Exodus 1-6 Teaching Activities and Insights
- Benjamin Wilcox
- 1 day ago
- 46 min read
TEACHING ACTIVITIES
LESSON #1 THE WOMEN WHO SAVED MOSES (Exodus 1-2)
TRUTH:
Before Moses could deliver Israel, God used courageous women to deliver Moses.
FIRE IN THE BONES:
I get the fire in the bones for this lesson as I consider the influence that many righteous women have had in my life. This is an opportunity for us to honor their influence, examples, and sacrifices. Your class may walk in that day thinking that they are going to have a lesson about Moses. I mean, it is the book of Exodus after all. But you get to help them see the deeper pattern: God’s work often moves forward because ordinary people decide to do what is right in small, decisive moments. I also get excited to honor and elevate the role of womanhood in God’s great plan of salvation.
OBJECT:
A woven basket. You could use that to help your students to visualize the faith of Moses’s mother as she places him as a baby into it and allows him to float down the Nile. It becomes a great symbol of faith and placing difficult situations into God’s hands with faith.
ICEBREAKER:
For the icebreaker, I would begin by having a quick scripture search challenge. Invite the class to scan the following verses with this question in mind: Who made Moses’ life and mission possible?
· Exodus 1:15
· Exodus 2:2
· Exodus 2:4
· Exodus 2:5
· Exodus 2:21
Then list on board:
· Shiphrah & Puah
· Jochebed
· Miriam
· Pharaoh’s daughter
· Zipporah
Then ask: “What do they all have in common?”. Answer, they’re all women.
Then you can have a short discussion or a pair and share by asking: Name a woman who has had a profound impact on your life and share how.
Then tell them that you’ll spend the rest of the lesson discovering how they saved Moses and what qualities they possessed that made that possible. Without these amazing women, we would have no Moses. Moses may have delivered Israel, but first, these 6 women had to deliver him.
Now in the insight video from four years ago, I did a short lesson on all 6 women. But upon further reflection, I’m not totally sure that would be possible in your average Sunday School class lesson time, so this time around I’ve simplified it a bit. If I were teaching this lesson this year, I would just focus on three of the stories and then briefly mention the other two .
SHIPHRAH AND PUAH:
Our first story is found in Exodos 1, and you can begin by summarizing the beginning of the story. The Pharoah, who knew not Joseph, is concerned with the numbers of Israelites in the kingdom. So he puts them in bondage. But, we learn in verse 12 that “the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew.” So the Pharoah decided on a strategy to reduce the male population of the Hebrews. Then have someone read verses 15 and 16 where we find that the Pharoah’s solution is to ask the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah to kill the male babies as they are born.
Invite your students to put themselves in their shoes. Pharoah is the most powerful man in the world, but he’s asking them to do something morally reprehensible. Well, let’s see what happens. Invite someone to read verses 17-21with these questions in mind.
1. What did they do?
2. Why did they do that?
3. What does God do for them because of their actions?
Answers
1. They defy Pharoah’s orders and save the babies anyway.
2. They do it because they feared (or respected) God more than Pharoah.
3. God dealt well with them and he made them houses, which from the footnotes we learn means descendants, or he gave them a great posterity—a very coveted Old Testament blessing.
Then ask, What Christlike quality do you feel these women exemplify? I mean, what does it take to say “No” to intimidating, powerful, authority figures that ask us to do something we know is wrong? They’ll get it. Courage. Great courage. Write that quality up on the board. I mean, we might consider this to be the first recorded act of civil disobedience.
Then liken the scriptures with them by saying that we too might be put into similar types of situations. What if an employer asks us to do something dishonest in our business or work? What if our peers seek to influence us to reject our standards or the counsels of the prophets? What if a partner asks us to do something we don’t feel comfortable doing? What if the world’s general opinions or views on certain issues fly in the face of what the gospel teaches? These are times when it’s actually a good thing to be disobedient. When it comes to these terrestrial authorities, we can say no as much as we want. Disobey them. Now it’s not always easy to say no to or resist the wishes of someone in a position of authority, influence, or popularity. But in those moments, perhaps we can find strength and courage in the example of Shiphrah and Puah and answer to a higher authority—the authority of God and the authority of our moral conscience. And if we do, I believe that “God will deal well” with us also.
Do you know of any Shiphrah’s and Puah’s in your life? Women who have demonstrated great courage.
JOCHEBED (MOSES’S MOTHER):
Now the next great women on the list also demonstrated great courage, but we’re going to add another quality she exemplifies as well. After the Pharoah sees that his initial secret plan with the midwives isn’t going to work, he decides he has to do something more public and direct. So Exodus 1:22 tells us that he commands that all male babies must be thrown into the river. But we learn from 2:2 that when she gives birth to Moses, she too, like Shiphrah and Puah, defies the Pharoah’s orders by hiding the baby for three months. But she knows she can’t get away with that forever. So she does something. Then tell your class to have the following question in mind as you slowly read verses 3 and 4: What quality besides courage does Jochebed exemplify here? Again, put yourselves in her shoes. What would it have taken to do what she does?
My answer. And they may answer something different, and I suggest you write their answers on the board. But one point I would want to be sure to make as well would be Faith. Great faith. If you want to help lead your students in that direction, you could ask the question like this. What do we call that, when you’re willing to act without knowing exactly what the outcome will be? She puts the situation in God’s hands. Imagine how hard that must have been to watch your baby float down the river and out of your hands. And what was the result of that great faith and trust? In just a few hours’ time, Moses would be right back in her arms, safe, and without any fear of Pharoah’s decree or need to hide him anymore. And you can briefly explain that Pharoah’s daughter is going to ask Jochebed to nurse Moses for her until he’s of age.
Then. To liken the scriptures you could ask:
Do you know of any Jochebed’s in your life? Women of great faith and trust in God.
PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER:
Now we have Pharoah’s daughter. Invite your students to read Exodus 2:5-10 and ask what great Christlike quality does Pharoah’s daughter demonstrate? You can say that the quality is outright stated in these verses. We don’t even have to imply it here. The answer is compassion from verse 6. She had compassion on the baby. Where did God decide to hide Moses from Pharoah’s decree then? He hid him in plain sight within the protective compassion of a woman’s heart. Compassion is power. That compassion is going to put Moses in a position where he will be able to interact with Egyptian leadership. It will also give him education that will provide him with the means to write the first five books of the Bible for us.
Then, to liken the scriptures, ask: Do you know of any Pharoah’s Daughters in your life? Women of great compassion.
MIRIAM and ZIPPORAH:
Now there are two more women that are instrumental in influencing Moses’s early life. His sister Miriam and his wife Zipporah. For time’s sake, I suggest you summarize their contributions and invite your students to study and ponder their influence in their personal scripture study. But you could tell them that Miriam is a great example of nurture and care as she watches over the little ark or basket that Moses is in. And Zipporah, she is a great example of a wife who is willing to act as an example to Moses of the importance of keeping covenants as she assures that their son is circumcised. Now that circumcision story is a little confusing and a bit harder to navigate and would probably take a great deal of time to really dig deeply into it. So I would just encourage my students to look at the story in their personal study, and if they have questions about it, that you would be willing to talk with them one on one sometime if they’d like. I do give my thoughts on it in the insight video. But in short, Zippporah demonstrates the quality of Righteous Example.
TAKE IT TO HEART/ I WILL GO AND DO HANDOUT:
For the take it to heart and I will go and do portion of the lesson, I suggest a pondering handout. Invite your students to fill out the following chart with their thoughts and plans regarding the principles these wonderful women have taught them that day.
So for Shiphrah and Puah, they answer: Where in my life do I need to demonstrate more moral courage?
For Jochebed: What arks of faith do I need to release into God’s care?
And for Pharoah’s daughter: Who is someone that needs my compassion right now?
TAKEAWAY:
The takeaway slide draws our attention to all the women that saved Moses and the Christlike attributes they exemplify. As you show it, remind your students that at the beginning of class, they named women who shaped their lives. None of them likely parted seas or stood before kings, but they changed us. That’s how God usually works. He saves through courage that quietly stands firm, faith that lets the ark go, and compassion that sees a child in the reeds. Testify that those same qualities will still move God’s work forward. And if we follow the examples of these women, then the Lord will deal well with us also.
OPTIONAL LESSON ENHANCEMENTS:
VIDEO:
A video suggestion. This one entitled: Accolade: For Every Woman and Mother. It emphasizes the incredible contribution that the women in our lives make in our eternal progress, often without fanfare or recognition.
QUOTE:
From Elder Neal A. Maxwell:
“When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses? When the surf of the centuries has made the great pyramids so much sand, the everlasting family will still be standing, because it is a celestial institution, formed outside telestial time. The women of God know this.”
Neal A. Maxwell (CR April 1978)
LESSON #2 I WILL SEND THEE (Exodus 3-4)
TRUTH:
If the Lord asks me to do something, then He will enable me to do it, and go with me.
Whom God calls, God qualifies.
FIRE IN THE BONES:
I get a fire in the bones for teaching this lesson as I think about the unexpected way that it portrays Moses. I think we usually think of Moses as this superhuman, larger than life character who is going to perform some of the most memorable miracles in all of the Bible. But in Exodus 3-4 we get to see Moses in a very human, relatable moment. He felt inadequate, he felt weak, he didn’t feel confident in his ability to do this great thing. Well, we all are probably going to experience the same thing when we get asked by God to do the hard things of life. This lesson has the power to build our student’s confidence, their faith, and their resolve to move forward and act on God’s requests and commandments. God doesn’t necessarily call the able, he calls the willing, and then shapes and strengthens them with the ability to DO what he commands them.
OBJECT:
A walking stick, or staff. Moses’s staff was a symbol of God’s power that he bore with him. It’s priesthood. I might use that visual as I explain that almost laughable image of Moses walking towards Egypt with his family, a donkey, and a stick to take on the most powerful nation on earth. But with those things, with that stick, he will bring that powerful nation to its knees, and he will accomplish the thing which the Lord commanded. With God’s power, we can do all things.
ICEBREAKER:
For the icebreaker, walk your class through the following hypothetical situation. Say “Imagine there’s a major national issue you care deeply about, something you believe needs to change. Now you probably can all think of something like that fairly quickly, I know I can. But we’re not going to share those things out loud. Politics is one of those minefields I have no interest in walking through in a church setting. But get one of those issues in mind. Now imagine you’re asked to go to Washington D.C., walk into the President’s office or Congress, and convince them to change that law or policy.
You have no staff.No credentials.No authority.Just you.
On a scale of 1–10… how confident are you?
After they laugh, say: Now let’s see how Moses rated his confidence when he was asked to do something similar.
Direct your students to Exodus 3:7-10 and introduce the story. Because that’s roughly what Moses was being asked to do. Walk into the throne room of the most powerful empire on earth and demand freedom for millions. Convince a Pharaoh to release an entire nation of slaves, his entire workforce. This was no small task. How confident was Moses in his ability to do this thing? Let’s see.
SEARCH ACTIVITY/HANDOUT:
Now you can give your students the “I Will Send Thee” handout and walk them through all of Moses’s concerns, and the Lord’s responses to those concerns. Select different students to read those parts as you go. The insight video can help you to be prepared to walk your students through that conversation.
DISCUSSION QUESTION
After completing the chart, if you want to keep it broad and open ended you could ask: What lessons for life do you see being taught here?
If you want to be more specific, ask” What does God consistently emphasize in His responses?”
Then follow that up with: What does that tell you about the relationship between calling and help?
Another option. Invite them to complete the following statement:
If the Lord sends me, then ______.
QUOTE:
At some point during that discussion, this quote from President Monson might come in handy:
“Now, some of you may be shy by nature or consider yourselves inadequate to respond affirmatively to a calling. Remember that this work is not yours and mine alone. It is the Lord’s work, and when we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. Remember that whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.”
Thomas S. Monson
(Duty Calls, Conference Report, May 1996)
TAKE IT TO HEART QUESTION:
There are two parts to the take it to heart portion of the lesson. Begin by asking: What are some of the difficult things God may ask us to do? Then have your student’s brainstorm while you write their answers on the board. I also have a slide with a list of possible scenarios they might relate to.
Then you can ask:
When have you felt strengthened beyond your own ability to do a hard thing?
I WILL GO AND DO QUESTION:
Where in your life have you been saying, “Send someone else?”
Then invite them to act in faith like Moses did and encourage them to just take one small step or simple action in the direction of Egypt.
Some suggestions:
Say yes to something you’ve been resisting.
Move forward on something you’ve been delaying.
Trust that enabling power will come after obedience.
Pray for strength and confidence to do a hard thing you’re being asked to do.
