Readings for January 16-22, 2025

Be sure to check out the chart at the end of the notes on this week’s readings.

We use quite a range of sources of information in the notes posted on the blog.  Some information comes from books that are not included in the Bible, historical references of culture and customs. We use a Jewish encyclopedia, Greek and Hebrew dictionaries and encyclopedias.  These study tools have helped us to understand words, phrases and concepts that reflect the Hebrew and Jewish language and culture.  We rely on the Chumash which includes information from other Jewish writings, not included in Scripture and the Talmud which is a Jewish text that covers all subject matters fundamental to Jewish life.  It also interprets the Torah and includes the  oral part of the law handed down through the generations. 

JANUARY 16

The commentary in the Chronological Bible mentions that in the last days Edom will be singled out as a special object of God's punishment.  During the last days, in the Day of the Lord, Edom will be one of the places of safety where believers who live in Judah will flee for protection. (Matthew 24:16)

Today's reading is full of genealogies. While we may think genealogies are insignificant as reading material, they are very significant in documenting genealogy and family histories.  There is a chart posted that shows all the descendants of Jacob and Esau that may help in trying to understand such genealogy. 

Pay attention to times in Scripture that the name Jacob is used and the time Israel is used, even though Jacob’s name was changed to Israel. See if this is true.  The times the name Jacob is used pertains to physical and mundane matters.  The times the name Israel is used pertains to matters reflecting the spiritual role of the Patriarch and his descendants.

As an act of defiance toward Isaac, Esau married Canaanite women including Ishmael’s daughters. These are the women that Abraham didn't want Isaac to marry. The land of Canaan was given to Jacob as part of the blessing, passed from Abraham through Isaac.   Esau was excluded from this blessing. Even though Jacob received the blessing instead of the first born Esau, Esau was certainly not deprived.  His wealth through his animals and possessions was numerous. By moving to the hill country of Seir, Esau was paving the way for Jacob to claim his promised blessing. This land was promised by God to Esau.

Deu 2:5b   I have given Mount Seir to Esau for a possession. 

When God makes a promise, He makes a way for that promise to be fulfilled. 

Did you notice in Genesis 36:24 among all the genealogical listings, this verse, "This is Anah who discovered the hot springs in the desert while he was grazing the donkeys of his father Zibeon."

We wondered about the significance of this verse and what the hot springs were and why it was even mentioned.  Well...as usual...it took us on a journey.  The original Hebrew word for hot springs is "yem" and can mean "hot springs" or it can mean "mule".  Yes, you read that right, mule,(as in offspring of donkey and horse).  Now there are many suggestions as to the range of possible meanings of the word "yem".  It is closely tied to the Hebrew word "yom" which means "a period of the time of an event".   If it does mean mule, that could mean that Anah either discovered this breed while grazing donkeys or he is the one who did the cross-breeding with the donkey and the horse to produce the mule. The Hebrew word for donkey is "male donkey". The word for female donkey is a different Hebrew word.  It is the male donkey bred to the female horse to produce the mule. Mules cannot reproduce, something not in God’s plan. Our thinking is that the word actually means "mule" and is there as a warning.  Don't mess with God's plan.  Don't be cross breeding animals. Just a thought…

JANUARY 17

Jealousy surfaces among brothers. Joseph's multi-colored coat was a major source of contention between Joseph and his brothers. It was a symbol that Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons. This coat was probably of a kind worn by royalty, long-sleeved, ankle length and colorful. Most coats were knee length, short sleeve and plain.  Coats were used for sleeping mats, blankets, pillows. suitcases, and even as security for loans.  Coats were an important possession and often considered a commodity for bargaining purposes.

His brothers already hated him and then when Joseph told them about his dreams, they hated him all the more.  Joseph's dream of sheaves of grain in a field bowing down to his sheaf of grain was interpreted by his brothers to mean that they would bow down to Joseph. This dream of course was prophetic in nature.  In reality, later on in Egypt, the brothers would bow down to Joseph.

