提要
這是一個關於上帝保守、帶領的奇妙故事。約瑟的死和摩西（利未的後裔）的出生之間相距四百年。在此期間，雅各家族以驚人的速度快速增長，人數多到令埃及人懼怕。埃及的新王不敬畏上帝，他可能是來自不同的王朝，所以不知道約瑟曾經救助埃及的功勞。他對以色列人充滿了憤怒，於是逐漸加重他們的勞役，直至以色列完全變成埃及人的奴隸。歷史告訴我們，有數千人死在這無情的壓迫下。但，上帝不允許這樣的事發生。祂是信實的，必要履行祂對列祖的應許；所以希伯來人還是繼續的增長、繁殖。撒但一直企圖要殺害上帝的子民，牠藉法老來毀滅以色列人，使他們不能成為誕生彌賽亞的大國，但上帝的旨意總是獲勝。法老命令收生婆將希伯來人的新生男嬰都殺了，收生婆卻不順從這個命令，因為她們敬畏上帝勝於害怕法老（1：17）。她們也由於順服上帝，遵守祂的旨意而得到回報（1：21）。願上帝幫助我們遵從祂的旨意，不受撒但的擺佈，並且不再看見有墮胎──殺害無辜嬰兒──的事出現。
以色列人可能以為上帝已經忘記了他們，但「上帝聽見他們的哀聲」。甚至在他們向上帝哀求以前，上帝已經計畫好在祂最完美的時刻要拯救他們。摩西生下來是個俊美的嬰孩，他敬虔的母親一定意識到上帝在摩西身上有個偉大的計畫。因著信，她將摩西藏了三個月（來11：23）。因著信，她將摩西放在一個小箱子裡，也因著相信上帝會保守摩西免受傷害而把箱子放在尼羅河上（他本來應該被丟在河裡淹死，1：22）。上帝可以使用不屬祂的人來完成祂的計畫。法老的親生女兒（最適當的人）來到（最正確的時間）河邊洗澡（最正確的地點），出於上帝的引導，她發現了蘆荻中的摩西。故事的發展真奇妙，正值法老的怒氣到達頂點，想要殺死希伯來人的男嬰時，摩西由於上帝的保佑；卻能在法老的家裡成長，被當作王子來撫養，使他有機會學習領導統御，後來終能帶領以色列人出埃及。也由於他所受的教育，使他能撰寫聖經的頭五卷書──摩西五經（徒7：22）。
摩西殺死了一個埃及人，他錯把拯救同胞的事攬在自己手裡（參徒7：25）。他這麼做是出於愛國心，但這是錯誤的動機（在出埃及記卅二章卅二節，我們會看到好的動機）；不是上帝的方法；也不是上帝要拯救他們的正確時機。不過上帝仍用這個事件把摩西帶到曠野，在上帝的學校裡學習四十年。
摩西娶了米甸（在西乃山東南方）祭司葉忒羅（意思是「上帝的朋友」）的女兒西坡拉為妻。米甸人是亞伯拉罕在撒拉死後（創25：2）與另一個妻子基土拉所生的兒子米甸的後裔。他們是敬虔的族群。葉忒羅和他的家人持守亞伯拉罕的信仰，敬拜獨一真神（出18：12）。
上帝信實的成就祂的計畫，因為祂一定會遵守諾言。以色列人在埃及為奴的事應驗了早先的預言。但上帝也早已應許要將他們從埃及領出來，這是他們的盼望。上帝藉著人來成就祂的計畫，甚至藉著像法老女兒這麼一位看來不可能的人。祂透過祂一手安排的環境成就祂的計畫。嬰孩摩西需要一個人養育他，上帝就將他敬虔的母親帶回他身邊，如此摩西便能知道自己傳承的祖產，也能學習上帝的道。上帝勝利的成就了祂的計畫，我們將看到上帝最後終於把以色列人拯救出來。
你在上帝的眼中非常寶貴，祂要藉著你的生命來成就祂的計畫。我們的心思意念都應任隨祂來引導。
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Overview
This is an amazing story about the providence of God. There is a gap of over 400 years between the death of Joseph and the birth of Moses (a descendant of Levi). During this time, the family of Jacob grew incredibly fast to become a nation that was so numerous that the Egyptians feared them. The new king was not God-fearing and he possibly was from a different dynasty, so he was unfamiliar with the goodness of Joseph in saving Egypt. Filled with anger, he gradually forced greater and greater hardships upon them until they became Egypt’s slaves. Under such ruthless oppression, history tells us that thousands of people have died. Yet, God did not want this to happen. He was faithful in keeping His promises to the Patriarchs, so the Hebrews continued to grow and multiply. Satan has always tried to kill and devour and, through Pharaoh, he tried to destroy the people of God so they would not become a great nation through whom the Messiah would come. But the will of God always prevails. When Pharaoh ordered the midwives to kill the Hebrew newborn baby boys, they did not obey him for they feared God more than Pharaoh (1:17). Because they obeyed God and did His will, they were rewarded (1:21). May God help us today to follow His will rather than Satan’s, and see the end of abortions – the killing of innocent babies.
The children of Israel may have thought God had forgotten them, but “God heard their groaning”. Even before they cried out to Him, He was planning their deliverance in His perfect timing. When Moses was born, he was a beautiful child and his godly mother must have sensed that God had a great plan for his life. By faith she hid him for three months (Hebrews 11:23). By faith she made him a little ark and, trusting that God would keep him from harm, she set him afloat on the Nile river (in which he was supposed to be thrown to drown, 1:22). God can even use the ungodly to accomplish His plan. Pharaoh’s own daughter (the right person) came (at the right time) to bathe (at the right place) and, by the leading of God, found Moses amongst the reeds. It is truly amazing that at the climax of Pharaoh’s anger and desire to kill the Hebrew boys, God, in His providence, had Moses growing up in Pharaoh’s own home and being raised as a prince where he had opportunities to learn about leadership, so he could eventually lead out the children of Israel. Then, because of his education he was to write the first five books of the Bible, the Torah (Acts 7:22).
When Moses murdered the Egyptian, he wrongly took the deliverance of his people into his own hands (cf. Acts 7:25). He did this out of the spirit of nationalism, which was the wrong motivation (later on we see positive motivation in Exodus 32:32). This was not God’s way, nor was it the right time for God to deliver them. However, the Lord used this incident to send him into the wilderness to learn for 40 years in the school of God.
Moses took a Midianite wife, Zipporah, the daughter of Reuel (meaning “friend of God”), the priest of Midian (area south-east of Sinai). The Midianites were godly descendants of Abraham through his son Midian by his wife Katurah, whom he married after Sarah died (Genesis 25:2). Reuel and his family kept the faith of Abraham and worshipped the One true God (Exodus 18:12).
The Lord accomplishes His plan faithfully, for He will always do what He promises. Their time of bondage was fulfilling prophecy, but God had promised to bring them out and this was their hope. God accomplishes His plan through people, even unlikely people such as Pharaoh’s daughter. He accomplishes His plan providentially through circumstances. The baby Moses needed someone to nurse him, and the Lord brought his godly mother back to him so he would know his heritage and be taught in the ways of the Lord. God accomplishes His plan victoriously as we see in His eventual deliverance of the children of Israel.
You are very valuable in God’s eyes, and He wants to accomplish His plan through your life. Our hearts and minds should be open to His leading.
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