LESSON 1 *June 28–July 4
Oppression: The Background and the Birth of Moses
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Exod. 1:1–22; Gen. 37:26–28; Gen. 39:2, 21; Acts 7:6; Gal. 3:16, 17; Exod. 2:1–25.
Memory Text: “The children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them” (Exodus 2:23–25, NKJV).
The book of Exodus resonates with accounts of the oppressed, the marginalized, the persecuted, the exploited, and the degraded. Thus, people today who feel abandoned, forgotten, and enslaved can find hope, because the same God who saved the Hebrews can save them as well.
The book of Exodus speaks to the existential battles of life and to the injustices and trials that are part of this life. Everyone can be encouraged by the stories of God’s interventions in favor of His suffering people. God hears the cry of the oppressed, sees their struggles, notes their tears, and, in their agony, comes to help.
God takes the initiative to deliver those who trust in Him. We need simply to accept, by faith, what He offers us. This is why the book of Exodus should be studied, for it points to what Jesus has done for us all. It is a book about redemption, deliverance, and final salvation—all of which are ours, by faith, in Christ Jesus and what He has secured for us.
In the midst of the turmoil and darkness, if our eyes are fixed on God, we can recognize His presence, care, and help as He guides us to the eternal Promised Land.
* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 5.
EGW Notes — SATURDAY ↓
Sabbath Afternoon, June 28
Lesson 1 - Oppression: The Background and the Birth of Moses
The Lord does not leave his wounded and bruised sheep to the power of Satan to be torn to pieces. He is ever strengthening his own in their weakness. He delivers those who are tried and tempted from the power of Satan. The Lord never forsakes the soul that puts his trust in him. Those who claim to be the sons and daughters of God must trust always in Jesus. To do otherwise is to disown the fact that he loves us.—“Doubt Not God’s Pardoning Love,”
Signs of the Times, January 3, 1895, par. 3.
Those persons who refuse to move forward until they see every step plainly marked out before them, will never accomplish much; but every man who shows his faith and trust in God by willingly submitting himself to Him, enduring the divine discipline imposed, will become a successful workman for the Master of the vineyard. In their efforts to qualify themselves to be colaborers with God, men frequently place themselves in such positions as will completely disqualify them for the molding and fashioning which the Lord desires to give them. Thus they are not found bearing, as did Moses, the divine similitude. By submitting to God’s discipline, Moses became a sanctified channel through which the Lord could work. He did not hesitate to change his way for the Lord’s way, even though it did lead in strange paths, in untried ways. He did not permit himself to make use of his education by showing the unreasonableness of God’s commands, and the impossibility of obeying them. No; he placed a very low estimate upon his own qualifications to complete successfully the great work which the Lord had given him. When he started on his commission to deliver the people of God from their bondage, to all human appearances it was a most hopeless undertaking; but he confided in Him with whom all things are
possible.—Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 344.
God desires His people to prepare for the soon-coming crisis. Prepared or unprepared, they must all meet it; and those only who have brought their lives into conformity to the divine standard, will stand firm at that time of test and trial. When secular rulers unite with ministers of religion to dictate in matters of conscience, then it will be seen who really fear and serve God. When the darkness is deepest, the light of a godlike character will shine the brightest. When every other trust fails, then it will be seen who have an abiding trust in Jehovah. And while the enemies of truth are on every side, watching the Lord’s servants for evil, God will watch over them for good. He will be to them as the shadow of a great rock in a weary
land.—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 431.
SUNDAY June 29
God’s People in Egypt
The book of Exodus is called in Hebrew shemot, literally “names” in English, according to the opening words of that ancient document. “And these are the names” is how it begins. The names of the patriarch Jacob’s family are enumerated right at the start.
Read Exodus 1:1–7. What crucial truth is found here?
* Your notes will not be saved!
The book of Exodus begins with a reminder of God’s blessing. When the patriarch Jacob and his family settled in Egypt, they were only 70 people (Gen. 46:27, Exod. 1:5); but the Israelites “were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them” (Exod. 1:7, NKJV). By the time of the Exodus, however, they counted “about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children” (Exod. 12:37, NKJV).
Read Exodus 1:8–11. What was the situation of the Israelites at the time of the Exodus?
* Your notes will not be saved!
The biblical text paints the story of the children of Israel in Egypt in dark colors. The book of Exodus begins with their enslavement by Egyptian taskmasters and the oppressive labor that they imposed upon the Hebrews. The book of Exodus ends, however, with God’s peaceful and comforting presence in the tabernacle, at the center of the Israelite camp (see Exodus 40). In between these two opposite poles, God’s triumph is described. By the Lord’s liberating His people from slavery, by His opening the Red Sea, and by His defeating the strongest army of that time, God’s spectacular victory over the forces of evil is revealed.
The story paradoxically stresses that the more the oppressors “afflicted them [the Israelites], the more they multiplied and grew” (Exod. 1:12, NKJV). That is, no matter the human machinations, God is still sovereign and will save His people, even if circumstances appear hopeless, at least from a human perspective.
A new king arose who knew not Joseph. What does this account tell us about how we should never take circumstances, especially good ones, for granted?
EGW Notes — SUNDAY ↓
Sunday, June 29
God’s People in Egypt
The purpose which God seeks to accomplish through His people today is the same that He desired to accomplish through Israel when He brought them forth out of Egypt. By beholding the goodness, the mercy, the justice, and the love of God revealed in the church, the world is to have a representation of His character. And when the law of God is thus exemplified in the life, even the world will recognize the superiority of those who love and fear and serve God above every other people on the earth. The Lord has His eye upon every one of His people; He has His plans concerning each. It is His purpose that those who practice His holy precepts shall be a distinguished people. To the people of God today as well as to ancient Israel belong the words written by Moses through the Spirit of Inspiration: “Thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” Deuteronomy
7:6.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 12.
When he saw that his end was near, he summoned his kinsmen about him. Honored as he had been in the land of the Pharaohs, Egypt was to him but the place of his exile; his last act was to signify that his lot was cast with Israel. His last words were, “God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which He sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” And he took a solemn oath of the children of Israel that they would carry up his bones with them to the land of Canaan. “So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.” And through the centuries of toil which followed, the coffin, a reminder of the dying words of Joseph, testified to Israel that they were only sojourners in Egypt, and bade them keep their hopes fixed upon the Land of Promise, for the time of deliverance would surely
come.—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 240.
The descendants of Abraham, Jacob and his posterity, were brought down to Egypt that in the midst of that great and wicked nation they might reveal the principles of God’s kingdom. The integrity of Joseph and his wonderful work in preserving the lives of the whole Egyptian people were a representation of the life of Christ. Moses and many others were witnesses for God.
In bringing forth Israel from Egypt, the Lord again manifested His power and His mercy. His wonderful works in their deliverance from bondage and His dealings with them in their travels through the wilderness were not for their benefit alone. These were to be as an object lesson to the surrounding nations. The Lord revealed Himself as a God above all human authority and
greatness.—Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 286.
MONDAY June 30
The Historical Background
When Jacob’s family arrived in Egypt after experiencing famine
in Canaan (Genesis 46), the Egyptian king was friendly toward the
Hebrews because of Joseph and all that he had done for the Egyptians.
“And Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘See, I have set you over all the land
of Egypt.’ Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on
Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a
gold chain around his neck. And he had him ride in the second chariot
which he had; and they cried out before him, ‘Bow the knee!’ So he set
him over all the land of Egypt” (Gen. 41:41–43, NKJV).
What was the key to Joseph’s amazing success in Egypt after such a
rough start? (Read Gen. 37:26–28 and Gen. 39:2, 21.)
The most plausible historical background to the Joseph story is the
following: the new ruler, in Exodus 1:8 (ESV), “who did not
know Joseph,” is Ahmose (1580–1546 bc). Next came Amenhotep
I (1553–1532 bc), the ruler who feared the Israelites
and oppressed them. Later Thutmose I (1532–1514 bc) issued the
death decree for all the Hebrew male children. His daughter
Hatshepsut (1504–1482 bc) was the princess who adopted Moses to
be her son. Pharaoh Thutmose III (1504–1450 bc), who was for
some time coregent with Hatshepsut, was the pharaoh of the Exodus.