In another prophetic dream the sun, moon, and eleven stars were bowing to Joseph. Jacob's interpretation of this dream was that Joseph's parents and brothers would bow to him.  This dream was quite different from the dream concerning the sheaves of grain.  The dream of the grain was fulfilled while Joseph was living.  The second dream about the sun, moon, and stars has not yet been fulfilled. At this point in time, Joseph's mother was dead, therefore that dream will be fulfilled at some time during the Millennium, indicating that they will be raised in the Millennium.  Scripture suggests that Joseph will be given a high position in the Millennium Kingdom.

Joseph’s brothers’ jealousy had reached a crescendo when they plotted to kill him. Only Reuben and Judah (sons of Leah) were against killing Joseph.  They threw Joseph in a cistern, the cistern was empty; there was no water in it.  Isn’t it obvious that if the cistern was empty that meant there was no water?  The cistern was empty with no water however there were other things there; dead animals, snakes, scorpions, anything that may have fallen in and were either still there or their decomposing bodies were. 

Joseph was sold to the Midianite Ishmaelites.  The Midianites were Ishmaelites who lived in Midian.  Then he was sold to Potiphar in Egypt. Midianite merchants were Ishmaelites who lived in Midian.  The Chumash reports that Joseph was sold several times.  Potipher paid a large sum for Joseph because he recognized that Joseph was not a slave.  He had no signs that he had been treated as property, no callused hands or any other marks or evidence of slave labor. Some records tell that Potipher bought Joseph from the Ishmaelites for 400 pieces of silver. The Ishmaelites bought Joseph for only 20 pieces of silver.  Quite a profit for the Ishmaelites.

When Jacob was shown Joseph's blood-stained coat, he feared the worst, tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and wept for his son.  This was a customary sign of mourning or sorrow. When Jacob was mourning the supposed death of Joseph, his daughters (plural) came to comfort him. 

The Book of Jasher is filled with details about the exploits of Jacob's sons.  They were mighty men with supernatural strength and ability empowered by the Lord. Remember Jacob's strength in moving the stone from the well in an earlier reading (Genesis 29).  Two sons of Jacob demonstrated this supernatural strength in the killing of all the men of Shechem, as they avenged the rape of their sister.

Many years have passed.

Quite an unusual story of Judah's sons and Tamar.  According to the Jewish encyclopedia in Rabbinical literature, Tamar was a descendent of Shem, son of Noah. Two of Judah’s sons die, at God’s hand, while married to Tamar. Later Judah seeks a woman after the death of his wife so he goes to a shrine prostitute. These pagan shrine prostitutes committed the act of prostitution as an act of worship, committed by both men and women. They did this for the glory of their false gods, such as the goddess Asherah and the false god Baal, among others. Judah, thinking he was with a shrine prostitute, was with his daughter-in-law, who conceived and gave birth to twin sons, Perez and Zerah. 

The daughters of Lot have something in common with Tamar. Just another example of how God uses events laden with sin to fulfill His later and greater purpose.

JANUARY 18

“The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered…”

Joseph prospered? As a slave? How can this be?

When we have God's presence with us we will prosper…not by the world’s standards necessarily, but certainly by God’s standards. This is a great lesson for us. Serve the Lord, no matter our station in life.

How did Potipher know that the Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered?  Why didn' t he give credit to the Egyptian sun god, Ra?  Could it be that Joseph was quick to give God the credit?  Notice Potipher was also rewarded.

Joseph refused to succumb to the temptation of Potiphar’s wife and called it a sin against God.  He knew that the act of adultery or fornication was a sin against God. Joseph's character certainly was displayed at this time. Other historical writings tell us that Potiphar knew Joseph's character and also the character of his wife and he believed Joseph. However, in order to save face with his wife and his servants, he sent Joseph to jail. The jail in which Joseph was placed was different from the Roman jails of Jesus' day. In many cases the jails were more like houses. Depending on the person and their crime, often it was more like house arrest instead of being thrown into a dark and damp dungeon.  The apostle Paul experienced both kinds of prisons.

Joseph is brought before Pharaoh to interpret a dream.  Joseph must have been very relieved to say the least, to be freed from the prison, but he does something very gutsy.  When Pharaoh asks Joseph to interpret the dream, Joseph responds with, "I cannot do it."  He risked everything with this statement.  But was quick to give God the credit.

