The Making of Moses
The Making of a Leader: Lessons from Moses and the Exodus
The opening chapters of Exodus contain some of the most dramatic and spiritually rich material in all of Scripture. Within just five chapters, we witness the transformation of a family into a nation, the birth of a leader who would change history, and the beginning of a love story between God and His people that continues to unfold even today.
When Memory Fades
"Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph."
These words mark a turning point. Joseph had saved Egypt from famine, yet within a generation, his contributions were forgotten. This reveals something profound about human nature: we have short memories, especially when it comes to the good things others have done for us. We tend to cling to grievances like boat anchors while letting blessings slip through our fingers like sand.
This is precisely why the Biblical feasts matter. This is why we need reminders, journals of God's faithfulness, and regular rhythms of remembrance. Whether it's Shabbat each week or the annual festivals that mark God's deliverance and provision, these practices combat our tendency toward spiritual amnesia. When we turn our attention to what God has done and how He has provided, it motivates us and anchors our faith in His character: sovereign, good, just, and merciful.
The Mathematics of Fear
What began as seventy family members had grown to over 650,000 men, plus women and children. The Israelites were spreading throughout Egypt, and Pharaoh became afraid. His fear was irrational yet powerful—he feared a people smaller and weaker than his own nation simply because of what they might become.
History repeats this pattern: oppressors rally their people against a minority group, and systematic oppression takes hold. But something remarkable happened. The more Pharaoh oppressed the Israelites, the more they multiplied. Forced labor didn't break them; it strengthened them. The very thing meant to destroy them became the crucible that prepared them for freedom.
Pharaoh's fear escalated to genocide, ordering the murder of Hebrew baby boys. Yet even in this darkest moment, God was at work through unlikely heroes.
The Courage of Ordinary Women
Two Egyptian midwives named Shiphrah and Puah made a choice that changed history. When commanded to murder Hebrew baby boys, they refused. They feared God more than Pharaoh, and they chose moral courage over compliance.
Their names are recorded in Scripture—not the name of the Pharaoh who oppressed millions, but the names of two women who saved lives. This tells us something about what God values.
These midwives were part of a remarkable group of five women God used to bring Moses into the world and preserve his life: two Egyptian midwives, Moses' mother, his sister, and Pharaoh's daughter. Three of these five were Gentiles, reminding us that God's story of redemption has always included people from every nation. The thread of Gentile involvement in Israel's story runs throughout Scripture, pointing toward a salvation that would ultimately be for all people.
From Family to Nation
The Israelites were undergoing a profound transformation. The word "am" appears in the text, describing Israel as a people connected by blood. Later, the word "goy" would be used—a term for nation that doesn't require blood relationship. Anyone could join themselves to Israel by committing to God and His ways.
But this transition from family to nation came with challenges. Spreading out meant losing the intimacy of community. There's something powerful about living in community—building each other up, weeping with those who weep, sharing joy, praying for one another, holding each other accountable. The scattered Israelites had become disorganized through oppression. They would need to learn to function as a cohesive people, and that transformation would take time—decades, in fact.
The Making of Moses
Moses' story began with divine intervention. Though conceived naturally, his survival as a newborn required God's protection. His very name tells a story: to Pharaoh's daughter, "Mose" meant simply "child of" in Egyptian. But in Hebrew, "Moshe" connected to being drawn out of the water—foreshadowing how he would draw an entire nation out of bondage.
Ramesses means "child born of the god Ra". Moses is simply "child".
Raised in Pharaoh's palace yet connected to his Hebrew heritage, Moses displayed the moral qualities he would need to lead. When he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, he intervened. Unlike Adam and Cain at the beginning of Genesis who refused to take responsibility, Moses took responsibility at the beginning of Exodus. He saw injustice and acted. He got in trouble with Pharaoh, but at least he took action.
Yet Moses had much to learn. After fleeing Egypt, he spent years tending his father-in-law's flock in the wilderness. It was there, while shepherding the flock, that God appeared in a flame within a bush.
The God Who Seeks Us
Here's a profound detail: God only called out to Moses after Moses stopped to look at the burning bush. Moses could have kept walking. He could have been too busy with the flock to investigate. How often do we pass by moments when God is present, seeking our attention, because we're not paying attention?
Sometimes we keep our blinders on, afraid God might call us to do something we feel unqualified for or don't want to do. Or just plain old oblivious to anything of God. Moses was chosen for his task from the moment he was born. His objections—"I'm weak, I have a speech impediment"—revealed humility, but also a bag of excuses. God knows what He's doing. In fact, it's often better that we lack confidence because then we'll rely more on the Holy Spirit.
Where Was God?
For 400 years, the Israelites suffered. Then Scripture says God "heard their sobbing and remembered His covenant." God hadn't forgotten—He was fulfilling exactly what He had told Abraham. The timing was perfect, even if it felt impossibly long to those who suffered.
God is just, righteous, and merciful because what He says is true. He does what He says He will do.
Trust Beyond Belief
God identified Himself to Moses as "I AM" and as "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." He is both the universal God and the God who makes covenants with particular people.
Believing in God is one thing. Trusting Him is a higher plane. We might believe someone exists without trusting them. After 400 years, the Israelites needed to learn to trust that God knew what He was doing. It would take a long time.
We face the same challenge. Trusting in Messiah for eternal life is a crucial first step, but it's not the last step. God wants us to take each step, trusting Him more and more. The Holy Spirit helps us, knowing we think we have limits while our capacity to trust can expand beyond all we imagine.
As Paul wrote, God "is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine, by means of His power that works in us." The exodus from Egypt was more than liberation—it was God putting things back in order, defeating evil forces, and redeeming His people.
