- He lived because of the bravery of the midwives, Shifrah and Puah, who saved all children born, and his own mother Yocheved who protected him
- He was taken in by Pharaoh's daughter and raised as her own
- He killed an Egyptian. People found out and he ran away
- He was kind to the priest of Midian's daughters and allowed to marry one of them, Zipporah
(23) the king of Egypt died. The Israelites were groaning in bondage and cried out; and God heard. (24) God heard their moaning, and God remembered God's covenant. (25) God looked upon the Israelites, and God took notice of them.
וידע א־להים, “G-d knew.” the expression וירא אלהים, refers to God seeing what the Egyptians were doing to the people publicly; the expression וידע אלהים, refers to God seeing what they were doing to the Israelites where no one saw it. understand this verse, i.e. the first expression refers to the Egyptians making it almost impossible for the Israelites to maintain marital relations. The second expression tells the reader that although due to the intimate and private nature of having marital relations there were no witnesses to these sufferings, God goes on record that God is a living witness. Nothing can be concealed from God.
God: Moses, I've seen how horrible it is in Egypt. I'm going to free them from their suffering. Well you will do it for me and bring them to the land flowing with milk and honey.
Moses says: "But who am I to do this?"
God: "I'll be with you and you'll show them these signs I show you."
Moses: "Who will I say sent me?"
God: "Me. Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh. the God of your fathers. God of Abraham, God of Issac, God of Jacob. Go tell all the elders of Israel that I've seen their suffering and I will take them out of Egypt into a land flowing with milk and honey. They'll listen."
(18) They will listen to you; then you shall go with the elders of Israel to the king of Egypt and you shall say to him, ‘Adonai came to us. Now let us go a distance of three days into the wilderness to sacrifice to Adonai our God.’ (19) Yet I know that the king of Egypt will let you go only because of a greater might. (20) So I will stretch out My hand and smite Egypt with various wonders which I will work upon them; after that he shall let you go. (21) And I will dispose the Egyptians favorably toward this people, so that when you go, you will not go away empty-handed.
This is the first time God tells Moses what to say to Pharaoh.
- What is important here?
- What do we notice? What is Moses told to do?
- What seems strange?
AND NOT BY MY STRONG HAND...all this to show that if I don't make known my strong hand, [Pharaoh] won't let them God. These are Rashi's words and I agree....Only after I send my hand with all the wonders which I will soon do, with my strong hand and outstretched arm, with the great visions and signs and symbols, only afterwards will Pharaoh let you go, for everything will come at him at once and he will let you go.
Each of these commentators elevate our understanding of what God is asking Moses to do. How?
Moses: "This won't work for so many reasons"
God: "Trust me, I'm God. You'll perform wonders: rod into a snake, hand into tzara'at, water to blood."
Moses: "But I can't talk well."
God: "Fine, take Aaron"
(21) And Adonai said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the marvels that I have put within your power. I, however, will stiffen his heart so that he will not let the people go. (22) Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says Adonai: Israel is My first-born son. (23) I have said to you, “Let My son go, that he may worship Me,” yet you refuse to let him go. Now I will slay your first-born son.’”
This is the second time God tells Moses what to do.
- What is different this time?
- What is the same?
- What do we learn about how God will interfere?
(1) Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says Adonai, the God of Israel: Let My people go to celebrate a festival for Me in the wilderness.” (2) But Pharaoh said, “Who is Adonai that I should heed God and let Israel go? I do not know Adonai, nor will I let Israel go.” (3) They answered, “The God of the Hebrews has manifested to us. Let us go, we pray, a distance of three days into the wilderness to sacrifice to Adonai our God, lest God strike us with pestilence or sword.” (4) But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you distract the people from their tasks? Get to your labors!” (5) And Pharaoh continued, “The people of the land are already so numerous, and you would have them cease from their labors!”
What then is the result of what Moses and Aaron eventually end up doing? What do we learn about God's desires here?