The Biblical "two-witness" rule is applied even to Pharaoh's dream.  "The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon."

After Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dream, Pharaoh puts Joseph in charge of the whole land of Egypt.  Joseph is now second in command, second only to Pharaoh himself.  No one in Egypt has more authority than Joseph, including Pharaoh's sons. Once the king issues an order it cannot be retracted.  Even Pharaoh knew that the spirit of God was in Joseph.  Otherwise why would the king of Egypt give such power and authority to a Hebrew slave?

Joseph was about 17 when he first came to Egypt and was 30 when he entered into service with Pharaoh.  Once he entered into service with Pharaoh, Joseph's life was truly blessed.

God provided an abundant harvest for seven years. They were able to store up huge quantities of grain (one fifth the amount raised in the land) and still have an abundance.

Joseph's two sons. Manasseh and Ephraim are born in Egypt.  These two sons will be extremely significant in the genealogical record.  The Torah tells that Joseph’s wife Asenath adopted Joseph’s spiritual and moral outlook and that their two sons were raised and dedicated to the ideals of Joseph and not to the idolaters in Egypt.  In fact, Jewish parents bless their children in this way, “God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh’”  Genesis 48:20 The highest blessing a Jewish parent can give a child.

When the famine hits the land of Canaan hard, Israel (Jacob) protects Benjamin and refuses to let him go with the brothers to Egypt to get grain.  Later the tribe of Benjamin will also be protected.

Wonder why Joseph didn't go to see his family in Canaan once he was no longer a slave? Guess he was a little busy running things in Egypt!

JANUARY 19

The sons of Jacob (minus Benjamin) travel to Egypt for grain.  Several sources place the location of Joseph in the Lower Egypt delta area. (Lower Egypt is actually in the north and Upper Egypt is in the south - the Nile River runs south to north.)  This was many miles from Jacob's home, not an easy journey.  Most likely they traveled near the Mediterranean Sea and down to Egypt.  According to some Jewish writing, the brothers had planned to inquire about Joseph while in Egypt.

What must Joseph have thought when he saw the fulfillment of his dream of sheaves bowing down as his brothers bowed down before him?  He knew that both dreams would be fulfilled.

Even though Joseph knew his brothers, his brothers did not recognize him.  Of course Joseph had changed drastically since the brothers last saw him.  And, chances are Joseph was dressed as Egyptian royalty.  Joseph also did not reveal that he spoke their language and spoke to them through an interpreter.

Joseph didn't make things easy for his brothers when they came for grain.  First he accused them of being spies. He accused them of this particular crime  to stop their attempt to learn the whereabouts of their long-lost brother. If they heard talk about a Hebrew slave who became second in command, through a succession of dreams, they might figure out that he might be their brother. If they were under suspicion of being spies, they would not dare circulate through the city asking questions.  Joseph told them they must send one of the brothers to get the youngest son Benjamin, then placed them all in custody for three days. On the third day, Joseph reverses things and then tells them that they all may go after the youngest brother and only one brother, (Simeon) the one who had thrown Joseph into the well, must remain in custody. Reuben, the oldest was the most logical one to remain in custody but Reuben had tried to protect Joseph.  Simeon was the next oldest.

The Chumash says that Joseph ordered that the money be put back in the top of one of the sacks and the other sacks had the money placed at the bottom.

After returning to their home, Jacob's sons must explain to their father why his son Simeon is not with them.  What is the significance of Reuben offering both his sons as “hostage” in the situation concerning the return of Benjamin?  Could it be that if Reuben's sons were killed, then Reuben would suffer as Jacob suffered at the loss of Benjamin and Joseph?  Judah, however, offered himself to Jacob as personally responsible for the safety of Benjamin.  Maybe they were all feeling a little bit guilty.

Apparently Jacob hadn't planned to send his sons back to Egypt for Simeon.  It wasn't until the famine continued and they needed more grain that he sent them on a return trip.  This time they took some of the best products of the land.  These products came from trees that weren't as affected by the famine as other crops were.  They were also products that were not readily available in Egypt.
Wonder what the brothers thought when Joseph seated them in order of their birth? It says they were astonished. 

