The book of Genesis ends with the story of Joseph becoming second-in-command in Egypt and Abraham and the rest of the family coming from Israel to Egypt to see the famine through. Centuries later the Israelites have prospered in Egypt and have become a threat to the Egyptians who oppress them cruelly.
In Ex.1 we read that Pharoah subjected them to slave labour, that he instructed the midwives to kill their baby boys, and when this failed he commanded his soldiers to kill all the boys by throwing them into the Nile. It is evil in its worst form: Kill the boys but leave the women to bear children (with Egyptian dads) - they wanted a nation of slaves and would try to "breed them into submission."
The story of Moses is about Pharoah being defeated by women:
1. The midwives steadfastly refused to kill Hebrew children.
2. A Levite woman had a healthy baby boy and she was determined that she was not going to allow him to be killed. So she strategically placed him in a basket in the river near where Pharoah's daughter would bathe. (I think it is safe to guess that the princess was well known for her rebellious streak!)
3. Pharoah's daughter recognised the baby as a Hebrew baby but decides to adopt him anyway. (A move that would have embarrassed and humiliated Pharoah and that only a doted-upon daughter could get away with!)
4. Moses' older sister is lurking in the background and when she hears the princess' desire to adopt, she runs forward and says "Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women (nudge nudge wink wink) to nurse the baby for you?" And Pharoah's daughter agrees and Moses is raised and nursed by his own mother.
The book of Exodus is about God working in the midst of His people. The cultures of the day disregarded women but here we see God using their courage, compassion and cleverness. There is an amazing amount that can be done to dismantle oppression and evil by being steadfast, strategic and sympathetic.
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Theo Groeneveld theo@gracepresby.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
