2024_01_17 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- Exodus 2, Acts 7:20-38, Hebrews 11:24-25
The story of Moses’ birth is truly fascinating. We read in Exodus 1 that during their time in Egypt, the Israelites became a large group. They also became a slave class, doing all the hard labor. The ruling class and citizens of Egypt had become increasingly afraid that the slaves could revolt. The powerful King of Egypt decreed that all Israelite newborn boys were to be killed. This state-sponsored infanticide became the law of the land. Looking at the situation merely from a human perspective, the future of the Hebrew people appeared hopeless. But God was not only aware of their plight, He had plans that no earthly power could interrupt.
In Exodus 2, we see how God orchestrated the deliverance of His people and it is more dramatic than a Steven Spielberg plot. Moses was born, and as a baby, he was secretly introduced to the daughter of Pharaoh. Defying the decree to kill all male babies, she protected Moses and hired his mother to care for him as an infant. Later the princess adopted Moses as her own child, and he was raised in the royal household. Amazing!
There is an interesting historical piece that goes along with this. In the 1800’s there were some scholars that promoted an opinion stating the first 5 books of the Bible were pseudo-history, and mostly myth. While these books are attributed to Moses’ authorship, these so-called experts said that Moses couldn’t have been the author because writing didn’t exist until hundreds of years later. This view gained a following and served to sow distrust in the accuracy and authority of the Bible for many who followed these teachers. Later, new information was discovered that surprised them. Archaeologists found, in multiple sites, clear evidence that writing was in existence, and flourishing during Moses’ childhood and, as a member of the royal family in Egypt, he had easy access to become skilled in it. God planned this for later generations to have an accurate record.
In our reading, we can pull back and see God’s grand plan to rescue the world in specific and deliberate details. This is a good reminder to never discount God’s awareness and power as we walk through our daily lives. No matter how hard our circumstances or the obstacles we face, He knows what He is doing, and whether we see it or not, He is working!
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor