Exodus 1-3; Psalms 17 - Prayer Tents

Exodus 1

The Israelites in Egypt

1These are the names of the sons of Israel (that is, Jacob) who moved to Egypt with their father, each with his family.H8034H1121H3478H935H4714H376H1004H935H3290 2Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah,H7205H8095H3878H3063 3Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin,H3485H2074H1144 4Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.H1835H5321H1410H836 5In all, Jacob had seventy descendants in Egypt, including Joseph, who was already there.H5315H3318H3409H3290H7657H5315H3130H4714 6In time, Joseph and all of his brothers died, ending that entire generation.H3130H4191H251H1755 7But their descendants, the Israelites, had many children and grandchildren. In fact, they multiplied so greatly that they became extremely powerful and filled the land.H1121H3478H6509H8317H7235H3966H3966H6105H776H4390 8Eventually, a new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done.H6965H2319H4428H4714H3045H3130 9He said to his people, "Look, the people of Israel now outnumber us and are stronger than we are.H559H5971H5971H1121H3478H7227H6099 10We must make a plan to keep them from growing even more. If we don't, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies and fight against us. Then they will escape from the country."H3051H2449H7235H7122H4421H1931H3254H8130H3898H5927H776 11So the Egyptians made the Israelites their slaves. They appointed brutal slave drivers over them, hoping to wear them down with crushing labor. They forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Rameses as supply centers for the king.H7760H4522H8269H6031H5450H1129H6547H4543H5892H6619H7486 12But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more the Israelites multiplied and spread, and the more alarmed the Egyptians became.H6031H3651H7235H6555H6973H6440H1121H3478 13So the Egyptians worked the people of Israel without mercy.H4714H5647H1121H3478H5647H6531 14They made their lives bitter, forcing them to mix mortar and make bricks and do all the work in the fields. They were ruthless in all their demands.H4843H2416H4843H7186H5656H2563H3843H5656H7704H5656H5647H6531 15Then Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave this order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah.H4428H4714H559H5680H3205H8034H259H8236H8034H8145H6326 16"When you help the Hebrew women as they give birth, watch as they deliver. If the baby is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live."H559H3205H5680H7200H70H1121H4191H1323H2425 17But because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king's orders. They allowed the boys to live, too.H3205H3372H430H6213H4428H4714H1696H2421H3206H2421 18So the king of Egypt called for the midwives. "Why have you done this?" he demanded. "Why have you allowed the boys to live?"H4428H4714H7121H3205H559H4069H6213H1697H2421H3206H2421 19"The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women," the midwives replied. "They are more vigorous and have their babies so quickly that we cannot get there in time."H3205H559H6547H5680H802H4713H2422H3205H2962H3205H935 20So God was good to the midwives, and the Israelites continued to multiply, growing more and more powerful.H430H3190H3205H5971H7235H3966H6105 21And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.H3205H3372H430H6213H1004 22Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: "Throw every newborn Hebrew boy into the Nile River. But you may let the girls live."H6547H6680H5971H559H1121H3209H7993H2975H1323H2421

Exodus 2

The Birth of Moses

2About this time, a man and woman from the tribe of Levi got married.H3212H376H1004H3878H3947H1323H38782The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months.H802H2029H3205H1121H7200H2896H6845H7969H33913But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River.H3201H5750H6845H3947H8392H1573H2560H2564H2203H7760H3206H7760H5488H2975H81934The baby's sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him.H269H3320H7350H3045H62135Soon Pharaoh's daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her.H1323H6547H3381H7364H2975H5291H1980H2975H3027H7200H8392H8432H5488H7971H519H39476When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. "This must be one of the Hebrew children," she said.H6605H7200H3206H5288H1058H2550H559H5680H32067Then the baby's sister approached the princess. "Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?" she asked.H559H269H6547H1323H3212H7121H3243H5680H802H3243H32068"Yes, do!" the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby's mother.H6547H1323H559H3212H5959H3212H7121H3206H5179"Take this baby and nurse him for me," the princess told the baby's mother. "I will pay you for your help." So the woman took her baby home and nursed him.H6547H1323H559H3212H3206H3212H3243H5414H7939H802H3947H3206H513410Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh's daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, "I lifted him out of the water."H3206H1431H935H6547H1323H1121H7121H8034H4872H559H4871H4325

Moses Escapes to Midian

11Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews.H3117H4872H1431H3318H251H7200H5450H7200H4713H376H5221H5680H25112After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand.H6437H3541H3541H7200H376H5221H4713H2934H234413The next day, when Moses went out to visit his people again, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. "Why are you beating up your friend?" Moses said to the one who had started the fight.H3318H8145H3117H8147H582H5680H5327H559H7563H5221H745314The man replied, "Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?" Then Moses was afraid, thinking, "Everyone knows what I did."H559H7760H376H8269H8199H559H2026H2026H4713H4872H3372H559H403H1697H304515And sure enough, Pharaoh heard what had happened, and he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian. When Moses arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well.H6547H8085H1697H1245H2026H4872H4872H1272H6440H6547H3427H776H4080H3427H87516Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters who came as usual to draw water and fill the water troughs for their father's flocks.H3548H4080H7651H1323H935H1802H4390H7298H8248H1H662917But some other shepherds came and chased them away. So Moses jumped up and rescued the girls from the shepherds. Then he drew water for their flocks.H7462H935H1644H4872H6965H3467H8248H662918When the girls returned to Reuel, their father, he asked, "Why are you back so soon today?"H935H7467H1H559H4069H935H4116H311719"An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds," they answered. "And then he drew water for us and watered our flocks."H559H4713H376H5337H3027H7462H1802H1802H8248H662920"Then where is he?" their father asked. "Why did you leave him there? Invite him to come and eat with us."H559H1323H5800H376H7121H398H389921Moses accepted the invitation, and he settled there with him. In time, Reuel gave Moses his daughter Zipporah to be his wife.H4872H2974H3427H376H5414H4872H6855H132322Later she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, for he explained, "I have been a foreigner in a foreign land."H3205H1121H7121H8034H1647H559H1616H5237H77623Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God.H1992H7227H3117H4428H4714H4191H1121H3478H584H4480H5656H2199H7775H5927H430H565624God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.H430H8085H5009H430H2142H1285H85H3327H329025He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.H430H7200H1121H3478H430H3045

Exodus 3

Moses and the Burning Bush

3One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God.H4872H1961H7462H6629H3503H2859H3548H4080H5090H6629H310H4057H935H2022H430H27222There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn't burn up.H4397H3068H7200H3827H784H8432H5572H7200H5572H1197H784H5572H3983"This is amazing," Moses said to himself. "Why isn't that bush burning up? I must go see it."H4872H559H5493H7200H1419H4758H4069H5572H11974When the LORD saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, "Moses! Moses!" "Here I am!" Moses replied.H3068H7200H5493H7200H430H7121H8432H5572H559H4872H4872H5595"Do not come any closer," the LORD warned. "Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.H559H7126H1988H5394H5275H7272H4725H834H5975H6944H1276I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.H559H430H1H430H85H430H3327H430H3290H4872H5641H6440H3372H5027H4307Then the LORD told him, "I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.H3068H559H7200H7200H6040H5971H4714H8085H6818H6440H5065H3045H43418So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.H3381H5337H3027H4714H5927H776H2896H776H7342H776H2100H2461H1706H4725H3669H2850H567H6522H2340H29839Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them.H6818H1121H3478H935H7200H3906H4714H390510Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt."H3212H7971H6547H3318H5971H1121H3478H471411But Moses protested to God, "Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?"H4872H559H430H3212H6547H3318H1121H3478H471412God answered, "I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain."H559H226H3588H7971H3318H5971H4714H5647H430H202213But Moses protested, "If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they will ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what should I tell them?"H4872H559H430H935H1121H3478H559H430H1H7971H559H8034H55914God replied to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you."H430H559H4872H1961H1961H559H559H1121H3478H797115God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.H430H559H5750H4872H559H1121H3478H3068H430H1H430H85H430H3327H430H3290H7971H8034H5769H2143H1755H175516"Now go and call together all the elders of Israel. Tell them, 'The LORD, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—has appeared to me. He told me, "I have been watching closely, and I see how the Egyptians are treating you.H3212H622H2205H3478H622H559H3068H430H1H430H85H3327H3290H7200H559H6485H6485H6213H471417I have promised to rescue you from your oppression in Egypt. I will lead you to a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live."'H559H5927H6040H4714H776H3669H2850H567H6522H2340H2983H776H2100H2461H170618"The elders of Israel will accept your message. Then you and the elders must go to the king of Egypt and tell him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So please let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD, our God.'H8085H6963H935H2205H3478H4428H4714H559H3068H430H5680H7136H3212H7969H3117H1870H4057H2076H3068H43019"But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand forces him.H3045H4428H4714H5414H1980H2389H302720So I will raise my hand and strike the Egyptians, performing all kinds of miracles among them. Then at last he will let you go.H7971H3027H5221H4714H6381H6213H7130H310H797121And I will cause the Egyptians to look favorably on you. They will give you gifts when you go so you will not leave empty-handed.H5414H5971H2580H5869H4714H3212H3212H738722Every Israelite woman will ask for articles of silver and gold and fine clothing from her Egyptian neighbors and from the foreign women in their houses. You will dress your sons and daughters with these, stripping the Egyptians of their wealth."H802H7592H7934H1481H1004H3627H3701H3627H2091H8071H7760H1121H1323H5337H4714

Psalms 17

17[A prayer of David.] O LORD, hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from honest lips.H8605H1732H8085H6664H3068H7181H7440H238H8605H3808H4820H81932Declare me innocent, for you see those who do right.H4941H3318H6440H5869H2372H43393You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong. I am determined not to sin in what I say.H974H3820H6485H3915H6884H4672H2161H6310H56744I have followed your commands, which keep me from following cruel and evil people.H6468H120H1697H8193H8104H734H65305My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you.H8551H838H4570H6471H41316I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.H7121H6030H410H5186H241H8085H5657Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies.H6395H2617H3467H3225H2620H69658Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.H8104H380H1323H5869H5641H6738H36719Protect me from wicked people who attack me, from murderous enemies who surround me.H6440H7563H2098H7703H5315H341H536210They are without pity. Listen to their boasting!H5462H2459H6310H1696H134811They track me down and surround me, watching for the chance to throw me to the ground.H5437H838H7896H5869H5186H77612They are like hungry lions, eager to tear me apart—like young lions hiding in ambush.H1825H738H3700H2963H3715H3427H456513Arise, O LORD! Stand against them, and bring them to their knees! Rescue me from the wicked with your sword!H6965H3068H6923H6440H3766H6403H5315H7563H271914By the power of your hand, O LORD, destroy those who look to this world for their reward. But satisfy the hunger of your treasured ones. May their children have plenty, leaving an inheritance for their descendants.H4962H3027H3068H4962H2465H2506H2416H990H4390H6840H7646H1121H3240H3499H576815Because I am righteous, I will see you. When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied.H2372H6440H6664H7646H6974H8544