The Exodus occurred, according to the best calculations, in March
1450 bc (see William H. Shea, “Exodus, Date of the,” The
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, edited by Geoffrey W.
Bromiley et al., vol. 2 [Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans,
1982], pp. 230–238). To understand the time of the Exodus, study
the following biblical texts: Gen. 15:13–16; Exod. 12:40, 41; Judg.
11:26; and 1 Kings 6:1 (see also Acts 7:6; Gal. 3:16, 17).
The first chapter of Exodus covers a long period—from the time of
Joseph, when his father, Jacob, with the entire family entered
Egypt, to Pharaoh’s death decree. Though some debate exists over
the exact number of years, what matters is that, even with His people
enslaved in a foreign land, the Lord did not forget them.
That is, even though many details about the Hebrews in Egypt at
that time remain hidden, at least for now (see 1 Cor. 13:12), the
revelation of God’s character still shines through the pages of this
book, as it does all through Scripture. We can know that no matter how
bad things seem, God is always there, and we can trust Him in
whatever bad situation we find ourselves.
EGW Notes — MONDAY ↓
Monday, June 30
The Historical Background
This new king of Egypt, learned that the children of Israel were of great service to the kingdom. Many of them were able and understanding workmen, and he was not willing to lose their labor. This new king ranked the children of Israel with that class of slaves who had sold their flocks, their herds, their lands and themselves to the kingdom. “Therefore they did set over them taskmasters, to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure-cities, Pithom and Rameses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service wherein they made them serve was with rigor.” They compelled their women to work in the fields, as though they were slaves. Yet their numbers did not decrease. As the king and his rulers saw that they continually increased, they consulted together to compel them to accomplish a certain amount every day. They thought to subdue them with hard labor, and were angry because they could not decrease their numbers, and crush out their independent
spirit.—Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, p. 179.
The Israelites had already become very numerous; they “were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.” Under Joseph’s fostering care, and the favor of the king who was then ruling, they had spread rapidly over the land. But they had kept themselves a distinct race, having nothing in common with the Egyptians in customs or religion; and their increasing numbers now excited the fears of the king and his people, lest in case of war they should join themselves with the enemies of Egypt. Yet policy forbade their banishment from the country. Many of them were able and understanding workmen, and they added greatly to the wealth of the nation; the king needed such laborers for the erection of his magnificent palaces and temples. Accordingly he ranked them with the Egyptians who had sold themselves with their possessions to the kingdom. Soon taskmasters were set over them, and their slavery became
complete.—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 241.
[The Exodus] completed the history revealed to Abraham in prophetic vision centuries before: “Thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.” Genesis 15:13, 14. The four hundred years had been fulfilled. “And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.” In their departure from Egypt the Israelites bore with them a precious legacy, in the bones of Joseph, which had so long awaited the fulfillment of God’s promise, and which, during the dark years of bondage, had been a reminder of Israel’s
deliverance.—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 281.
TUESDAY July 1
The Hebrew Midwives
One cannot understand the book of Exodus without presupposing
the teachings of Genesis. The Jews moved to Egypt, and, after a time
of great prosperity and peace, they were enslaved.
But God did not abandon His people to their problems, even though
it may sometimes have seemed so. No doubt many of the Hebrew people
despaired of their plight. Yet, in the time of distress, God comes to
help with His mighty hand. Our Lord encourages His followers: “Call
upon Me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you, and you shall
glorify Me” (Ps. 50:15, NKJV).
Read Exodus 1:9–21. What key role did the faithful midwives play, and
why are they remembered in history?
No pharaoh has a name in the book of Exodus. They carry the title
of “Pharaoh” only, which means “king.” The Egyptians believed that
the pharaoh was a god on earth, the son of the god Ra (or Osiris or
Horus). Ra was considered the highest Egyptian deity, the sun god
himself.
Yet despite all his power, this “god” was not able to force the midwives
to go contrary to their convictions. In fact, in contrast to the
nameless pharaoh, the two midwives are named, Shiphrah and Puah
(Exod. 1:15); they are highly esteemed because they feared the Lord.
Pharaoh’s wicked command had no effect on them because they
respected God more than the orders of an earthly ruler (see also Acts
5:29). Thus, God blessed them with their own large families. What a
powerful testimony to faithfulness. These women, regardless of how
little they knew of theology, knew not only what was right but chose to
do what was right.
When Pharaoh saw that his plot had failed, he commanded the
Egyptians to kill all the male babies born to the Hebrews. They were
to throw them into the Nile River, probably as an offering to Hapi, the
god of the Nile, and also a god of fertility. (This is the first recorded
time that Jews are to be killed only because they are Jews.) The purpose
of the death decree was to subdue the Hebrews, to annihilate
all male descendants, and to assimilate the women into the Egyptian
nation, thus ending the threat that Pharaoh believed the Hebrews
posed to his nation.
The midwives not only knew what the right action was to take,
but they took it. What’s the obvious message here for us?
EGW Notes — TUESDAY ↓
Tuesday, July 1
The Hebrew Midwives
Because they failed to accomplish their purpose they hardened their hearts to go still further. The king commanded that the male children should be killed as soon as they were born. Satan was the mover in these matters. He knew that a deliver was to be raised up among the Hebrews to rescue them from oppression. He thought that if he could move the king to destroy the male children, the purpose of God would be defeated. The women feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. The women dare not murder the Hebrew children, and because they obeyed not the command of the king, the Lord prospered them. As the king of Egypt was informed that his command had not been obeyed he was very angry. He then made his command more urgent and extensive. He charged all his people to keep a strict watch, saying, “Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save
alive.”—Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, p. 179.
Men, women, and youth, God requires you to possess moral courage, steadiness of purpose, fortitude and perseverance, minds that cannot take the assertions of another, but which will investigate for themselves before receiving or rejecting, that will study and weigh evidence, and take it to the Lord in prayer. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Now the condition: “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” This petition for wisdom is not to be a meaningless prayer, out of mind as soon as finished. It is a prayer that expresses the strong, earnest desire of the heart, arising from a conscious lack of wisdom to determine the will of God. . . .
Every act of our lives affects others for good or evil. Our influence is tending upward or downward; it is felt, acted upon, and to a greater or less degree reproduced by others. If by our example we aid others in the development of good principles, we give them power to do good. In their turn they exert the same beneficial influence upon others, and thus hundreds and thousands are affected by our unconscious influence. If we by acts strengthen or force into activity the evil powers possessed by those around us, we share their sin, and will have to render an account for the good we might have done them and did not do, because we made not God our strength, our guide, our
counselor.—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 130.
WEDNESDAY July 2
Moses Is Born
Read Exodus 2:1–10. What role did God’s providence and protection
play in Moses’ birth story?
The historical background of Moses’ birth and life is thrilling because he
lived during the time of the famous Egyptian eighteenth dynasty. One king
during this dynasty—Thutmose III, called the “Napoleon of Egypt”—is
considered one of the most famous pharaohs of ancient Egypt.
Though under a death sentence at birth (see Exod. 1:22), Moses was
born as a “special” son (NLT; Hebrew tob, lit. “good”; Exod. 2:2). The
Hebrew term describes more than external beauty. This word is used, for
example, in characterizing God’s work during Creation week, when He
declared everything was “good,” even “very good” (Gen. 1:4, 10, 31).
As a new creation, this “good” child will, according to God’s plan,
become the adult who will lead the Hebrews out of their bondage. At
this baby’s birth, especially under such dire circumstances, who could
have envisioned his future? Nevertheless, God will fulfill His words to
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He covenanted with them that He would
give their descendants the Promised Land (Exod. 2:24, 25). And, yes,
He would use this tob infant, decades later, to do just that.
Until then, the Egyptian princess Hatshepsut adopted Moses as her
son. The name given to Moses has an Egyptian origin, meaning “son
of ” or “born of,” as reflected in the names of Ah-mose (“son of Akh”)
or Thut-mose (“son of Thoth”). His name is, thus, rendered in Hebrew
as Mosheh, namely “drawn out.” His life was miraculously spared when
he was “drawn out” of the river.
We know only a few things about his early life. After being miraculously
saved and adopted by Hatshepsut, Moses lived for his first 12
years with his original family (Exod. 2:7–9; Ellen G. White, Patriarchs
and Prophets, p. 244). Moses then received the best Egyptian education,
all in order to prepare him to be the next pharaoh of Egypt
(Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 245). How fascinating that, ultimately, so
much of this education would be useless for, or even work against, what
really mattered: the knowledge of God and of His truth.
How much are you learning that is ultimately useless for what
really matters?
EGW Notes — WEDNESDAY ↓
Wednesday, July 2
Moses Is Born
While this decree was in full force a son was born to Amram and Jochebed, devout Israelites of the tribe of Levi. The babe was “a goodly child;” and the parents, believing that the time of Israel’s release was drawing near, and that God would raise up a deliverer for His people, determined that their little one should not be sacrificed. Faith in God strengthened their hearts, “and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.” Hebrews 11:23.
The mother succeeded in concealing the child for three months. Then, finding that she could no longer keep him safely, she prepared a little ark of rushes, making it watertight by means of slime and pitch; and laying the babe therein, she placed it among the flags at the river’s brink. She dared not remain to guard it, lest the child’s life and her own should be forfeited; but his sister, Miriam, lingered near, apparently indifferent, but anxiously watching to see what would become of her little brother. And there were other watchers. The mother’s earnest prayers had committed her child to the care of God; and angels, unseen, hovered above his lowly resting place. Angels directed Pharaoh’s daughter thither. Her curiosity was excited by the little basket, and as she looked upon the beautiful child within, she read the story at a glance. The tears of the babe awakened her compassion, and her sympathies went out to the unknown mother who had resorted to this means to preserve the life of her precious little one. She determined that he should be saved; she would adopt him as her
own.—Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 242, 243.
God had heard the mother’s prayers; her faith had been rewarded. It was with deep gratitude that she entered upon her now safe and happy task. She faithfully improved her opportunity to educate her child for God. She felt confident that he had been preserved for some great work, and she knew that he must soon be given up to his royal mother, to be surrounded with influences that would tend to lead him away from God. All this rendered her more diligent and careful in his instruction than in that of her other children. She endeavored to imbue his mind with the fear of God and the love of truth and justice, and earnestly prayed that he might be preserved from every corrupting influence. She showed him the folly and sin of idolatry, and early taught him to bow down and pray to the living God, who alone could hear him and help him in every emergency.
She kept the boy as long as she could, but was obliged to give him up when he was about twelve years old. From his humble cabin home he was taken to the royal palace, to the daughter of Pharaoh, “and he became her son.” Yet even here he did not lose the impressions received in childhood. The lessons learned at his mother’s side could not be forgotten. They were a shield from the pride, the infidelity, and the vice that flourished amid the splendor of the
court.—Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 243, 244.
THURSDAY July 3
A Change of Plans
Read Exodus 2:11–25. What events quickly transpired to change the
entire direction of Moses’ life? What lessons can we learn from this
story?
What would Moses do? Would he succumb to the lure of Egypt and
to the pleasures of the court, or would he endure hardship with his
embattled people? Events soon forced a decision for him.
“When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But
Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian;
and he sat down by a well” (Exod. 2:15, NKJV).
After the killing, Moses really had no choice, at least as far as
remaining in Egypt. Thus, whatever plans there were for him to ascend
to the throne of Egypt and to become a “god,” those plans were quickly
ended. Rather than becoming a false god, Moses would serve the true
God instead. No doubt, at the time when he fled, Moses had no idea
what the future held for him.
“The whole matter [of Moses’ killing the Egyptian] was quickly
made known to the Egyptians, and, greatly exaggerated, soon reached
the ears of Pharaoh. It was represented to the king that this act meant
much; that Moses designed to lead his people against the Egyptians,
to overthrow the government, and to seat himself upon the throne; and
that there could be no security for the kingdom while he lived. It was
at once determined by the monarch that he should die; but, becoming
aware of his danger, he [Moses] made his escape and fled toward
Arabia.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 247.
Moses lived 120 years (Deut. 34:7), and his life can be divided into
three parts of 40 years each. The first 40 years were in Egypt, much of
them in the royal palace. The second 40 years he spent in Jethro’s house
in the Midian territory.
It’s the last 40 years, however, that take up the bulk of the first five
books of Moses (and this quarter), and they tell the story of Israel’s
early calling to witness to a world steeped in idolatry, revealing the
nature and character of the true God (see Deut. 4:6–8).
Was it God’s plan that Moses kill the Egyptian? If not, what does
this story teach us about how God can overrule in any situation
and use it for His own purposes? How does Romans 8:28 help us
understand this important truth?
EGW Notes — THURSDAY ↓
Thursday, July 3
A Change of Plans
Moses supposed that his education in the wisdom of Egypt had fully qualified him to lead Israel from bondage. Was he not learned in all the things necessary for a general of armies? Had he not had the greatest advantages of the best schools in the land?—Yes; he felt that he was able to deliver them. He first set about his work by trying to gain the favor of his own people by redressing their wrongs. He killed an Egyptian who was imposing upon one of his brethren. In this he manifested the spirit of him who was a murderer from the beginning, and proved himself unfit to represent the God of mercy, love, and tenderness. He made a miserable failure of his first attempt. Like many another, he then immediately lost his confidence in God, and turned his back upon his appointed work; he fled from the wrath of Pharaoh. He concluded that because of his mistake, his great sin in taking the life of the cruel Egyptian, God would not permit him to have any part in the work of delivering His people from their cruel bondage. But the Lord permitted these things that He might be able to teach him the gentleness, goodness, long-suffering, which it is necessary for every laborer for the Master to possess; for it is these characteristics that constitute the successful workman in the Lord’s
cause.—Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 342.
The lessons of Christlike meekness, lowliness of heart, reverence for sacred things, are taught nowhere effectively except in the school of Christ. Moses had been taught to expect flattery and praise because of his superior abilities; but now he was to learn a different lesson. As a shepherd of sheep, Moses was taught to care for the afflicted, to nurse the sick, to seek patiently after the straying, to bear long with the unruly, to supply with loving solicitude the wants of the young lambs and the necessities of the old and feeble. As these phases of his character were developed, he was drawn nearer to his Chief Shepherd. He became united to, submerged in, the Holy One of Israel. He believed in the great God. He held communion with the Father through humble prayer. He looked to the Highest for an education in spiritual things, and for a knowledge of his duty as a faithful shepherd. His life became so closely linked with heaven that God talked with him face to
face.—Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 343.
The rashness of Moses in slaying the Egyptian was prompted by a presumptuous spirit. Faith moves in the strength and wisdom of God, and not in the ways of men. By simple faith Moses was enabled to press through difficulties, and overcome obstacles which seemed almost insurmountable. . . . God was able to manifest His great power through Moses because of his constant faith in the power and in the loving intentions of their Deliverer. It was this implicit faith in God that made Moses what he was. According to all that the Lord commanded him, so did
he.—Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 344.
FRIDAY July 4
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Moses,” pp. 241–251,
in Patriarchs and Prophets, which will give you significant insights
into the studied portion of the biblical text for this week.
The biblical text states that “the midwives feared God, and did not
do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children
alive” (Exod. 1:17, NKJV). Ellen G. White aptly comments on the
faithfulness of the midwives and the Messianic hope: “Orders were
issued to the women whose employment gave them opportunity for
executing the command, to destroy the Hebrew male children at their
birth. Satan was the mover in this matter. He knew that a deliverer
was to be raised up among the Israelites; and by leading the king to
destroy their children he hoped to defeat the divine purpose. But the
women feared God, and dared not execute the cruel mandate. The
Lord approved their course, and prospered them.”—Patriarchs and
Prophets, p. 242.
The good news in all this is that, despite Satan’s plans, God overruled,
and He used faithful people to thwart the enemy. We do live in
the territory of our enemy, whom Jesus called “the prince” or “ruler of
this world” (Eph. 2:2, NKJV; John 14:30). Satan usurped this position
from Adam, but Jesus Christ defeated him in His life and through His
death on the cross (Matt. 4:1–11, John 19:30, Heb. 2:14). Although
Satan is still alive and active, as revealed in his attempt to kill those
children, his own execution is certain (John 12:31; John 16:11; Rev.
20:9, 10, 14). The good news is that life’s difficulties can be overcome
by God’s grace (Phil. 4:13). That grace is our only hope.
Discussion Questions:
-
Why did God allow the Hebrews to live in Egypt and be
oppressed? Why did it take so long for God to intervene on their
behalf? Remember, too, that each person suffered only as long as the
person lived. That is, the time of suffering for the nation was long, but
each person suffered only as long as that single person lived. Why is
making that distinction important in seeking to understand human
suffering in general?
-
Dwell more on the questions regarding how God was able to use
Moses’ hotheaded act of killing the Egyptian. Suppose he hadn’t
done it? Would that have meant the Hebrews would not have eventually
escaped from Egypt? Explain your reasoning.
EGW Notes — FRIDAY ↓
Friday, July 4
For Further Reading
“A Lesson From the Life of Moses,” in The Ministry of Healing, pp. 474–478;
“Influence of the Mother,” in The Adventist Home, pp. 240–243.
INSIDE STORY
No Rats for Lunch
By Andrew McChesney
Peter Siamikobo enjoyed digging for rats in a mountainous village in
Zambia. The boy and his family ate the rodents with maize-meal porridge
at mealtime. They also enjoyed eating pigs and bubble fish. Pork was always
on the table at Christmas. Bubble fish was popular for its boneless meat.
So, it came as a surprise to Peter when he learned that the Bible prohibited
his favorite meats.
He heard about unclean food for the first time when he traveled about
20 miles from his hometown to visit a brother who was working at a farm
operated by Seventh-day Adventist missionaries from the United States. He
stayed for Sabbath worship services, and the preacher spoke about the clean
and unclean animals of Leviticus 11. Peter realized that he and his family
were following a meal plan that didn’t match the Bible’s teaching.
After a while, the missionaries began to hold worship services in Peter’s
elementary school on Sabbath afternoons. Peter attended the meetings, even
though he had to walk two miles to reach the school.
His parents, however, discouraged him from going and reminded him
that he had been baptized as a baby. Father even ordered him to work on
the family farm on Saturdays. Peter didn’t know anything about Sabbath
observance, and he quickly did his work in the morning so he go to the
afternoon meeting.
In high school, Peter made new friends from Adventist families. He studied
the Bible with them and gave his heart to Jesus in baptism by immersion.
He stopped eating rats, pork, and bubble fish.
Over time, his parents grew to appreciate the seventh-day Sabbath. They
understood why he didn’t eat unclean meat. Every Sabbath that he was at
home, they encouraged him not to be late for Sabbath School.
Today, there is an Adventist church in Peter’s town. Through the Adventist
influence, many townspeople have stopped eating unclean food.
Peter is grateful that he learned as a boy about the importance of healthy
living and glorifying God with his diet. After all, 1 Corinthians 10:31 says,
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory
of God” (NKJV).
“Thank Jesus for saving me from unclean food,” said Peter, a church elder
and head of the Social Sciences Department at Rusangu Secondary School,
a Seventh-day Adventist high school, in Zambia.
Pray for the gospel to be proclaimed in Zambia and other countries in the Southern
Africa-Indian Ocean Division, the recipient of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering.
Provided by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission, which uses Sabbath School
mission offerings to spread the gospel worldwide. Read new stories daily at AdventistMission.org.
