 
    eternal life? 
 9. According to Mat. 13: 44-46, what is the value of the kingdom of 
    heaven? 
10. If the reproaches of Christ  (Heb. 11:26) are considered greater 
    riches than the treasures of Egypt, what can be said about the 
    blessings of Christ?