No excuse...

...to be this far behind.

But here’s what we’ve been reading and discussing in the past month:

Miketz “At the End”
Gen. 41:1-47-27

Vahechi “And he lived”
Gen. 47.28-50:26

Shemot “Names”
Exodus 1:1-6:1

Ve’era “And I appeared”
Exodus 6:2-9:35

The story sure flies by 400 years of history from Joseph to Moses. It’s been so long that the new Pharaoh doesn’t remember Joseph...the man who saved the country. It’s like not remembering Abraham Lincoln or Winston Churchill. But in the meantime, the Hebrews remain in Egypt. They are fruitful and multiplying. But sad days are ahead.

But God is in charge of history. He is working it out to raise up a redeemer. Moses’ very survival is a miracle. The Pharaoh had ordered that all baby boys be killed. But there is something about Moses that his parents find tov “good” (perhaps this is the tov that God saw when he made the world). Because of their faithfulness, the faithfulness of Miriam, and the actions of the princess, Moses is spared. But his life of comfort quickly changes.


This passage seems odd to me:
“  23 During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. 24 God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. 25 So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.” Exodus 2

They’ve been suffering for a long time, and we know nothing about the previous generations. But God is at work again. Did he forget them in the time being? Surely not. His timing is perfect (if only I could really embrace this truth in my life). And the story is long and amazing. He reveals his covenantal name with Moses, and he proceeds to tell the Egyptians and their gods who’s boss.

The parallels to Christ are numerous. I should pull out my notes and write them down. But I’ll have to do that later.

Shalom