Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

1st Chronicles 1 does not follow the normal structure of the Bible. It does revisit the genealogy we read earlier in Genesis. Some points of interest:

Egypt and Canaan are two of Ham’s sons and became great nations. The nations that descended from them were constant foes of the Israelites.

Verse 19 refers to the time the earth was divided. Scientists believe that our seven continents were connected at one time. Today they are not. This could be a reference to that event.

The Israelites come from Shem. Descendants of Ishmael, Abraham’s other sons, and Esau have a common history but become enemies.

1st & 2nd Chronicles repeat, and supplement history given in other Bible books. We will read those in conjunction with the other books.

Today we begin with chapter one of Exodus. A new pharaoh is in power in Egypt. The Israelites are prospering, and it intimidates the rulers as their numbers increase. They are made slaves to try to control them.

The next step is to start a genocide against them. The midwives are instructed to murder all the Hebrew boy babies. They report that they cannot because the babies come before they arrive. The chapter ends with a death sentence being announced on every male child.

Exodus chapter two begins with Moses’ parents. They are descendants of Levi. He is hidden to save his life. After six months he is transferred to a floating basket. He is adopted by the daughter of Pharaoh.

The young man steps in to aid a fellow Israelite and kills an Egyptian master. Contrary to what he expected, this does not gain approval. When he realizes he is marked for execution he escapes to Midian.

Moses defends the seven daughters of a Midianite priest. He is invited to their home and is given one of them in marriage. The chapter ends with Israel crying out to God.

A bush burning in the wilderness near Horeb is not unusual. We are told that the heat will cause the dry brush to burst into flames. In Exodus chapter three, Moses encounters one. For some reason, it does not burn up quickly. This bush needs to be investigated.

God stops him and has him remove his sandals. What does He mean by the ground being holy?

We usually focus on Moses’ hesitation. Let’s consider the name that he is given for his God. What did I am that I am mean? Two transliterations are normally given for the Hebrew phrase. Yahweh or Jehovah is the two spellings used. Which do you prefer?

In Exodus 4 God gives Moses three signs to show Pharaoh to prove he has been sent by the God of the Hebrews. Why did He go to the trouble to, provide these three signs, when He knew it would take the ten plagues to finally allow the Israelites to leave Egypt?

Another interesting question. Why would God choose a man and then threaten to kill him because he had not circumcised his son? God could have led Moses to take care of this before they left on the journey.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger