1. Moses spent forty years learning to be somebody.
2. Moses spent forty years learning he was a nobody.
3. Moses spent forty years learning that God is everything.

The first eighty years are covered in Exodus 2.

1. Marriage- Verse 1
This marriage occurred before the edicts of Exodus 1:16 & 22. Miriam and Aaron were both older siblings of Moses. These edicts were probably not in effect long. Note well that this family was of the tribe of Levi.

2. A Child From God- Verse 2
Beyond the ordinary parental affection there was something about Moses that caused his mother to desire his preservation (Acts 7:17-20). Her efforts were acts of faith (Hebrews 11:23). This would imply that in some way God had spoken to them of Moses.

3. A Desperate Plan- Verses 3-4
While the preservation of Moses was providential it would appear that his mother's plan was laid out in hope of what actually occurred. Perhaps the site was chosen because it was common for royalty to bathe there. Rushes were often used to build boats (Isaiah 18:2). (People familiar with the local color of ancient Egypt realize the extreme accuracy of the Bible record. Only someone in Egypt would know that the rich bathed in rivers or that reeds were used to make boats).

4. Providential Preservation- Verses 5-6
As Moses' mother hoped the babe was found, the woman's heart was touched by the cries of the beautiful baby. Notice here God's marvelous providence:
a. Pharaoh's daughter was first to find the babe.
b. She alone could safely ignore her father's decree.
c. Moses was a beautiful child and wept at the right time to touch the woman's heart.

5. God Honors Faith- Verses 7-9
Was Miriam instructed to do this? Perhaps so. At any rate God honored the faith of Moses' parents. He was not only saved from death but they were paid to raise him. There can be little doubt that they taught him about God's promises to Abraham concerning Israel. Who would deny that God used his mother's instruction to produce the faith in Moses that caused him to renounce Egypt (Hebrews 11:24-27). These scriptures also give a wonderful illustration of Psalm 76:10. Pharaoh desired to destroy Israel but unwittingly his wrath caused Moses to be trained up to deliver them while Egypt paid the bill. Truly there is no counsel against the Lord (Proverbs 21:30).

6. Worldly Greatness- Verse 10
Moses was actually adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter. She named him in memory of his rescue. This was perhaps intended to remind him of his debt to her. He was given the best education available. For forty years he lived as a prince. At age forty he was physically powerful, learned, eloquent, and a man of action (Acts 7:21-22). More worthy of note was his love for God and His downtrodden people (Acts 7:23).
Truly he was "somebody" however he had yet to learn that God uses those know their own weakness (II Corinthians 12:9).