Judah presents himself as a protector of Benjamin. It is the beginning of the alliance with Judah and Benjamin as together they will later be known as the Jews.

Judah’s character surfaces once again as he offers himself in place of Benjamin (a foreshadowing of Jesus’ offer). His willingness to defend Benjamin, to honor his father, and be willing to substitute himself could be another reason the line of the Messiah comes through Judah.

Genesis 45:8b
And He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler over all the land of Egypt. 

Notice in the above verse it says "He has made me a father to Pharaoh", MKJV

That little word "a" is left out in the NIV.  Speculation is that by this time Pharaoh is dead and his son has taken his place, which is why Scripture records that Joseph was a father to Pharaoh. However, Joseph maintains his position as king in the kingdom.

When Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers, he tells them to return for their father and bring him to Egypt to live in the region of Goshen.  This area was primo territory, lush with streams and tributaries running to the Mediterranean Sea and to the Nile River.

Great verse hidden away in today's reading concerning Joseph's understanding of the reason his brothers sold him.

Genesis 45:8a
"So then, it was not you (his brothers) who sent me here, but God."

How often in our lives can we look at bad things that happen to us and yet see the hand of God at work? Maybe, it's time to stop and reflect.

JANUARY 20

It is very clear from Scripture that Joseph is ruler of Egypt.  Joseph sent word to his father Jacob to come to live in Egypt. He told him not to bother about his belongings, that the best of Egypt would be his. Yet Jacob took all his possessions with him. He held on to what he had. This speaks volumes about trust. Is it that Jacob didn’t quite trust that Joseph would provide for him? Is that why he held on to the old.

Quite reminiscent of the Jewish people. God sent His Son, Jesus, the new covenant, and they held on to the old.  Same thing happened to some of the early Gentile Christians. They still held on to the pagan customs and traditions of their familiar gods, even though they were believers in Jesus.  Many times Christians hold on to secular customs and traditions, many of them contrary to God's Word.

When Israel set out for Egypt he stopped at Beersheba to offer sacrifices to God.  Since this place was far inland from the Mediterranean Sea, he may have taken a shorter and/or easier route than his sons did earlier.  Besides, this time they had lots of provisions with them for the journey.

Genesis 46 lists the sons of Israel who went to Egypt, including children and grandchildren.  However, the women of Jacob were not mentioned. Rachael died giving birth to Benjamin and Leah died and was buried in Hebron. No mention of the two maidservants..  Often we think of Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob, during this time of famine as being a young boy or a young man. The truth is he was old enough to have ten sons.  The number of people who arrived in Egypt with Jacob was less than 100. Four hundred years later the number had swelled to an estimated two million.

Can we even begin to imagine the scene when Israel and Joseph are reunited?

Joseph took five of his brothers to meet with Pharaoh.  Why only five and why did he choose them?  The Chumash says that he took the least of his brothers, five.  The explanation given is that Joseph took the five brothers who were the least impressive physically.  Joseph was afraid that Pharaoh would enlist them in his military if he presented the other brothers who were robust, powerful men.

Israel and company are given primo land in Goshen, a land very conducive to raising livestock. Pharaoh may have assumed they were going to stay there temporarily, just until the famine had passed. Pharaoh offers to put those with special ability from Israel's family in charge of his own personal livestock.  This is the first step in a series of events that eventually led to the dominance of the Israelites in the land of Egypt.

This Pharaoh is not the same as the Pharaoh who ruled at the time Joseph first arrived in Egypt.  This one is his son.  Pharaoh and Joseph share in the responsibility of running the country.  Pharaoh was a figurehead.  Joseph was the king who established some of the laws of the land.

As the famine becomes more and more severe, the Egyptians no longer have the money to buy grain. They begin to sell their livestock (second step in a series of events) and eventually they sell their land and then themselves into servitude (final step in a series of events). This sets the stage for the Israelites to acquire property and become dominant in the land of Egypt. At this point the Egyptians are becoming servants to the Israelites. The Israelites held on to the dominance of the Egyptians as long as any of Jacob's sons were alive.

After the sons died, the situation was reversed. The Israelites later allowed themselves to become slaves to the Egyptians.

