Exodus 3 - Part 1 - Ex. 2:1-10 Birth of the First Redeemer

This lesson is in two parts.  There is just simply too much material in these verses, Exod. 2:1-10, that I had to break it up into two sessions. Our focus is on the birth of Moses who is called THE FIRST REDEEMER by the rabbis.  Consider ... The concept of a future redeemer similar to Moses is common in rabbinic literature dating to the seventh century. The rabbis who compiled the Talmud and other key Jewish texts in the Middle Ages assumed the final messianic redeemer or the ultimate redeemer would follow the pattern of the first redeemer, Moses. Thus, not surprisingly, they noted a multitude of patterns between the two. Here are a few examples: Pesikta 5:8 reads, “As the first one appeared among Israel and then disappeared from among them, so the last redeemer will appear among Israel and then disappear from among them.” In other words, just as Moses had “two comings” to Israel, the Messiah will have a first coming and a second coming.  Just as the first redeemer caused manna to come down for the people of Israel, so too the last redeemer will cause manna to come down (see Psalm 72:16).  As the first redeemer caused the well to give water (Numbers 20:11), so the last redeemer will cause water to spring forth (see Joel 3:18). These examples show how the concept of a Messiah “like Moses” is relatively common in rabbinic Judaism. Admittedly, the connection between Moses and a future Messiah may not be explicit within Deuteronomy 18:15. Still, it probably has its origins there: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me [Moses] from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.” (See the website https://chosenpeople.com/a-redeemer-like-moses/ for a more indepth study) So, we will study five distinct perspectives on Moses’ birth.  In this first part we will return to the date of 1446 B.C. and use it as the date Moses and the Israelites left Egypt after the first Passover meal and the night the first born throughout the land of Egypt were killed.  As we continue with the Exodus Torah study I will provide archaeological support for the date of 1446 B.C.  We will see clearly that this date that many of you have heard in sermons, Bible studies or in your own readings, is the date of the Exodus.  You will be surprised where this date comes from and how real archaeology supports it. We will also consider some amazing Jewish legends associated with the birth of Moses.  In Jewish thought Moses was considered the first redeemer and he prefigures the final redeemer, the ultimate redeemer, the Messiah.  Also we will study the word “ark.”  Noah built an ark and Moses was put in an ark (see the King James and the Jewish JPS versions of the Bible) or a basket in the New American Standard and ESV versions and the ark of the covenant.  Some actually teach all three of these “arks” are related.  Matter of fact there is a Jewish website that teaches Torah and I just happened to read their lead rabbi relate Noah’s ark, the basket or ark Moses was put in, and the ark of the covenant.  We will see that they can’t be related at all.  This is proven by Jewish sources and supported by a simple solution - Hebrew.  We are dealing with the textual context of the Hebrew and NOT the textual context in English.  I mentioned in this lesson that I would provide some links to enhance your study.  The first link is to a video showing suggested possibilities of what was the Star of Bethlehem found in Matt. 2:1-2.  The next links are to articles on the Hyksos and the New Kingdom of Egypt that starts with the 18th Dynasty.  These I am sure will provide some insights and enhance this lesson. Link to the video on the star –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMMkWvGz9jI Link to the article on the New Kingdom –  https://www.ancient.eu/New_Kingdom_of_Egypt/ Link to the article on the Hyksos –  https://www.ancient.eu/Hyksos/   Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  (Ferret - leading a study tour in Israel - Tel Azeka in the Elah Valley - the site of the battle between David and Goliath) What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0