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Genesis 49:29-Exodus 3:22
We are in the World Stream today and will compete the book of Genesis and start the book of Exodus. We are reading from the World English Bible this week.
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Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis
Dear Lord Jesus, seasons come and go as the reading today encompasses a 400 year period. Let us take this calling of Moses very seriously for you call us to lead enslaved people into freedom. You’ve told us to receive nations into your Kingdom. We are to live for our Deliverer too; Assure us also as you assured Moses – that you will be with us. Amen.
Jacob’s departure is upon us. I like his determination to not be buried in Egypt. They were a culture obsessed with the process and their definition of the afterlife. For Egyptian royalty, death was what one’s entire life was spent preparing for. It’s one of the matters Jesus is hinting about when he declared he was the God of the Living / not the Dead. Jacob wants to be sure that he is buried back on the other side of the Nile with his father Isaac and his grandfather Abraham near Hebron. He finished his speech and … he was gone.
Gen. 50 – the funeral for Jacob is ornate, and as soon as this is overwith, Joseph shows his good ethics yet again to assure his brothers that they were family and not enemies. Jump to the end of Joseph’s life and what does he insist? that his bones be carried out of Egypt when the Israelites leave. Fascinating reference to an Exodus that would take place 400 years later! Joseph soon breathes his last after being in Egypt 93 years. Interesting “book-ends” in Genesis: the warning in Genesis 2, “do not eat this fruit or you will surely die.” At the end of the book, Jacob dies – and Joseph dies just a chapter later. Genesis seems to end with “I told you that this is where your disobedience would take you.” At any rate the 4,000 year march from leaving Eden to the Calvary event is well on it’s way. Chronologically, we are 2200 years into it with 1800 years to go.
Exodus 1 – As time goes by, the Israelites multiply being in very fertile ground in the Nile delta region. The new Pharaoh was the one that took command following the Hyksos Invasion of 1700 B.C. The Hyksos were in charge of north Egypt until Egypt pulled together again after it’s own civil wars and were able to defeat the Hyksos after 108 years of them being there. Egypt re established and the “New Kingdon” was upon them. Thus there was a new Pharaoh who “knew nothing about Joseph” as it reads in Ex.1:8.
The Israelites are enslaved to keep them under wraps. The boys are sentenced to die at birth to keep numbers down and to keep a rebellion at bay.
2 – This is the chaos that Moses is born into. Moses is the most important figure of the Ancient World. From Eden to Jesus, no more important man than Moses comes along. He is hid from Pharaoh and his murderous edict – and then found by Pharaoh’s daughter! He could not have come closer to death! [We see the same developments around Jesus’ birth in Matthew when Herod tries to kill the threat to his rule.] Note that from vv. 1:10-12 –> 40 years went by; Moses spent 40 years in Pharaoh’s Palace – learning the ways of the Egyptians, [Ex. 2:5-11a] 40 years in the desert – learning that place and learning to be with God. during his 40 years in the desert [Ex. 2:11-22]. He starts a family there and come that time, the slavery back in Egypt is becoming unbearable under a different Pharaoh.
3 – God calls Moses to lead the delivery of His people from bondage. It’s one of the most vital and miraculous passages in the Bible. So much hinges upon this incident. Moses is in near disbelief at what is happening. He gives four huge reasons that prove his personal inadequacy to lead this endeavor. God flushes all Moses excuses. God tells him that they will come and worship on “this mountain” – OUT of Egypt. God will take them to a good and rich land, He will show them miracles and there will be provision, they will leave Egypt with great riches.
