The Call of Moses

This week we’ll continue to walk through the highlights of the Old Testament with the story of the call of Moses. It is as dramatic a beginning as the rest of his life will be.

The Book of Exodus begins about 400 years after the conclusion of Genesis: the people of God in Egypt by permission of Pharaoh—a permission which was secured by Joseph himself.

After 400 years, however, things have changed a bit. On the one hand, Jacob's children and their descendants have, over this time, been“exceedingly fruitful”: an entire nation has grown out of this one family. On the other hand, the story of Joseph and his wisdom saving Egypt from famine has waned in significance: “A new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.” (1:8). 

The sheer number of Israelites began to concern the Egyptian king, and so he enslaved them. Still their numbers grew. Eventually, the king issued the order to kill every newborn boy by throwing them into the Nile. 

Moses was one of those boys—though he was placed in the Nile in a basket—and was, miraculously, found by Pharaoh’s daughter. He was then raised in Pharaoh’s court as a prince. After murdering an abusive Egyptian slave-driver, and fleeing Egypt to escape punishment, Moses was confronted by God and called into the prophetic ministry that will eventually form the very foundation of the life of the people of God.

Scripture to consider:

• Exodus 1-3

  
  

Question for your kids

• I wonder: was there anything special about Moses that God would choose him for this task? (Hint: Nope. God loves to work through the weak and unprepared)

• I wonder: how would it make you feel to know that God was with you? Can we know that God is with us? (Hint: yes! God is with us now by his Holy Spirit who lives in us!)

Peace,

Danny+