TAKEAWAY:
The takeaway slide emphasizes two of the great truths that I feel this story teaches us. One, “I will send thee.” God accomplishes his work through us-as imperfect and weak as we are. And second, “Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.” And I might say something like: At the beginning of class, you rated your confidence walking into the halls of power with nothing but your conviction. Moses probably would have given himself a similar score. And yet he went—with a staff in his hand and the Lord at his side. God still works that way. He doesn’t wait for us to feel ready; He asks, and then He strengthens. If there’s something in your life right now where you’ve been tempted to say, “Send someone else,” I invite you to take one step forward instead. Say yes. Move toward it. Trust that the same voice that said, “I will send thee,” also says, “Certainly I will be with thee.” And as you go, you’ll find that your confidence grows, your capacity increases, and what once felt impossible becomes holy ground.
OPTIONAL LESSON ENHANCEMENTS:
VIDEO:
A video that you could show is called “Trust in the Lord”. It focuses on the idea that we are not alone in trying to accomplish God’s work. The message is that ,“If we trust in Him, then he will direct and help us.”
GAME: Scripture Sort
For a game activity this week, divide your class into small teams (3–4 students per team works well). Give each team:
A blank “I Will Send Thee” chart
A set of pre-cut paper strips containing the mixed-up Concerns of Moses and Responses of the Lord
Their challenge is simple:Using only their scriptures (Exodus 3:11–22; 4:1–17), they must correctly place each strip into the appropriate box on the chart — identifying whether it is one of Moses’ concerns or one of the Lord’s responses.
The first team to complete the chart correctly wins.
You may want to:
Set a visible time limit (5–8 minutes keeps it focused)
Require teams to show you their completed chart for verification before claiming victory
Also, encourage them to look up the actual verses rather than just guessing
In this week’s downloads, you’ll find:
A printable blank chart
An answer page formatted for easy cutting into strips
Then, once the game is complete, you can jump right into the lesson portion and discuss what this conversation between God and Moses teaches us.
LESSON #3 MAKING BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW (Exodus 5)
TRUTH:
When I let busyness crowd out my worship, I become a slave to my work.
FIRE IN THE BONES:
The principle that we find in this lesson is very relatable, whether we’re teaching students or adults. Because we live in a very busy world. We often feel pressed, hurried, and quietly stretched thin. This story can bless our students because it exposes a lie that many good people believe—that devotion to God can wait until life slows down. Our goal here is to help them see that worship is not wasted time. Rather it’s what keeps us free, steady, and happy when the demands of modern life keep asking us to give more and more to making “bricks.”
OBJECT:
The object to this lesson should be obvious. Bring in a brick. Set it at the front and refer to it throughout the lesson.
ICEBREAKER:
For an icebreaker, I like to share the processionary caterpillar illustration. That’s where the naturalist experiments with the caterpillars who naturally follow the caterpillar in front of it. Eventually, they start to die even with food right next to them because they were too focused on following the caterpillar in front of them. Then I like to say that we too are sometimes like those little caterpillars. We’re so busy marching along in our various tasks, and work, and business, that we sometimes begin neglect what we really need.
SEARCH ACTIVITY/HANDOUT:
And for this lesson, I like to use the study guide to help my students see the principle. Invite them to study Exodus 5:1-19 and answer the questions as they read. I think this can be some good variety. Give them a good 15-20 minutes to work through it. Then, with any class time that you have remaining, you can invite them to share their impressions, thoughts, or any questions they have regarding the story. I believe the handout makes the principle fairly easy to see and apply. In the insight video, I go into detail on each of the questions and how you might help your students understand the truth I feel this chapter is teaching us. In summary, the message is this. Satan, like Pharoah always want to suggest that we don’t have time to worship. We have too many “bricks” to make. The “bricks” are the things we feel we need to do. There are student bricks, and doctor bricks, and lawyer bricks, and plumber bricks. Everyone has work to do. Help them to ponder the different “bricks” that they are being asked to make in their lives. And be sure that they understand that there isn’t anything wrong in making bricks. We do indeed need to work. And work is a good, positive, fulfilling thing. But we must find balance. If we are so wrapped up in our work, and tasks, and hobbies even, that we don’t have time for worship and rest, then we’re out of balance. When we do that, we’re “making bricks without straw”. We’re overburdening ourselves with so much. We’re allowing our “taskmasters” to demand more and more of us.
QUOTE:
I like the Gordon B. Hinckley quote to clarify that principle.
“We need to build ourselves spiritually. We live in a world of rush and go, of running here and there and in every direction. We are very busy people. We have so much to do. We need to get off by ourselves once in a while and think of the spiritual things and build ourselves spiritually.”
(Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley 60[Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1997], 608 - 9.)
TAKE IT TO HEART QUESTION:
Well the handout also guides our students through some take it to heart and I will go and do type questions. Hopefully it helps them to “apply this lesson to their daily lives.”
One question asks them to ponder how busy they feel they are in life and another to consider whether they are making enough time for spiritual things. Then, the final question gives them a chance to make plans for change.
If you like, you could offer a few possible suggestions:
Set aside intentional time for prayer.
Protect a quiet Sabbath hour for pondering and meditation.
Make a plan for regular temple worship.
Make time for daily scripture study.
TAKEAWAY:
The takeaway slide urges them to be careful about making bricks without straw, and that worship keeps us free. Reiterate the point that work is not the enemy and that brick making isn’t bad. But, if that brick making come at the expense of our spiritual health, well, that’s spiritual slavery then. Testify that when we make room for God, we don’t fall behind. But instead, we become steadier, clearer and stronger. The same Lord who delivered Israel can deliver us from lives that feel rushed and relentless. But we must choose to step away long enough to worship. Don’t make bricks without straw.
OPTIONAL LESSON ENHANCEMENTS:
VIDEO:
A great video that accompanies the message of this lesson perfectly is this one called “The Soul’s Sincere Desire”. It follows the experience of a young woman that has packed her schedule with so many good things, that it doesn’t leave her any time to do the essential ones. It ends with a depiction of her reorganizing her priorities to make time for God and her spiritual health.
INSIGHTS
NOTE: I want to begin our study of the Book of Exodus by focusing your attention on one of the most fascinating things about studying this book of scripture. Exodus is a metaphor for life! It’s one of the great journey narratives of scripture. And any time you have a journey story in the scriptures, God invites us to compare their travels with our own journey through mortality. The experiences of the Children of Israel in Exodus and the subsequent books were designed to teach all of us the plan of salvation! The Apostle Paul makes that clear in 1 Corinthians 10:1 and 11 when he says:
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
So I invite you, as you study the Exodus to look to them for example and admonition. And where does the Exodus begin? Egypt. What does Egypt represent? The world/the Telestial Kingdom. And what does the world wish to do to us? To put us in bondage. The bondage of sin. Therefore, who is our Pharoah? Satan, the adversary. He wishes to place all of us into the bondage and misery of sin. Since the days of Joseph’s power and influence in Egypt, the children of Israel’s fortunes change drastically over time. Fearing that the Israelites were becoming too numerous and powerful, another Pharoah “who knew not Joseph” (Exodus 1:8) placed the Israelites into bondage. He made them slaves. And now we’ll see how God is able to deliver them from that slavery and lead them through the wilderness to a promised land, and in the process, we’ll learn how God is able to deliver all of us from the bondage of sin and worldliness, lead us though the wilderness of life to our own promised land: The Celestial Kingdom. Now we’ll go a bit more into detail on that symbolism next week, but I wanted to make you aware of that as we begin. Keep your eyes open for lessons of life as you study. But first, this week, let’s meet Moses and the women who saved him!
THE WOMEN WHO SAVED MOSES
ICEBREAKER
As an icebreaker, I like to begin by asking my students to name a woman who has had a profound impact on their life and how. For me, I could talk about the nurture of my mother, the righteous example of my older sisters, the faith of my grandmothers, the devotion of my wife, the love of my daughter, the diligence of the women of my ward, and on and on.
TRANSITION
Then, after we spend a little time discussing the influence of righteous women, I invite my students to scan the first two chapters of Exodus to look for the individuals who made Moses’s life and mission possible. If it weren’t for these righteous individuals, we wouldn’t even have a Moses to study and learn from. He was born during a very perilous time for the Children of Israel, but he survived. And who saved him? Who made his life possible? I’ll point out some verses here and let’s list their names
Exodus 1:15
Exodus 2:2
Exodus 2:4
Exodus 2:5
Exodus 2:21
So first, in Exodus 1:15 we do have the King of Egypt here, but he doesn’t count because he’s actually the antagonist of the story. Moses survives despite the Pharoah. But who else do we see in this verse? The Hebrew midwives named Shiphrah and Puah.
In Exodus 2:2 We meet Moses’ mother. We learn later in Exodus 6:20 that her name is Jochebed.
In Exodus 2:4 we meet Moses’ sister. We learn her name from Exodus 15:20 that her name is Miriam
In Exodus 2:5 we’ve got Pharoah’s daughter. Now she is never named specifically in Exodus, but later in 1 Chronicles 4:20, she’s referred to as Bithiah, but that just means daughter of Jehovah so it’s probably more of a title than her given name.
And then in Exodus 2:21 we are introduced to Zipporah who becomes Moses’ wife.
So, as you look at that list. Do you notice anything? What do all of these individuals have in common? Shiphrah and Puah, Jochebed, Miriam, Pharoah’s daughter, and Zipporah?
They’re all women. I love that that’s how we’re introduced to Moses. It’s almost as if the Lord is pointing out, right from the outset of this story that hey, yes, Moses is going to do some pretty incredible things as a prophet and deliverer of Israel, but before Moses could deliver anyone else, he himself had to be delivered first. Without these incredible women, we wouldn’t even have a Moses story to study. Both they and Moses were critical to the saving of these people from bondage. And I’m not suggesting that one contribution is greater than another. What these women accomplished and contributed stands hand in hand with what Moses did. Even though we sometimes may allow these initial chapters of Exodus to be overshadowed by some of the more flashy and spectacular miracles that we see later in the Exodus, we mustn’t forget the genesis of the book of Exodus. And it is a story dominated by women. But, you know, that’s how things get done in God’s kingdom. Men and women working together to do great things through the inspiration and power of God. I love something that Elder Neal A. Maxwell once said:
“When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses? When the surf of the centuries has made the great pyramids so much sand, the everlasting family will still be standing, because it is a celestial institution, formed outside telestial time. The women of God know this.”
Neal A. Maxwell (CR April 1978)
Now in my mind, neither gender stands above the other in importance or potential. Still, sometimes it behooves us to recognize and celebrate those individual male or female influences in our lives. We observe both a Father’s and a Mother’s day. And for me, Exodus chapters 1 and 2, with a little help from 4 is a great place to celebrate and recognize the power of righteous and faithful women. So let’s give each one of these formidable females our focus and attention. To me, each one embodies a Christlike quality for us to emulate.
SHIPHRAH AND PUAH-COURAGE
SEARCH
So first, let’s take a look at the Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah. Ironically enough, they’re the ones that are named in the story. The Pharoah is just referred to as the king of Egypt. Which is exactly the opposite of what you’d expect in the world. Usually, it’s the important, powerful, and famous whose names we remember in history. But here, it’s these little midwives who get the names and remembered as individuals. It just goes to show what’s really important in God’s kingdom. And they play a significant role in making Moses’ life possible. We’re introduced to this story by being told that the Pharoah, who knew not Joseph, is concerned with the numbers of Israelites in the kingdom. So he puts them in bondage. However, we learn in verse 12 that “the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. So the Pharoah decided on a strategy to reduce the male population of the Hebrews.
15 And the king of Egypt spake 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 ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.
See, this way, the Pharoah could solve his Hebrew problem without anyone knowing, without fearing resistance or rebellion. Now I want you to put yourselves in the shoes of Shiphrah and Puah. They faced a terrible dilemma. Do I obey the orders of the most powerful man on earth? Or do I defy him because what he’s asking me to do is wrong and morally repugnant? I mean, they’re being asked to murder children. So what do you do? Follow orders or follow your conscience.
Well, what did they decide to do?
17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?
19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.
So their explanation is interesting. Oh, well, you know, the Hebrew women, they’re lively, the babies come so quickly, and they’re born and out of the womb before we can even get there! So, you know Pharoah, what could we do? Now to me, that’s a rather unconvincing explanation. But apparently, he accepts that, and perhaps through divine intervention because the next verse tells us that God dealt well with the midwives. So perhaps the Lord had something to do with the king’s acceptance OR, he realized that he wasn’t going to be able to pass this dirty work of killing babies on to somebody else.
Now what do we call this kind of courageous act? When somebody has the moral fortitude to stand up to the powers that be, to defy government or authority when what is being asked goes against their moral principles? Shiphrah and Puah engage in what I would deem the earliest act of civil disobedience that I know of. So you’ve got Rosa Parks, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., the tank man of Tiananmen Square, and Shiphrah and Puah. They’re act of courage is just as great. On the other side of that scale, after World War 2, what did many Nazi officials claim as their justification for committing horrible atrocities against humanity. “Well, I was just following orders.” I’m not sure that rationalization is going to stand up in the heavenly courts. We can’t always just pass the buck of responsibility on up the line. There comes a time, when I believe we are expected to say no to authority, no matter what the consequences may be. We still hold a responsibility for what we do, regardless of who is asking us to do it. If it hadn’t been for the courage of these two amazing women to stand up to the most powerful man in the world, Moses may have never even had a chance to get started in life, let alone grow into the prophet and deliverer he would one day become.
LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
For each of these women who saved Moses, I want us to liken the scriptures. Can we relate in any way? More than likely, we’ll never be in quite the same kind of position as Shiphrah and Puah, or the Nazi officials, or Rosa Parks. But on a smaller scale, we all deal with “authority figures” in our lives. What if we’re asked to do something we feel is morally wrong by the kings of this world? What if an employer asks us to do something dishonest in our business or work? What if our peers seek to influence us to reject our standards or the counsels of the prophets? What if a boyfriend or girlfriend ask us to do something we don’t feel comfortable doing? What if the world’s general opinions or views on certain issues fly in the face of what the gospel teaches? These are times when it’s actually a good thing to be disobedient. When it comes to these terrestrial authorities, we can say no as much as we want. Disobey them. Now it’s not always easy to say no to or resist the wishes of someone in a position of authority, influence, or popularity. But in those moments, perhaps we can find strength and courage in the example of Shiphrah and Puah and answer to a higher authority—the authority of God and the authority of our moral conscience.
TRUTH
And what’s the truth or principle they teach here. Finish the statement using the scriptures:
If I fear God more than man, (like Shiphrah and Puah) then ________________________ what? Look back in verses 20-21.
It says that God dealt well with them, and he made them houses. Look at the footnote for that last phrase. He made them houses means he gave them a large and righteous posterity. In the Old Testament, this was considered one of the greatest blessings God could bestow on someone.
So, IF I fear God more than man, THEN God will deal well with me and bless my family.
JOCHEBED-FAITH
Now to the next woman in Moses’s life who also demonstrated great courage. Jochebed, Moses’ mother. After the Pharoah sees that his initial secret plan with the midwives isn’t going to work, he decides he has to do something more public and direct. Exodus 1:22 tells us that
22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.
Now, as a parent, what do you do in that situation?
Hebrews 11:23 tells us Jochebed’s feelings
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
There we see that same righteous courage in defying earthly authority in her.
3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.
So, in a way, she does obey the command of Pharoah and she does cast him into the river. She just gives him a little help—a little boat to go with him. Now what Christlike quality does that exemplify? Put yourself in her shoes. Can you picture doing that with your own child? Can you imagine setting your baby in a little floating basket and then sending them off down the river? Does she have any idea of what’s going to happen? No. Now she does send his loyal and faithful older sister after him to keep an eye on him and we’ll talk about Miriam in a minute. But what do we call that? Acting without knowing? FAITH. Jochebed is an incredible example of faith. She takes a step into the darkness and places things in God’s hands. Her faith won’t be in vain as that little ark with its precious cargo makes its way down the river and drifts near to the Pharoah’s palace. And who would have thought, at that moment when she lets Moses go, that in just a few hours’ time, Moses would be right back in her arms, safe, and without any fear of Pharoah’s decree or need to hide him anymore. That’s what ends up happening. Pharoah’s daughter asks that Jochebed nurse Moses for her until he’s of age.
TRUTH
So we can see, that When we act in faith, God can intercede and help us.
LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
Are there any situations in your life where you need Jochebed’s faith? Are there any “arks” you need to place into the Nile of God’s care? Sometimes, after we’ve done everything that lies in our power, we’ve got to let it go and place it in God’s hands and then wait in faith to see what happens. That’s what Jochebed did. Do you need to accept a difficult calling? Do you need to pay your tithing even though finances are tight? Is there a sickness you’re facing that seems to have no cure? Are you afraid to open your mouth to share the gospel? Is there a difficult conversation you need to have with someone? In cases like this, sometimes you just have to let the ark go and see what happens. Put your faith in God and act.
PHAROAH’S DAUGHTER-COMPASSION
This leads us to another key woman in Moses’ life.
5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.
6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.
So where did the Lord decide to hide Moses from the evil designs of the Pharoah? He hid him in plain sight in the compassion of a woman’s heart. Pharoah’s daughter illustrates one of the most powerful and protective influences that exists in mortality. Compassion. She had the compassion to care for and love a child that was not her own—a child from a different race and culture than her own. I know of many women who have made that same decision. Both of my sisters have done this. Through the compassion of their hearts, they have lovingly adopted children. I have close friends and ward members who have adopted children from other countries and cultures who would have certainly faced incredibly difficult lives if it hadn’t been for their compassion and concern. And in the life of Moses, once again we have a woman of courage and compassion defying unrighteous authority to save a life. And she will have a profound impact on who Moses becomes. Without her compassion, Moses would not have been in a position to work with the Egyptian leadership in the way that he will. She also provides him with education which will make it possible for him to write the first five books of the Bible for us.
TRUTH
Compassion is power. It’s one of the most instrumental forces God has in accomplishing his work.
LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
Who, right now, do you have an opportunity to show compassion for? A family member? A neighbor? A co-worker? The less fortunate in the world? And what will you do to show that compassion?
MIRIAM-NURTURE and CARE
We also meet Moses’ sister in this story. Miriam also plays a key role in Moses’s salvation here. She watches over and attends to his well-being as he floats down the river. And when the moment came, she would also need courage to approach the Pharoah’s daughter with an offer to help care for the child. I suppose Miriam could have gotten into a great deal of trouble for making herself known at that moment as someone connected with saving a baby that should have been killed according to the Pharoah’s command. Yet, she makes sure that her baby brother is going to be safe. This too is a quality I recognize in many women around me. Like the watchful Miriam in the reeds, they expend great effort and concern to watch over and care for the children of this world and make sure they’re safe.
TRUTH
God blesses and guides those who watch over his little ones.
LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
How can you better care for God’s children?
ZIPPORAH-EXAMPLE
Our final woman to study here. In Exodus 2:21 we meet Zipporah, who will become Moses’s wife. And I really wish we knew more about Zipporah because she must have been an amazing woman. She supported and stood by Moses throughout all the tests and trials of his life. Yet, there is one small story about Zipporah in our scripture block that sheds some light on her character and shows that she too will play a part in saving Moses’ life. Go to Exodus 4:24-26, but read it from the JST version at the back of your Bible. The inspired version offers a little more clarity on this somewhat confusing story. Verse 24 tells us that the Lord was angry with Moses and sought to kill him? I’m not quite sure what to make of that or how seriously to take it, but I think we can at least conclude that God was very displeased with Moses. Why? Because he hadn’t circumcised his son yet. Now how is it that the prophet of God could fail to obey such an important commandment? Maybe, he was so absorbed in his calling to deliver Israel that he had forgotten, or he was procrastinating this duty? I’m not sure. But who steps in to save him? His wife. She comes and circumcises their son for him. So, what is the role of a wife when her husband has failed to perform his priesthood duties? That’s a delicate question. That can only be answered with the help of the Spirit and I’m sure is different depending on one’s situation. But it’s aan important question to consider. What is a loving spouse to do when the failure to perform a priesthood duty has placed their family in spiritual jeopardy? In Zipporah’s case. She acts. And when she says, “Surely thou art a bloody husband unto me”, I don’t believe she’s expressing anger or frustration, she appears to be affirming a covenant relationship. Look at footnote 25b back in Exodus. This expression could also be translated as “bridegroom of blood” and refers to a covenant. And however we interpret Zipporah’s actions here, we do know that “the Lord spared Moses and let him go, because Zipporah, his wife, circumcised the child”.
What’s the message I see here? Women, in their role as help meets, can spare their husbands and families. They encourage, they inspire, they urge, motivate, counsel, persuade, and invite their husbands, or sons, or others, to do what’s right. There are many examples of this that we’ve already seen this year in Genesis. We have Eve helping Adam understand the necessity of partaking of the fruit. We have Sarah demanding the separation of Isaac and Ishmael. We have Rebekah urging Isaac to send Jacob to Haran for a covenant spouse, we have Rachel and Leah counseling with Jacob regarding the family’s return to Canaan—many examples of righteous wives influencing their husbands for good. And we’ll see many more examples like this to come in the Old Testament.
TRUTH
If I lead by example, I can encourage and inspire others to fulfill their duties.
LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
Is there anything you can do to help inspire or motivate those around you to do what’s right?
CONCLUSION
So, with that, I hope I’ve been able to help you see just how important these women were to the life and calling of Moses. And to conclude this portion of the lesson—I invite you to ponder which of these women’s qualities you most admire and need right now in your life? Do you need the courage of Shiphrah and Puah, the faith of Jochebed, the compassion of Pharoah’s daughter, the nurture and care of Miriam, or the righteous example of Zipporah? I bear witness that the more closely you resemble the Christlike qualities of these wonderful women, the more blessed and instrumental you will be in accomplishing God’s work.
I WILL SEND THEE!
ICEBREAKER
Now to Moses himself. And you know the story. After Moses is raised in Egypt, he leaves and goes to Midian. And personally, I prefer the New Testament explanation for why he leaves in either Acts 7:23-29, or Hebrews 11:24-27, that that was an act of faith and not fear. But there he marries Zipporah, has two sons, and finds himself living very simply and, I imagine, happily as a shepherd, tending to the flocks of his father-in-law. But the Lord intended Moses to care for and lead a very different kind of flock—the Children of Israel. And for an icebreaker, I invite my students to share a time when they feel they were asked to do something very difficult. What’s a difficult thing they’ve been asked to do by God? Now I can think of a few of those things for myself. The call to serve a mission was a difficult one for me. I didn’t feel my abilities matched the magnitude of the task. When I was called to serve as bishop, I felt the same way. When I was called to be a Father, I felt the same thing. When I first stood in front of a classroom of teenagers with the task of getting them interested and excited about the scriptures, I felt the same thing. And this doesn’t have to be a question only of callings. When I consider the charge to become like Christ, or resist all temptation, or to stand as a witness of Christ at all times, in all things, and in all places, I feel that same overwhelming weight of responsibility and expectation.
TRANSITION
Well, Moses is going to be called to do something very difficult. He’s going to be called to free the Children of Israel from the most powerful civilization of his day. It would almost be like one of us going to the President of the United States and demanding that a law be changed, or a project completed, or for a state to be allowed to secede from the nation. He’d be very likely to say, “Who do you think you are, and what makes you think that you have any authority to tell me what to do?” The account of Moses’ calling has a lot to teach us about being asked to do difficult things so let’s take a look at how God introduces this task to his future prophet.
SEARCH
Let’s begin in Exodus 3:7
7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
(Now that’s a great message in and of itself. When we’re afflicted, it helps to know that God sees, and hears, and knows)
8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
And can’t you just see Moses there agreeing with everything he’s hearing. Yes, Lord, that’s right. They are facing great affliction and opposition. This sounds like a wonderful idea God. IT’s about time you did something about this! I fully support you in this decision. And then God says:
10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
And Moses is like “Wait, say what now, what now?” Send me? Oh, now wadt a minute. That’s not what I though you meant. You do this, Lord. I know that you can accomplish this great work. You are God! And then Moses starts to offer up his concerns and reasons for why he’s not the best choice to accomplish this great feat. I don’t like to call them excuses necessarily, but concerns.
So let’s examine them and the way the Lord responds to those concerns. This is a good place to have your students do some personal study of this interaction. You can have them fill out the following handout as they study Exodus 3:11-22 and chapter 4:1-17.
And here’s what they’ll find:
Concern #1 (3:11) Moses says: Who am I that I should go unto Pharoah, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? So, I can’t do this. I’m not capable. Who am I to fulfill such a grandiose task? I’m sure Moses could have given fifty different reasons for why he wasn’t the right man for the job. Now, consider this for a moment: Who is it that Moses doubts? Does he doubt God? Does he doubt, God’s power? Does he doubt the Spirit? No, who does he doubt? Himself. He doesn’t feel like HE is capable of doing this great thing. I think that’s an important point to make. One of the greatest tests of faith we’ll have in this life is learning to believe in ourselves, in our own capacity to do what the Lord asks of us.
And watch how patient God is with him:
Answer #1 (3:12) And he said, “Certainly I will be with thee”. With me on your side Moses, you can’t lose! You are not alone. I’ll help you to accomplish this thing. You have no need to worry. I will be with you.
Concern #2 (3:13) When the people ask who has sent me, what will I say unto them? I think that’s Moses’ way of saying. How am I going to convince the people that I’ve been sent by God. I mean, Who do you think he’s more worried about? Is he worried about standing in front of Pharaoh or the members of the Egyptian court? Probably not. He spent 40 years there. He probably knows most of the people. We know that he was mighty in words and deeds in Egypt as well (Acts 7:22). But who is he worried about convincing? It’s the people. The Children of Israel themselves. That’s his major concern.
God’s Answer #2 (14-15)
14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.
15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
And I really like that title for God. I AM. All caps. I think’s that a great reminder to anyone out there that would doubt the existence of God or wonder about a God that requires that we walk by faith. What should we call him? I AM. I AM THAT I AM. I exist. I am real. I am here. I am the only God. Great title
Moses continues with that concern though,
Concern #3 (4:1) And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.
Again, he’s worried about convincing the people that he’s been called. So not only will they not believe me, they won’t even listen to me.
So how does God respond to this concern?
Answer #3 (4:2-9)
He gives him some signs to perform. There are three. His rod turning into a snake, his hand bearing leprosy, and turning water into blood. I think this shows that God can give his people special gifts or abilities to help them perform the tasks he wants them to fulfill. So, we don’t always have to bring those gifts naturally ourselves. God can provide us with those abilities when we need them.
Still, Moses struggles to feel he can do this thing. So . . .
Concern #4 (4:10)
10 And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
Answer #4 (4:11-12)
The Lord’s answer? Who made your mouth Moses? I did. Therefore, also I can fill it.
Again. God is really patient with Moses. Isn’t he? All through his objections, he keeps trying to build him and encourage him. And in verse 12, “Now therefore GO!”
Those are great words for anybody who is doubting their ability to accomplish something God’s asked of them. These are great words for the young man or woman feeling inadequate to serve a mission. Now therefore Go! And I will be with thy mouth. These are great words for a member being asked to fill a difficult calling. One they don’t feel qualified for. God says, “Now therefore GO and serve as Relief Society President. Go, and serve as Gospel Doctrine teacher. Go and teach the sunbeams. You can do this! This is the one thing I can’t do for you. You must GO! And then I can give you the words. Then I can give you the gifts of the Spirt. Then I can be with you.
Now, he’s still nervous and makes one final plea to God.
Concern #5 (4:13)
13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. In other words, send somebody else. I can’t do this. After all that! He still doubts himself. It’s comforting to see Moses in such a human moment.
Answer #5 (4:14-15)
14 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.
Now, God does seem to get a little frustrated at this point. All right Moses, take Aaron with you. He’ll stand by you and help you to accomplish this thing. You don’t have to do it alone. And he does the same for us. God gives missionaries companions, and district leaders, and mission presidents. He gives bishops and presidents counselors, and he gives us quorums and organizations, and fathers and mothers, and brothers, and sisters, and teachers, and prophets, and bishops and youth leaders. None are asked to accomplish the difficult tasks of mortality on our own. We’re given sufficient help to accomplish all the things the Lord has commanded us.
TRUTH
What lessons for life do you see being taught here?
For one: God accomplishes his work through us. Rather than come down and do everything himself, he calls people—imperfect, insecure, and inconsistent people. And I’m sure that requires a great deal of trust and patience, but he copes with it and includes us in his work. “I will send thee,” he says. “You will be my hands. You will accomplish my will and do great things in my name.” Because in the end, it’s us that are his great work and glory. He’s building people into gods and how can we ever expect to become such if we’re not given opportunities to grow.
And then, a companion truth: How would you finish this statement?
If the Lord asks me to do something, THEN (what do I know) I can do it. The ability to accomplish what he is asking is inherent in the request. If you weren’t able to do it, then he wouldn’t ask.
It reminds me of this famous quote from President Thomas S. Monson:
“Now, some of you may be shy by nature or consider yourselves inadequate to respond affirmatively to a calling. Remember that this work is not yours and mine alone. It is the Lord’s work, and when we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. Remember that whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.”
Thomas S. Monson
(Duty Calls, Conference Report, May 1996)
LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
This might be a good time to ask: What are some of the difficult things God may ask us to do? Then have your student’s brainstorm that for a while. Here’s a list of possibilities:
Reject and resist temptation
Overcome a bad habit and addictions
Change your lifestyle or personality
Conquer fear
Master talents
Fulfill a difficult calling
Consecrate all you have and are to me
Let go of traditions
Forgive the unforgiveable
Love the unloveable
Maintain faith in a God of goodness in face of trials, who allows incredible suffering
Endure crushing disappointment or betrayal
Rise from an oppressive, abusive environment
Live chaste in an immoral world
Mend broken relationships
It’s clear that we believe in a God that doesn’t shy away from asking us to do difficult things. But when he does, we can take courage in the example of Moses and others, that when we act in faith and move on these things regardless of all the great reasons we can give for why we can’t, then we WILL accomplish all the Lord has commanded us to do.
So another question:
When have you felt that God gave you the power to do something you didn’t feel you could do on your own?
For me, one of those times is right now! I truly feel that God has sustained me these past few years as I’ve served as Bishop of my ward, put together these lessons each week and still try to be a good employee, a good husband, and a good father. I know I couldn’t do it all on my own. The Lord has offered me grace, support, and ability, for which I’m forever grateful.
CONCLUSION
Remember that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is not just about overcoming our sins and weaknesses and temptations. It’s also there to help us overcome our shortcomings and inadequacies. The atonement is an enabling power that makes it possible for us to do what we feel we cannot. When God asks us to do something, we may be tempted to insist that we’re not capable of doing it. And you know what. We’re right. We can’t, on our own. But with God, all things are possible. As Paul said, “I can do all thing through Christ, which strengtheneth me.” (Phillippians 4:13) Now we, like Moses, may have an entire list of reasons for why we can’t do something. You could argue with me: But Brother Wilcox, you don’t understand. You don’t know my situation. You don’t know my background. You don’t know my abilities. You don’t know my weaknesses. I can’t do this thing! And you know what, you’re right, I don’t know your situation. I don’t realize your background. I can’t comprehend exactly where you’re coming from. But I do know my Heavenly Father. I do know his power. I do comprehend the nature of his promises. If HE has asked you to do it, Then I know you can. Through Christ we are well able, through Christ we are more than conquerors, through Christ, we can do the impossible. Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.
