A Daring Rescue: Moses
Within the narrative of the Pentateuch, we encounter a powerful account of a child ordained by God to deliver his people. The new king of Egypt is paranoid about the growing Hebrew population and enacts deadly measures of infanticide to control their growth. The king ordered the killing of Hebrew baby boys and the drowning of any survivors. Within this hostile environment, Moses, a Hebrew child, is born...destined to deliver God's people.
Through his mother's ingenuity and his sister's courage, the Hebrew baby Moses survived the plot to annihilate his life. At three months old, his mother placed him in a basket made waterproof with tar and pitch and set it in the reeds on the bank of the River Nile. Sister Miriam watched as Pharaoh's daughter saw the basket and rescued the child. Miriam's suggestion to the princess that one of the Hebrew women nurse the baby was well received. Moses' mother was his nanny; she nursed the baby at home. When he was old enough, she returned the child to the princess who adopted him and named him Moses because "I lifted him out of the water" (Exodus 2:10). This immense bravery and fortitude set the stage for Moses' remarkable journey.
As the account unfolds, we witness the remarkable twists of fate that lead to Moses being raised by his biological family in his formative years. This early upbringing plays a pivotal role in shaping his character and values, instilling a deep-rooted sense of his true identity as a Hebrew. Through the dedication and care of his mother and sister, Moses learns essential lessons and gains a solid foundation that will serve him well in the tumultuous events ahead.
This unexpected turn of events saves Moses from a grim fate and elevates him to a position of privilege and influence within the Egyptian royal household. Despite this newfound status, Moses never forgets his roots. His connection to his Hebrew heritage remains a defining aspect of his life's journey. The convergence of these intricate plotlines underscores themes of identity, destiny, and the complex interplay between the urgency to rescue the unborn and the larger narrative of the Pentateuch.
Application: What terror must these families have endured as their sons were brutally murdered? The account of Moses is evidence that the effort to control the growth of an unwanted population through infanticide and abortion is not new. Today, over 20 million African American babies have been murdered due to this insidious method of population control. Unsuspecting mothers-to-be adopt the rhetoric that abortion is their "right" and are unwittingly complicit in the plan to limit parenthood.
- Moses' destiny to be used by God to deliver the Israelites from slavery was ordained in the womb.
- State and federal laws regulating abortion are against the laws of God.
- The church must speak life to the people of God, who may be blind to the enemy's schemes to kill, steal, and destroy.
- The brutality of abortion is never politically correct.
Conclusion: Protecting the unborn requires wisdom and determination, which Moses' mother and sister demonstrated. Their intervention on his behalf resulted in the liberation of God's people from slavery. Are we actively supporting efforts to protect the innocent?
Children's Sermon: Moses Has a New Home
Invite children aged 5 to 11 to the front of the church and ask them to sit in a semicircle. The pastor-teacher, with an open Bible and a puppet, sits at the opening of the semicircle and introduces the puppet, naming it to the children. After the puppet welcomes the children, they introduce themselves by saying their names. Next, ask the lesson questions; there are no wrong answers. Conclude this 10-minute children's sermon by giving children a craft project. They may return to their seats or go to a separate area where teens and adults assist in completing the project. Children present or display their crafts at the end of the service.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of a 7- to 10-minute lesson on Moses in Exodus 2:1–10, children will identify themselves in the photo taken last week (or this) and thank God for their family by drawing a picture of their home or a room in their home.
MATERIALS: Display children's pictures on a poster board or project them onto a screen.
HOOK: Ask children to find their photo. Tell the children that they are special to God.
BOOK: Moses was special because he was adopted. What does it mean to be adopted? Moses lived with a family that helped his parents. They took Moses into their home, loving and caring for him. Moses grew up in a new home.
LOOK: Do you enjoy traveling to visit family and friends? How might children feel when they go to live in a new home?
TOOK: Some children live with their aunts and uncles, their grandparents, or caregivers—people who keep them safe. We thank God for the special moms and dads who are helping children grow into healthy and happy individuals. (Pastor-teacher, thank God for the special people God sends to love and care for children who need a new home.) Invite children to draw a picture of their home or a room in their home.
SONG/VIDEO: "May The Lord Bless You" (A Blessing and Charge) by Imagining Worship With Kids. Sung by Imago Dei Children's Choir, TEXT: Numbers 6:24-26, MUSIC: Edwin M. Willmington, ©2024 Shepherd’s Staff Worship Music://youtu.be/zjIXqm2Yzoc?si=bxoX-sZX3cj8Dx2Z
COOK: Who likes to build or make things? This is what we'll do next week!
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