That same redemptive work continues in our lives today.
The opening chapters of Exodus contain some of the most dramatic and spiritually rich material in all of Scripture. Within just five chapters, we witness the transformation of a family into a nation, the birth of a leader who would change history, and the beginning of a love story between God and His people that continues to unfold even today.
When Memory Fades
"Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph."
These words mark a turning point. Joseph had saved Egypt from famine, yet within a generation, his contributions were forgotten. This reveals something profound about human nature: we have short memories, especially when it comes to the good things others have done for us. We tend to cling to grievances like boat anchors while letting blessings slip through our fingers like sand.
This is precisely why the Biblical feasts matter. This is why we need reminders, journals of God's faithfulness, and regular rhythms of remembrance. Whether it's Shabbat each week or the annual festivals that mark God's deliverance and provision, these practices combat our tendency toward spiritual amnesia. When we turn our attention to what God has done and how He has provided, it motivates us and anchors our faith in His character: sovereign, good, just, and merciful.
The Mathematics of Fear
What began as seventy family members had grown to over 650,000 men, plus women and children. The Israelites were spreading throughout Egypt, and Pharaoh became afraid. His fear was irrational yet powerful—he feared a people smaller and weaker than his own nation simply because of what they might become.
History repeats this pattern: oppressors rally their people against a minority group, and systematic oppression takes hold. But something remarkable happened. The more Pharaoh oppressed the Israelites, the more they multiplied. Forced labor didn't break them; it strengthened them. The very thing meant to destroy them became the crucible that prepared them for freedom.
Pharaoh's fear escalated to genocide, ordering the murder of Hebrew baby boys. Yet even in this darkest moment, God was at work through unlikely heroes.
The Courage of Ordinary Women
Two Egyptian midwives named Shiphrah and Puah made a choice that changed history. When commanded to murder Hebrew baby boys, they refused. They feared God more than Pharaoh, and they chose moral courage over compliance.
Their names are recorded in Scripture—not the name of the Pharaoh who oppressed millions, but the names of two women who saved lives. This tells us something about what God values.
These midwives were part of a remarkable group of five women God used to bring Moses into the world and preserve his life: two Egyptian midwives, Moses' mother, his sister, and Pharaoh's daughter. Three of these five were Gentiles, reminding us that God's story of redemption has always included people from every nation. The thread of Gentile involvement in Israel's story runs throughout Scripture, pointing toward a salvation that would ultimately be for all people.
From Family to Nation
The Israelites were undergoing a profound transformation. The word "am" appears in the text, describing Israel as a people connected by blood. Later, the word "goy" would be used—a term for nation that doesn't require blood relationship. Anyone could join themselves to Israel by committing to God and His ways.
But this transition from family to nation came with challenges. Spreading out meant losing the intimacy of community. There's something powerful about living in community—building each other up, weeping with those who weep, sharing joy, praying for one another, holding each other accountable. The scattered Israelites had become disorganized through oppression. They would need to learn to function as a cohesive people, and that transformation would take time—decades, in fact.
The Making of Moses
Moses' story began with divine intervention. Though conceived naturally, his survival as a newborn required God's protection. His very name tells a story: to Pharaoh's daughter, "Mose" meant simply "child of" in Egyptian. But in Hebrew, "Moshe" connected to being drawn out of the water—foreshadowing how he would draw an entire nation out of bondage.
Ramesses means "child born of the god Ra". Moses is simply "child".
Raised in Pharaoh's palace yet connected to his Hebrew heritage, Moses displayed the moral qualities he would need to lead. When he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, he intervened. Unlike Adam and Cain at the beginning of Genesis who refused to take responsibility, Moses took responsibility at the beginning of Exodus. He saw injustice and acted. He got in trouble with Pharaoh, but at least he took action.
Yet Moses had much to learn. After fleeing Egypt, he spent years tending his father-in-law's flock in the wilderness. It was there, while shepherding the flock, that God appeared in a flame within a bush.
The God Who Seeks Us
Here's a profound detail: God only called out to Moses after Moses stopped to look at the burning bush. Moses could have kept walking. He could have been too busy with the flock to investigate. How often do we pass by moments when God is present, seeking our attention, because we're not paying attention?
Sometimes we keep our blinders on, afraid God might call us to do something we feel unqualified for or don't want to do. Or just plain old oblivious to anything of God. Moses was chosen for his task from the moment he was born. His objections—"I'm weak, I have a speech impediment"—revealed humility, but also a bag of excuses. God knows what He's doing. In fact, it's often better that we lack confidence because then we'll rely more on the Holy Spirit.
Where Was God?
For 400 years, the Israelites suffered. Then Scripture says God "heard their sobbing and remembered His covenant." God hadn't forgotten—He was fulfilling exactly what He had told Abraham. The timing was perfect, even if it felt impossibly long to those who suffered.
God is just, righteous, and merciful because what He says is true. He does what He says He will do.
Trust Beyond Belief
God identified Himself to Moses as "I AM" and as "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." He is both the universal God and the God who makes covenants with particular people.
Believing in God is one thing. Trusting Him is a higher plane. We might believe someone exists without trusting them. After 400 years, the Israelites needed to learn to trust that God knew what He was doing. It would take a long time.
We face the same challenge. Trusting in Messiah for eternal life is a crucial first step, but it's not the last step. God wants us to take each step, trusting Him more and more. The Holy Spirit helps us, knowing we think we have limits while our capacity to trust can expand beyond all we imagine.
As Paul wrote, God "is able to do far beyond all that we ask or imagine, by means of His power that works in us." The exodus from Egypt was more than liberation—it was God putting things back in order, defeating evil forces, and redeeming His people.
That same redemptive work continues in our lives today.
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