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Exodus 1-6 recap

We need to look back on what we have learned in Exodus. Exodus is the most powerful book in the Bible because it reveals many aspects of God’s character. One of the lessons of the Book of Exodus is that often, the good deeds of great men are “seldom remembered” while the memory of “men who do great harm” live on.

This was true of both Joseph and Moses. As far as Egyptian history is concerned, both of these great men were rejected because of the arrogance of the Pharaoh. We are blessed by God that we have the Torah from God Himself, who made sure their deeds is recorded for us. God has not kept His will a secret. It’s all in the Bible.

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Exodus 7-8 — Aharon’s rod ‘eats’ the magicians’ rods; the first three plagues on Mitsraim

The people of Israel didn’t follow Moshe (Moses) initially. Moshe didn’t believe that Pharaoh would hear him either. God affirmed Moshe yet God told Moshe and Aaron to go to Pharaoh anyway. God had a plan to elevate Moshe and Aharon (Aaron) in the eyes of Pharaoh and the people of Israel. The first three plagues were unleashed on Mitsraim (Egypt) but the magicians of Mitsraim have the same power and Pharaoh doesn’t want to believe that the hand of the Creator is at work in Moshe and Aharon.

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God reiterated His call of Moshe, Aharon; Levi, Reuben, Shimon noted as leaders of Israel (Exodus 6)

Try to put yourself into Moses shoes here. His first presentation with Pharaoh doesn’t go very well—just as Moses had told God it wouldn’t. His confidence is even lower now than it was before. Yet God does not change His mind about his call on Moses and Aaron.

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Moshe returned to Mitsraim with Aharon; Tzipporah does emergency circumcision; Pharaoh rejects the first request for Yisrael to leave (Exodus 4–5)

Moshe (Moses) returned to Mitsraim (Egypt) and found Aharon (Aaron) was willing to help him accomplish the task God gave him to do. However, Moshe and his wife Tzipporah have a life-and-death confrontation with God first, and she saved them all by quickly circumcising a son. Once Aharon and Moshe set God’s plan into motion, they face Pharaoh and hit their first roadblock.

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Discussions Torah

Moses’ first 80 years (Exodus 1–3)

The first 80 years of Moses’ life are summarized in Exodus 1-3. It starts with his birth in Egypt and the end of chapter 3 tells us about his call to return to Egypt. The rest of the book focuses on the last 40 years of his life.

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Discussions Torah

Genesis 47–48 — Yosef presents his family to Pharaoh, receives double blessing via Ephraim and Manasseh

We read more about how the land of Egypt survived the seven-year famine thanks to God’s revelation to Yosef (Joseph) and his stewardship of Pharaoh’s land. Later, Ya’akov (Jacob) gives Yosef his double portion of the blessing vicariously through his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

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Discussions Torah

Genesis 46 — Ya’akov goes to Mitsraim and finally sees his son Yosef again

Ya’akov asks God’s permission to go to the Land of Egypt, Mitsraim in Hebrew, to meet his son Yosef (Joseph) again. When God gives him the green light, he leaves the land of Canaan and travels to Mitsraim in the entourage Pharaoh provides him and his family. Ya’akov’s and Yosef’s joy are complete.