As I studied this block of scripture this time, there was a verse that stood out to me in a way that it never has before. At first glance, it may not seem like a very significant verse. It’s Exodus 4:20.
20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.
Seems simple right? But when you stop to think about it, that’s quite the image isn’t it. It’s almost ridiculous from the outward appearance. This small little family moving slowly towards Egypt. Can you just see Pharoah shaking in his boots? Perhaps a worried messenger running up to his throne and saying “Master, Master, Moses is returning to free his people from bondage. What will we do? And the Pharoah responds. Oh no, who is he bringing, what army is accompanying him, what weapons has he gathered? What fearsome mercenaries has he organized to take on the might of the Egyptian nation?” Well master, he’s got his wife, two babies, and a donkey. Oh! And he has a stick! Can you imagine Pharoah just laughing at that image. It’s ridiculous isn’t it. And yet, and yet, that simple old man, and his family, and that stick will bring the most powerful country of that day to its knees. How, because God is with him! And I believe that we too can accomplish the impossible, no matter how weak or inadequate we look or feel.
MAKING BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW
ICEBREAKER
One more principle here. I feel there’s a lesson in the brick making story of Exodus 5. To introduce it, I like to share this little illustration about a hairy little insect called the processionary caterpillar. These caterpillars are known to follow each other in straight lines towards food. And there’s a famous experiment conducted by French naturalist Jean Henri Fabre who took a flowerpot and placed a number of these processionary caterpillars in a single-file line around the edge of the pot's rim. Each caterpillar's head touching the end of the caterpillar in front of it. Fabre` then placed food right in the middle of the circle created by the caterpillars' procession around the rim of the flowerpot. What do you think happened? Well, round and round they went for seven days! Until they started to drop dead from exhaustion and starvation, with the food right there next to them the whole time. Why? Because they had a task to do. They were too busy following the caterpillar in front of them to stop and take care of themselves. And we may shake our heads and say: Silly caterpillars. But you know, sometimes I think people are just like those foolish little caterpillars.
SEARCH
That illustration reminds of this story about the children of Israel here in Exodus 5. To cover this story, you could use this study guide. And here are the questions:
What does Moses ask Pharoah for?
We’ve got to be careful in answering this one because we might be tempted to say. To let his people go. You know, the famous line. But that’s not it. He asks to let his people go that they may offer sacrifices unto the Lord. That was it! Moses’ initial request was not to free them from bondage altogether, but to just give them some time to go worship.
How does Pharoah react to this request?
Not very well. He requires the people to continue meeting their daily tale or quota for making bricks, but without providing them with any straw. Mud bricks require straw in the mix in order for them to be strong and stay together. So this would require the people to work extra hard to go out and try and find their own straw to create the bricks. Of course, this was impossible for them, and they were beaten and punished for it.
What is Pharoah’s explanation for his reaction? Let’s look at a couple of verses:
4 And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.
5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.
8 And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.
17 But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord.
18 Go therefore now, and work;
He basically says that if they have all this time to worship the Lord, then they must not be busy enough.
How is Pharoah like Satan in this thing?
I believe that the adversary makes the same suggestion to us. He says, “You don’t have time for God. You’re too busy. You’ve got bricks to make!” And therefore, we never find ourselves with a chance to connect with God or our spirituality because we are too preoccupied with making bricks. And we all have different kinds of bricks to make. Some make lawyer bricks, others doctor bricks, some plumber bricks, and I make teaching bricks, but they’re all just bricks that require time and work to create. And that work is a good thing. Having a strong work ethic is a positive and godly trait. But all things require balance. We also need God and stillness in our lives as well. We need to make time for rest, worship, meditation, prayer, scripture study, and temple worship. But what is often the most common excuse for neglecting these things. I’M TOO BUSY! The taskmasters demand we do more. We find ourselves, either through the demands of the world or our own desires for more, making bricks without straw. I find it fascinating that, in our modern world, we have been given incredibly powerful tools that reduce the amount of time and effort it takes to do things. We have so many time saving devices these days. Cars, cell phones, microwaves, washing machines, fast food, robots, and services that do almost everything for us. You would think we would have an incredible amount of free time on our hands compared to our ancestors. And yet, we’ve never been so busy as a society. Our daily tasks, like those of the Israelites, seem to stretch and grow and fill more and more of our time, leaving less time for much needed worship, rest, and solitude. In a sense, we become slaves to our burdens, to our work, and just like with the Children of Israel, the taskmasters of busyness are never satisfied. The tale of bricks must be met. Bu the truth of the matter is that we need time to rest from our worldly labors. We need time to focus on God, our purpose, and our spirituality
Gordon B. Hinckley talked about this. He said:
“We need to build ourselves spiritually. We live in a world of rush and go, of running here and there and in every direction. We are very busy people. We have so much to do. We need to get off by ourselves once in awhile and think of the spiritual things and build ourselves spiritually.”
(Brigham City Utah Regional Conference, priesthood leadership session, February 22, 1997.)
Gordon B. Hinckley, Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1997], 608 - 609.)
TRUTH
What do you feel is the moral of the story? I’d put it this way:
It is good to rest from our labors and make time for worship, respite, and meditation.
LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
Then, some questions to help your students apply this truth.
How would you describe your life right now?
A. Very relaxed, lots of free time.
B. Balanced. I have things to do, but I also have sufficient free time.
C. Busy. My plate is pretty full right now.
D. Super busy and hectic. It doesn’t feel like I have a minute’s rest
What would you do if you had 2 extra hours in your day?
How much time do you set aside for spiritual things each day? (Prayer, scripture study, meditation, silence)
Is it enough? Why or why not?
If you feel you need more time to attend to spiritual matters, what “bricks” are you willing to let go so that you can?
CONCLUSION
Well my friends, let’s do what we can to avoid the “Bricks without straw” conundrum. Please be careful not become a slave to your brickmaking. Let’s not be processionary caterpillars. And just think, because they couldn’t stop marching, they were never able to reach their full potential. They died of exhaustion before they could ever do that. Now if they had stopped and rested, and nourished themselves. What would they have eventually become? What do caterpillars turn into? Butterflies. Something far more vibrant and capable. They could have learned how to fly. But before caterpillars do that, they must first rest, and go into their cocoons for a time. And that’s when they change. That’s when they develop into something far greater. That’s when they develop their capacity to fly. I believe it’s the same with us. Rest from your labors, ponder your connection with God, make time for yourself, and you too, I believe, will learn how to fly. Don’t make bricks without straw!
