Background
If the book of Exodus begins with a story of oppression, it'squickly followed by a story that subverts that oppression. "Pharaohcommanded all his people" (Exodus1:22), but this chapter tells of the ways in which Pharaoh getshis come-uppance. Moses' mother (not named here) is wily andinventive in her determination to do her best for her baby boy. Hissister acts with considerable courage as she waits to see what willhappen, and it is her cheeky suggestion (verse 7) that leads to hermother being paid for nursing her own baby. And - the supreme irony- it is Pharaoh's own daughter who takes the final step in ensuringthat Pharaoh's will is thwarted. His malicious plan is defeated bythree women, two of them completely powerless and marginalised, anda baby; and so begins the chain of events that will, eventually,leave the cream of his army dead on the seashore (Exodus14:30). Mary's song, hundreds of years later, resonates withthis theme: "he has brought down the powerful from their thrones,and lifted up the lowly" (Luke1:52).
The story has many echoes with other Old Testament stories. TheHebrew word for the basket is used at only one other place,describing the Ark in the story of Noah (Genesis 6:14-15). There, the ark protectedevery species God created. Here, it protects one tiny baby. And yetthe outcomes are parallel. God's protection leads to newbeginnings, as evil is swept away by the waters and good prevails.The baby is laid in the reeds ('suph') for protection, and theHebrew word is echoed in the phrase 'yam suph', Sea of Reeds, whichis known to us as the Red Sea (Exodus13:18), where the Israelites found God's protection as thewaters parted.
This story comes to its climax with the name given to the baby,the only name recorded in the whole narrative. Moses is a complexname with roots in both Egyptian and Hebrew. The Egyptians used theword 'mose'in names to mean 'child of', while for the Israelites itmeans 'drawn out of'. Moses would grow up in both Hebrew andEgyptian worlds, and this dual heritage would shape his life andministry.
To Ponder
- How far is it just blind optimism to say that God has a bias tothe poor, or does your experience of God at work support the storytold here? Why?
- What strands have come together to contribute to your heritage?Would you say they have shaped your life or ministry? If so,how?