Exodus chapters 1 to 6 in the King James Bible (KJV) set the stage for one of the most significant events in biblical history: the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. These chapters introduce key figures, such as Moses and Pharaoh, and outline God’s plan to free His people. Through the hardships of slavery and the emergence of a divinely appointed leader, we see God’s providence and His faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Exodus 1: The Israelites Oppressed in Egypt
The first chapter of Exodus begins by recounting how the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob (also called Israel), have grown exceedingly numerous in Egypt. After Joseph’s death, a new Pharaoh arises who does not remember Joseph or his contributions to Egypt’s survival during the famine. Concerned that the Israelites are becoming too powerful, this new Pharaoh views them as a threat to national security.
To control the growing Israelite population, Pharaoh imposes harsh slavery on them, forcing them to build cities like Pithom and Raamses. Despite the oppression, the Israelites continue to multiply. Pharaoh then orders the Hebrew midwives to kill all newborn Hebrew boys. However, the midwives, fearing God, defy Pharaoh’s order and allow the boys to live. When Pharaoh confronts them, they claim the Hebrew women give birth before the midwives arrive. As a result, God blesses the midwives, and the Israelites continue to grow in number.
Frustrated, Pharaoh gives a new command: every Hebrew boy must be thrown into the river, a decree that sets the stage for the birth of the central figure of the Exodus story, Moses.
Exodus 2: The Birth of Moses and His Early Life
In Exodus 2, Moses, the future deliverer of Israel, is born to a Levite couple. His mother, recognizing that he is a “goodly” child, hides him for three months to protect him from Pharaoh’s deadly decree. When she can no longer hide him, she places Moses in a basket and sets him adrift on the Nile River.
Pharaoh’s daughter discovers the basket and has compassion on the crying infant. She decides to raise the child as her own, naming him Moses, which means “drawn out” of the water. In an act of providence, Moses’ own mother is hired to nurse him, ensuring that he receives care from his biological family while growing up in Pharaoh’s household.
As Moses grows older, he becomes aware of his Hebrew heritage. One day, while witnessing the harsh treatment of his fellow Israelites, Moses intervenes when he sees an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave, killing the Egyptian in the process. Fearing for his life, Moses flees to the land of Midian, where he helps the daughters of Jethro, a priest of Midian, at a well. Jethro welcomes Moses into his home, and Moses marries Jethro’s daughter, Zipporah. They have a son named Gershom, meaning “a stranger in a strange land.”
As the chapter ends, the king of Egypt dies, and the Israelites cry out to God because of their oppression. God hears their groaning and remembers His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, setting the stage for Moses’ calling.
Exodus 3: The Burning Bush and God’s Call to Moses
In Exodus 3, while tending Jethro’s flock on Mount Horeb, Moses encounters a miraculous sight: a bush that is on fire but is not consumed by the flames. As Moses approaches, God calls to him from the bush, telling him to remove his sandals because the ground is holy.
God introduces Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and reveals His plan to deliver the Israelites from Egypt. God tells Moses that He has seen the suffering of His people and that He will rescue them from slavery, bringing them into a land flowing with milk and honey—the land of Canaan.
God appoints Moses to be His messenger and the leader of Israel’s deliverance. Moses is hesitant, questioning why he should be the one to confront Pharaoh. God reassures Moses, saying that He will be with him, and provides a sign: when Moses brings the Israelites out of Egypt, they will worship God on this mountain.
Moses then asks what he should say if the Israelites question God’s identity. God responds with the powerful declaration, “I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:14 KJV), instructing Moses to tell the Israelites that “I AM” has sent him. God also tells Moses that He will harden Pharaoh’s heart, making the exodus a display of God’s power and glory. Despite Pharaoh’s resistance, the Israelites will leave Egypt with great wealth, plundering the Egyptians as part of their deliverance.
Exodus 4: Moses’ Objections and God’s Signs
In Exodus 4, Moses continues to express doubt about his ability to lead. He fears that the Israelites will not believe that God has sent him. In response, God gives Moses three signs to demonstrate His power. First, God turns Moses’ staff into a serpent and then back into a staff. Second, He makes Moses’ hand leprous and then heals it. Finally, God tells Moses to turn water from the Nile into blood.
Despite these signs, Moses still protests, claiming that he is not eloquent and is “slow of speech.” God assures Moses that He will help him speak, but Moses pleads for someone else to be sent. In anger, God agrees to send Moses’ brother, Aaron, to assist him. Aaron will act as Moses’ spokesman, but Moses will still be the leader.
With God’s command settled, Moses returns to Egypt, taking his family with him. Along the way, God reminds Moses that Pharaoh’s heart will be hardened, and only after great signs and wonders will he let the Israelites go. This sets up the coming confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh.
Exodus 5: Moses and Aaron Confront Pharaoh
In Exodus 5, Moses and Aaron obey God’s command and go to Pharaoh with a simple message: “Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness” (Exodus 5:1 KJV). Pharaoh, however, responds with defiance, asking, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go?” (Exodus 5:2 KJV). Pharaoh refuses to acknowledge the God of Israel and instead increases the Israelites’ burdens.
Pharaoh commands the taskmasters to stop providing straw for brick-making, forcing the Israelites to gather their own straw while maintaining their daily quota of bricks. This intensified workload leads to the Israelites’ leaders being beaten and their frustration mounting. The Israelites, in turn, blame Moses and Aaron for their worsening situation.
Moses, disheartened by the outcome, cries out to God, questioning why He has sent him and why things have only gotten worse for the people. Moses’ uncertainty sets the stage for God to reveal His full plan of deliverance.
Exodus 6: God Reaffirms His Promise
Exodus 6 begins with God responding to Moses’ doubts. God reassures Moses that Pharaoh will soon see His power and be forced to let the Israelites go. God reminds Moses of the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, promising to give their descendants the land of Canaan.
God also reveals Himself to Moses as “Jehovah,” emphasizing His eternal nature and faithfulness. He tells Moses that He will bring the Israelites out of Egypt with a “stretched out arm” and redeem them with great judgments. This declaration is followed by God’s promise that the Israelites will be His people and that He will be their God.
Moses delivers this message to the Israelites, but their spirits are broken by the harshness of their slavery, and they do not listen to him. Despite this, God commands Moses and Aaron to return to Pharaoh and demand that he let the Israelites go. The chapter ends with a genealogy of Moses and Aaron, affirming their place in the lineage of Levi and their role in God’s plan for deliverance.
Conclusion
Exodus 1 to 6 establishes the foundation for the dramatic events that will follow in the story of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. These chapters introduce Moses as the chosen leader, detail the oppression of the Israelites, and reveal God’s unwavering plan to fulfill His covenant promises. Despite Moses’ initial reluctance and Pharaoh’s hard-heartedness, God’s plan is set in motion, and the stage is prepared for the powerful confrontation between God and the forces of Egypt. These early chapters remind us of God’s faithfulness, His compassion for His people, and His ability to use even the most unlikely individuals to accomplish His will.