The Birth of Moses and the Providence of God

What do you think about when things are at their worst? Do you doubt God and His goodness? At times it can be very difficult to keep the faith. However, God never promised that life would always be good and things would always be easy. We live in a world that is cursed by our own rebellion, yet we live in the midst of God’s plan to redeem. As we await the completion of that plan we experience sin, sorrow, suffering and death. Not because God is not good or powerful enough to do otherwise, but because He is just we are all sinners.

God Remembered His Covenant – SERMON AUDIO

As we approach the second chapter of the Book of Exodus, we see God’s plan being worked out in its early stages. He has made a promise to Abraham to use his family to bring about the redemption of those who would believe (See Genesis 12-15). Moses begins the history of Exodus by telling us that it is Abraham’s family that is the object it all. Everything that is done from here on out is a result of God’s promise to redeem in spite of man’s sin and rebellion against Him.

Genesis 15:13-14  Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years.  14  And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions.

The Pharaoh is set against the plan of God and persecutes Israel to the point of killing their newborn sons in order to try and limit their numbers and their power. When things are at their worst, God begins to work (See post, What is the Fear of the Lord?) Here we enter Exodus 2;

Exodus 2:1-4  And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi.  2  So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months.  3  But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank.  4  And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.

The writer to the New Testament Epistle to the Hebrews tells us that this was not done in fear of the Pharaoh’s edict and power. “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. “ (Hebrews 11:23) There are a lot of details that fill in this story when we begin to read and understand it.

• Pharaoh’s Daughter, probably the sister of the reigning Pharaoh seemingly had no son of her own. Her firstborn son had the right to inherit the throne.
• Moses was a “beautiful child.” I believe that this means he was really a good looking kid.
• Amram and Jochebed (Moses’ parents) acted in faith as they put their child in the Nile near where she would be bathing.

God brought all the right things together at the right time, yet this was just the beginning of God working His plan. It would be another 40 years before Moses felt compelled to deliver his brothers (Exodus 2:11-15). Then he would spend another 40 years learning to be a husband, a father and a shepherd in the land of Midian. God was in no hurry, but His timing was perfect. After all of this we read toward the end of the chapter;

Exodus 2:23-25  Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage.  24  So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.  25  And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.

It was never that God had forgotten that covenant. He was preparing His deliverer all the time. The people of Israel were not ready to be delivered yet as we see in Exodus 2:14 as they react to Moses’ first attempt to save them. God had governed all things as the appointed day was approaching. We read that “God remembered His covenant…” because that was the basis of His actions and they became evident at that time. Now God is ready to move on their behalf and He will do it in a might way. This begins to take shape in the next chapter.

God not only governs those specific events like the birth and ministry of Moses. Romans 8:28 tells us,  “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” God governs all things for His good purposes. His goal was not just to redeem the people of Israel, but though them to bring the Messiah, Jesus Christ into the world so that He could redeem all who would follow Him by faith. Just like Amram and Jochebed acted on faith when things seemed hopeless, we cannot assess God’s goodness of faithfulness by our circumstances all of the time. But as we know that He is faithful, we will endure those difficult times looking to His final redemption at the end of the age. He has proved His power in overtaking the most powerful earthly king as His people never lifted more than a staff. He is faithful. He can do what He has promised. The dark times are often the times that faith is the most important.

There is a lot more in the sermon. I encourage you to listen to the audio by clicking on the link below!

God Remembered His Covenant – SERMON AUDIO
In Christ!
Kevin