We are turning a page, literally and figuratively, and beginning the Exodus from Egypt today. The Ten Commandments starring Charleston Heston is a very different movie than DreamWorks The Prince of Egypt. But have you read the book? You’re welcome to join our little book club as we begin the true story of Moses as recorded… by Moses… in the Book of Exodus.

Exodus 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, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

5 The total number of souls that descended from Jacob were 70, for Joseph was in Egypt already.

6 Joseph died, and all his brothers, and all that generation.

7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and grew exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

8 There later arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.

9 And he said to his people “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.

10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them; lest they multiply and if war breaks out, they join our enemies, and fight against us. So get them up out of the land.”

11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them 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 work hard labor. 

14 They made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service which they made them serve was with rigour.

15 The king of Egypt spoke 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 you do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birth stools, if it is a son, then you 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 male children alive.

18 The king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them “Why have you done this, and saved the male children alive?”

19 And the midwives said to Pharaoh “Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives come to them.”

20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and grew very mighty.

21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

22 Pharaoh charged all his people, saying “Every son that is born, you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”