Oppression: The Background and the Birth of Moses – Outline

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Oppression: The Background and the Birth of Moses

- OVERVIEW

This week, we begin our journey in Exodus. The Israelites are suffering in Egypt, but God hasn’t forgotten them. We learn about Pharaoh’s harsh oppression, the courage of the midwives, and the birth of Moses. Through every part of this story, God is preparing a deliverer — and reminding us that He always has a plan.

- SATURDAY – Introduction

- Memory Text

Exodus 3:7

KJV 7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

CEV 7 The Lord said: I have seen how my people are suffering as slaves in Egypt, and I have heard them beg for my help because of the way they are being mistreated. I feel sorry for them,

A T L S I H S S T A O M P W A I E A H H T C F I K T S

- Lesson

God sees the suffering of His people. Though the Israelites were oppressed, God had not abandoned them. He was preparing a deliverer — Moses — even from birth. Just as God knew their sorrows, He knows ours too. He hears our cries and works behind the scenes to bring hope.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White reminds us that in times of pain, God is closest. He hears every cry and prepares ways of deliverance long before we can see it.

- Conclusion

Even when life feels heavy, God is preparing something good.

- Reflection

How does knowing that God hears your cry bring comfort?

Reveal Suggested Answer

What does Exodus teach us about God's plans?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- SUNDAY – God’s People in Egypt

- Lesson

Read the following:

Exodus 1:1-14

KJV 1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. 6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. 7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. 8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. 9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: 10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. 11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. 13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: 14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

CEV 1  1-5 When Jacob went to Egypt, his son Joseph was already there. So Jacob took his eleven other sons and their families. They were: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. Altogether, Jacob had 70 children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who went with him. 6 After Joseph, his brothers, and everyone else in that generation had died, 7 the people of Israel became so numerous that the whole region of Goshen was full of them. 8 Many years later a new king came to power. He did not know what Joseph had done for Egypt, 9 and he told the Egyptians: There are too many of those Israelites in our country, and they are becoming more powerful than we are. 10 If we don't outsmart them, their families will keep growing larger. And if our country goes to war, they could easily fight on the side of our enemies and escape from Egypt. 11 The Egyptians put slave bosses in charge of the people of Israel and tried to wear them down with hard work. Those bosses forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Rameses, where the king could store his supplies. 12 But even though the Israelites were mistreated, their families grew larger, and they took over more land. Because of this, the Egyptians feared them worse than before 13 and made them work so hard 14 that their lives were miserable. The Egyptians were cruel to the people of Israel and forced them to make bricks and to mix mortar and to work in the fields.

The children of Israel grew in number and strength in Egypt. This frightened Pharaoh, who decided to enslave them. What began as a blessing turned into suffering. Yet through it all, God was with His people.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White says even under harsh conditions, God’s people were preserved. The hardships only prepared them for deliverance.

- Conclusion

God may not remove all pain, but He uses it to shape us.

- Reflection

Why did Pharaoh fear the Israelites?

Reveal Suggested Answer

How can trials prepare us for God’s deliverance?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- MONDAY – The Historical Background

- Lesson

Read the following:

Exodus 1:8

KJV 8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

CEV 8 Many years later a new king came to power. He did not know what Joseph had done for Egypt,

Acts 7:17-19

KJV 17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 18 Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph. 19 The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.

CEV 17 Finally, the time came for God to do what he had promised Abraham. By then the number of our people in Egypt had greatly increased. 18 Another king was ruling Egypt, and he didn't know anything about Joseph. 19 He tricked our ancestors and was cruel to them. He even made them leave their babies outside, so they would die.

A new Pharaoh who didn’t know Joseph rose to power. Egypt was strong and proud, worshipping many gods. This leader didn’t respect the past or God’s people. Fear led him to use power wrongly, but God was not caught off guard.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White explains how proud leaders can reject truth and cause great harm. But their actions cannot stop God's promises.

- Conclusion

Human kingdoms rise and fall. God’s Word endures forever.

- Reflection

What made Pharaoh different from the kings before him?

Reveal Suggested Answer

How do we respond when leaders oppose God’s people?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- TUESDAY – The Hebrew Midwives

- Lesson

Read the following:

Exodus 1:15-22

KJV 15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: 16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. 18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? 19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. 20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. 21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses. 22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.

CEV 15 Finally, the king called in Shiphrah and Puah, the two women who helped the Hebrew mothers when they gave birth. 16 He told them, “If a Hebrew woman gives birth to a girl, let the child live. If the baby is a boy, kill him!” 17 But the two women were faithful to God and did not kill the boys, even though the king had told them to. 18 The king called them in again and asked, “Why are you letting those baby boys live?” 19 They answered, “Hebrew women have their babies much quicker than Egyptian women. By the time we arrive, their babies are already born.” 20-21 God was good to the two women because they truly respected him, and he blessed them with children of their own. The Hebrews kept increasing 22 until finally, the king gave a command to everyone in the nation, “As soon as a Hebrew boy is born, throw him into the Nile River! But you can let the girls live.”

Pharaoh ordered the midwives to kill the Hebrew boys, but they feared God more than Pharaoh. Their courage saved lives. God blessed them for choosing faith over fear.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White praises those who stand for what is right, even at risk to themselves. These women were instruments in God’s plan.

- Conclusion

When we fear God and do what is right, He uses us for His purposes.

- Reflection

Why did the midwives refuse Pharaoh’s command?

Reveal Suggested Answer

What can we learn from their bravery?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- WEDNESDAY – Moses Is Born

- Lesson

Read the following:

Exodus 2:1-10

KJV 1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. 2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. 3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink. 4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. 5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. 6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children. 7 Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? 8 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother. 9 And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the women took the child, and nursed it. 10 And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.

CEV 1 A man from the Levi tribe married a woman from the same tribe, 2 and she later had a baby boy. He was a beautiful child, and she kept him inside for three months. 3 But when she could no longer keep him hidden, she made a basket out of reeds and covered it with tar. She put him in the basket and placed it in the tall grass along the edge of the Nile River. 4 The baby's older sister stood off at a distance to see what would happen to him. 5 About that time one of the king's daughters came down to take a bath in the river, while her servant women walked along the river bank. She saw the basket in the tall grass and sent one of them to pull it out of the water. 6 When the king's daughter opened the basket, she saw the baby crying and felt sorry for him. She said, “This must be one of the Hebrew babies.” 7 At once the baby's older sister came up and asked, “Do you want me to get a Hebrew woman to take care of the baby for you?” 8 “Yes,” the king's daughter answered. So the girl brought the baby's mother, 9 and the king's daughter told her, “Take care of this child, and I will pay you.” The baby's mother carried him home and took care of him. 10 And when he was old enough, she took him to the king's daughter, who adopted him. She named him Moses because she said, “I pulled him out of the water.”

A Levite woman hides her baby to save him from death. God protects Moses and brings him into Pharaoh’s palace — the very place from which he will one day lead God’s people out.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White says God guided every step — from the hiding place to the basket, from the river to the palace. Nothing was random.

- Conclusion

Sometimes God works in unexpected ways to raise leaders for His purpose.

- Reflection

Why was Moses placed in a basket in the river?

Reveal Suggested Answer

What does Moses’ story teach us about divine protection?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- THURSDAY – A Change of Plans

- Lesson

Read the following:

Exodus 2:11-25

KJV 11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. 13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? 14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known. 15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. 16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. 17 And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. 18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day? 19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock. 20 And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread. 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. 22 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land. 23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

CEV 11 After Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were hard at work, and he saw an Egyptian beating one of them. 12 Moses looked around to see if anyone was watching, then he killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand. 13 When Moses went out the next day, he saw two Hebrews fighting. So he went to the man who had started the fight and asked, “Why are you beating up one of your own people?” 14 The man answered, “Who put you in charge of us and made you our judge? Are you planning to kill me, just like you killed that Egyptian?”This frightened Moses because he was sure that people must have found out what had happened. 15 When the king heard what Moses had done, he wanted to kill him. But Moses escaped and went to the land of Midian. One day, when Moses was sitting by a well, 16 the seven daughters of Jethro, the priest of Midian, came up to water their father's sheep and goats. 17 Some shepherds tried to chase them away, but Moses came to their rescue and watered their animals. 18 When Jethro's daughters returned home, their father asked, “Why have you come back so early today?” 19 They answered, “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds, and he even watered our sheep and goats.” 20 “Where is he?” Jethro asked. “Why did you leave him out there? Invite him to eat with us.” 21 Moses agreed to stay on with Jethro, who later let his daughter Zipporah marry Moses. 22 And when she had a son, Moses said, “I will name him Gershom, since I am a foreigner in this country.” 23 After the death of the king of Egypt, the Israelites still complained because they were forced to be slaves. They cried out for help, 24 and God heard their loud cries. He did not forget the promise he had made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, 25 and because he knew what was happening to his people, he felt sorry for them.

Moses tried to save a fellow Hebrew, but it led to trouble. He had to flee to the desert. God used this time to shape Moses’ heart. Before leading people, he needed to learn patience and trust.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White notes that God allowed Moses to unlearn pride and learn humility in Midian. This was necessary before leading Israel.

- Conclusion

Before God uses us greatly, He often humbles and teaches us deeply.

- Reflection

Why did Moses flee Egypt?

Reveal Suggested Answer

What lessons did Moses likely learn in the desert?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- FRIDAY – Further Thought

- Lesson

The story of Moses’ birth and escape shows us that even in the darkest moments, God is preparing a way forward. He calls the weak, shapes leaders in unexpected ways, and always remembers His promises.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White reminds us that God always keeps His word. No king, no crisis, and no failure can stop what He has planned.

- Conclusion

We can trust Him through suffering, silence, and surprise. He is faithful.

- Reflection

What have you learned this week about how God works behind the scenes?

Reveal Suggested Answer

How does Moses' story give you hope for your own life?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

What role did women play in preserving Moses' life? Why is that important?

Reveal Suggested Answer

How can we trust God's plan when life takes unexpected turns?

Reveal Suggested Answer

What qualities did Moses learn in Midian that he needed later?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- LESSON SUMMARY

Oppression: The Background and the Birth of Moses

This week, we saw how God works through humble people and surprising paths. While Israel suffered, God raised up a deliverer. The midwives, Moses’ family, and even Pharaoh’s daughter played a part. God’s faithfulness runs through every part of the story — and still runs through ours today.