The Birth and Rescue of Moses

Context & Setting

• Main Biblical Reference: Exodus 1:8–2:10
• Historical Period: Israel’s oppression in Egypt, before the exodus
• Geographic Location: Egypt; the Nile River
• Key Characters: Pharaoh, Moses, Moses’ mother (Jochebed), Moses’ sister (Miriam), Pharaoh’s daughter

The Narrative

The Beginning:
A new Pharaoh, fearful of Israel’s growing numbers, oppresses the Hebrews with forced labor. When harsh treatment does not stop their growth, he commands that Hebrew baby boys be killed, escalating the threat to Israel’s future.

The Middle:
A Levite woman gives birth to a son and hides him for three months. When she can no longer conceal him, she places him in a papyrus basket sealed with bitumen and pitch and sets it among the reeds along the Nile. His sister watches from a distance, and Pharaoh’s daughter discovers the child, recognizes him as a Hebrew baby, and is moved to compassion.

The End:
At the sister’s suggestion, the child’s own mother is hired to nurse him, preserving his life within Pharaoh’s household. When the boy grows older, Pharaoh’s daughter adopts him and names him Moses, because she drew him out of the water. Moses is thus spared during a time of state-sponsored violence and positioned for the role he will later play in Israel’s deliverance.

Theological Meaning

This account shows God preserving the covenant people even under oppressive powers and protecting the one through whom He will later act to redeem Israel. God’s providence is evident through ordinary human choices—courage, compassion, and wisdom—without diminishing His sovereign purpose. The rescue of Moses anticipates the larger pattern of deliverance in Exodus: God hears the afflicted and raises up a mediator to bring His people out of bondage.

Historical & Cultural Insight

The “basket” (Hebrew tēvāh) is coated with waterproofing materials (“bitumen and pitch”), a practical technique known in the ancient Near East for sealing reed or wooden vessels. This same rare Hebrew word is also used for Noah’s ark (Genesis 6–9), linking Moses’ rescue to a broader biblical theme of salvation through judgment and danger.

Key Memory Verse

“When she saw him, she took pity on him and said, ‘This is one of the Hebrews’ children.’” — Exodus 2:6