Aug 27 – 12 Pentecost
Exodus 1:8-2:10
The Israelites Are Oppressed
Birth and Youth of Moses

Background: The book of Exodus chronicles the search for Israel’s identity. One could say that Exodus is Israel’s response to and explication for the questions “Who are you?” and “To whom do you belong?” In the first portion of Exodus the stage is set describing the subjugation of Israel in Egypt and the identification of Moses.

Theme: This passage highlights the prejudice and discrimination against the Hebrews by the “new” Egyptian king after Joseph’s death. This passage sets the stage for the conflict that will follow as Moses leads the Hebrews out of Egypt into the Promise land. This passage also continues the theme of “God’s plan and heroes are not the same as society’s” by introducing heroines who are the Hebrew midwives, Moses’ sister, and Pharaoh’s daughter.

Questions to Ponder:
* Please read Exodus 1:8-2:10
* What might have led to the new king over Egypt not knowing Joseph? Might that be another meaning to the claim that the king did not know Joseph?
* Why might Pharaoh want to “deal shrewdly” with the Israelites? Especially considering the Israelites were obviously productive in Egyptian society.
* What do you find ironic about the treatment of the Israelites by Pharaoh in verses 12-14? Specifically, how the Israelites thrived under extreme duress.
* Do you think Pharaoh’s claim was true, that Israel had become more numerous and powerful than Egypt? Why or why not?
* In verse 12 the term “spread” is, in Genesis, interpreted as “get rich”. Why would the riches held by Israel make the Egyptians dread Israel?
* In verse 13, the Egyptians were accused of making Israel work until they dropped. How does Israel address compulsory and excessive labor?
* Why is the midwives fear of God important to their identity? How is their recognition odd when compared to both the Israelites and Egyptians?
* In chapter 2, verse 2, the term “fine” was translated as “good” in the creation stories in Genesis. What is the author implying with recognizing Moses as divinely blessed?
* Who was Moses’ sister? How will she fit in the broader story of life for the Israelites?
* How is Moses’ sister and her behavior important to Moses’ story? Why might she position herself to see how Moses fares when he’s cast into the river?
* Do you think the papyrus basket is foreshadowing the future (the Exodus) or connecting to the past (the Ark)?
* How reasonable would it be that Pharaoh’s daughter recognized the child as a Hebrew child but Pharaoh could not recognize a “hated Hebrew”?
* What is the good news of this story in our context?