So, how about us believers in Jesus, do we allow ourselves to become slaves to the world or do we become slaves of THE WORD!

JANUARY 21

At he nears death, Israel asks Joseph to bury him in the land of his fathers.  He seals it with, "put your hand under my thigh and promise..." making the oath by confirming the covenant of circumcision. This was Hebrew custom to swear on the circumcision as a sign of a covenant.

NIV states that Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.  KJV records he bowed down at the head of his bed.  NIV is translated from the Coptic scrolls.  KJV is translated from the Syriatic scrolls.  We can picture both of these as correct if we think about Jacob bowing down on the knees, elbows on the bed and yet needing the support of the staff.

Jacob blesses his sons, the 12 tribes of Israel.  Joseph is singled out as inheriting "the ridge of land I took from the Amorites..."  This land is the ancient place of Shechem (modern day Nablus where Joseph will be buried) and is where Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well.

John 4:5
Then He came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 

Click on this link (or copy and paste this link) for a beautiful video showing the banners for the 12 tribes of Israel. The pictures were taken at a Messianic Jew conference in Portland Oregon.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZKkln_GeLM

Jacob singles out the sons of Joseph saying that Manasseh will become a nation and Ephraim will become a group of nations. Joseph was Jacob's first born son by his wife Rachael so Joseph's sons are also favored.  In fact Jacob essentially adopts them as his own.  At Joseph's death, these two sons not only have their own blessings from Jacob but will inherit Joseph's blessings as well.

The Chumash states Ephraim spent his life studying Torah with Jacob, which accounts for his extra blessings, while Manasseh was Joseph’s assistant in running the country.

Jacob pronounces blessings on his sons. Their sins are not forgotten in the blessings that are given out. Reuben slept with Rachel’s maidservant. The men of Shechem were killed by Simeon and Levi. They are held accountable when the time comes for the blessings.  Later, God will assign the priesthood to the tribe of Levi - a position of high honor. While we may not understand the fairness of these blessings, in God's eyes, they are just.  These pronouncements of Jacob are foreshadows of rewards and deductions of rewards in heaven given out based on actions and deeds done on earth.  It is at this point that Judah is given the scepter promise, the line of kingship. This scepter promise was bought (not stolen) from Esau by Jacob. Later the legitimate kings will come only from the line of Judah. 

Jacob says that Judah will be so blessed and admired by his brothers that they will often refer to themselves as Judahites or Jews, rather than their tribal name.  This is evident today when all the tribes, scattered around the world, call themselves Jews, not only because they follow the ways of the Jewish faith, but because of their admiration for Judah, a God-ordained blessing. The apostle Paul called himself a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin.

Pay careful attention to the blessings of Judah. Can you see a connection there with Jesus? Check out verse 10 in Chapter 49, "until he comes to whom it belongs" . KJV says "until Shiloh comes". Shiloh is the name of the Messiah in the Jewish Talmud. Hmmm....

The Chumash states that once the Messiah begins to reign, Judah’s blessing of kingship will become fully realized and go to an even higher plateau.  At that time, all the nations will assemble to acknowledge his greatness and pay homage to him. This is a description of Messiah Jesus reigning as King of Kings and Lord of Lords in the Millennium.  All twelve tribes will assemble in Israel and pay homage to Jesus.

Benjamin’s blessings were fulfilled in part.  Some of Benjamin’s descendants will devour the prey and divide the plunder as happened with Mordechai and Esther (both Benjaminites but who referred to themselves as Jews) in the defeat of Haman and were awarded his estate.

Joseph’s response to his brothers’ concern that he held a grudge against them is laid to rest when Joseph makes this great statement, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…”

How many times in our lives can we look back on events in our lives that seemed at the time to be devastating and yet God intended it for good? Time to take another look back at our lives???

JANUARY 22

The commentary for today's reading in the Chronological Bible mentions that some 400 years pass before another Scriptural account focuses back on the descendants of Israel in Egypt.  However God is far from being silent during those intervening years.  There are many other scrolls, tablets, and books that fill in the gaps.  Also, mention is made of Mt Horeb also called Mt Sinai.  Most people when they hear Mt Sinai, automatically think of the traditional site of Mt. Sinai on the Sinai Peninsula. This is not the location of the mountain of God where He appeared to Moses in the burning bush and where He gave Moses all the laws and commands.  This is why archaeologists today cannot find evidence of the Israelites spending 40 years there.  It’s because they weren’t there.  Mt. Horeb is in present day Saudi Arabia.. Mt Sinai is in Egypt.

