Jan 18,2010 Exodus 2-5:9

You might be tempted to just watch "The Ten Commandments" and believe Hollywood's version of the story of Moses. They sort of took the whole book of Exodus and turned it into a movie. I must admit that I do tend to see Charlton Heston in my mind'e eye whenever I see the name Moses. But the story is different. Still, I like the green smoke representing the angel of death in the passover scene.

Chapter two begins with the history of Moses birth and how he became the son of the daughter of Pharaoh. Miriam, his fast thinking sister offered to find a Hebrew woman who could nurse him for her. Once he was weaned he lived with the daughter of Pharaoh (in the movie it's Pharaoh's sister). Moses killed an Egyptian for beating a Hebrew and buried him in the sand. Next thing he knew, the Hebrews knew all about it and when Pharaoh found out he tried to kill Moses. So Moses ran away to Midian. Waaaay different than the movie.

I notice that the scene at the well seems to accurately describe the account in the bible. How Moses rescued the girls trying to water their flocks. The man was so grateful he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah as a wife and she gave Moses a son.

During this time the Israelites cried to God for deliverance from their slavery and God saw them and was concerned about them.

While Moses was tending the flocks he saw a bush that looked as though it was burning (it was an angel of the Lord) and decided to check it out. Then he had a talk with God. Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. God told him that he had seen the oppression of the Israelites and heard their cries for help. He instructed Moses who to talk to and what to say. God said that Pharaoh wouldn't let the people go unless a mighty hand compelled him, so God said he would be the mighty hand to compel Pharaoh. God even promised Moses that the children of Israel would not leave Egypt empty handed, that they would plunder the Egyptians.

Moses was worried that they wouldn't believe him, so God turned the staff he was holding into a snake and turned it back. He turned Moses hand leperous and then restored it. Then Moses was worried that he wasn't eloquent. So God gave him his brother Aaron to be his speech-giver. God said He would teach them both what to do and say. And that he would have the staff for miracles.

He took his family and went back to Egypt. On the way Moses got sick and almost died. Zipporah, believing God was angry because she didn't circumsize one of her sons, circumsized the son and threw the foreskin on Moses' feet and said he was a bridegroom of blood to her. I don't have any personal experience with this manner or method of healing, but it worked because Moses got better.

Aaron went out to meet Moses who told him everything God had said. They spoke to the Elders of the Israelites. He also performed the signs and they believed. Once they understood that the Lord had heard them and was concerned about them they bowed down and worshiped.

So Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh - this part is very like the movie right down to making them gather their own straw to make bricks.

Tomorrow we read Exodus 5:10-8:15