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The Preparation and Call of Moses
2:1 to 4:31

The LORD’s response to Pharaoh’s murderous scheme was to raise up a man who would eventually lead the Israelites out of bondage and into freedom. That man was Moses, who is considered by many to be the greatest single individual in the entire TaNaKh, and who is the principal figure in the biblical narrative from Exodus Chapter 2 through the end of Deuteronomy.13

Moses spent his first forty years in Egypt and his second forty years taking refuge with the Midianites. Of the first forty years, the Bible just touches the highlights, chiastically paired with the second forty years, with D being the turning point. There is a parallelism, where the first letter is antithetical to the second letter.

A Marriage of Moses’ parents and his birth (2:1-4)

B Moses taken by a king’s daughter to her home (2:5-10)

C Moses rescues his Israelite brother (2:11-12)

D Moses betrayed by his fellow Hebrews (2:13-14)

C Moses rescues non-Israelite maidens (2:15-17)

B Moses taken by a priest’s daughter to her home (2:18-20)

A Moses’ marriage and birth of his son (2:21-22)

The life of Moses presents a series of striking antitheses. He was the child of a slave, and the son of a queen. He was born in a hut, and lived in a palace. He inherited poverty, and enjoyed unlimited wealth. He was the leader of armies, and the keeper of flocks. He was the mightiest of warriors, and the meekest of men. He was educated in the court of Egypt, and dwelt in the desert. He had the wisdom of Egypt, and the faith of a child. He was fitted for the city, and wandered in the wilderness. He was tempted with the pleasures of sin and endured the hardships of virtue. He was backward in speech, and talked with ADONAI. He had the rod of shepherd, and the power of the Infinite. He was a fugitive from Pharaoh, and an ambassador from heaven. He was the giver of the Torah, and the forerunner of grace. He died alone on Mount Moab (Jude 9), and appeared with Messiah in Judea (Luke 9:28-33). No man assisted at his funeral, yet God buried him.14