The book of Job would properly be placed here in the timeline - between Genesis and Exodus. 

The Chemosh adds that the families went with Jacob to Egypt.  The word “with” means the families were intimately attached to Jacob.  Even though the sons had families of their own, they remained united with Jacob like a branch growing from a stem.  Jesus spoke of something like that when He said, “I am the vine. You are the branches.” 

The following is in the Talmud. Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years, in the seventy-first year after the children of Israel had entered Egypt.  In the same year Zebulun, the son of Jacob, died at the age of one hundred and fourteen years; and five years later Simeon died, aged one hundred and twenty years. Four years after this Reuben died, aged one hundred and twenty-five years; and Dan died the next year one hundred and twenty-four years old. Issachar died a year later, aged one hundred and twenty-two; and Asher followed him aged one hundred and twenty-three. Gad departed the next year, one hundred and twenty-five years old; and Judah the year following at the age of one hundred and twenty-nine years. Naphtali lived one year later, and died at the age of a hundred and thirty-two years; and Levi died the year after, one hundred and thirty-seven years of age, living to a greater age than that reached by any of his brethren.

I could find nothing concerning Benjamin. However, I must warn you to be cautious of AI generated answers.  Here’s what AI said,  According to the Bible, Benjamin, the son of Jacob, is still alive.

Quite a bit has happened to the descendants of the sons of Jacob. For a while they reigned in Egypt (Lower Egypt - in the North - remember the Nile runs south to north) but now as the biblical record continues, they are enslaved.  There is a new king (from Upper Egypt who invaded Lower Egypt) in power who did not know about Joseph. This new king ordered the death of the baby boys in an effort to control the population of the Hebrew slaves, and according to the Chumash, his astrologers told him a savior of the Jews was about to be born.  Hmmm…

A baby boy, later to be known as Moses, was born to Levite parents.  He was a "fine child". KJV says he was a "goodly" child. Was he one of those "easy" babies who don't cry very often? If so, it would be easier to hide him, at least for the first few months.

Notice the verse about Pharaoh ordering that all baby boys be thrown into the Nile. Moses' mother was obedient to the order. She did add a little detail however when she placed him in a waterproof basket first. When Moses  was found by Pharaoh’s daughter, she gave him back to his mother to take care of him, and not only take care of him, but she paid Moses’ mother to do it! Isn’t it just like God? He does more for us than we could ever imagine!  Moses was with his family for the most impressionable years of his life and no doubt they all made sure Moses knew his heritage and his God.

How did Pharaoh's daughter know Moses was a Hebrew baby? Could it be because he was circumcised?  Was Moses wrapped in a cloth that would identify him as Hebrew?

As an adult, Moses killed an Egyptian slave master and as a result he fled from Egypt and into Midian.  This area is between Edom and Paran, east of Egypt across the Red Sea and far south of the Dead Sea.  There are many historians who believe that there were God-believing people living there when Moses arrived.  In fact Moses married the daughter of a priest of Midian.  This priest of Midian is known by two names, Jethro and Reuel.  Midian was the name of one of the sons of Keturah, Abraham's second wife.

Many years later in the land of Midian God speaks to Moses from a burning bush.

The angel of the Lord appeared to Moses from within a bush. God spoke to Moses from within the bush. Can we connect some dots here???

God asked Moses to go to Egypt to bring the Israelites out. Moses offered up:
EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES
1. Moses: "Who am I that I should go?"
    God: "I will go with you."
2. Moses: "What is your name?"
    God: "I AM."
3. Moses: "What if they don't believe me?"
    God: "You will show them signs and wonders."
4. Moses: "I don't speak very well."
    God: "I will help you speak."
5. Moses’ fifth excuse as to why he couldn’t go was “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.”

At this final excuse, the Lord's anger burned against Moses and so God says He will send Moses' brother Aaron to help him. Of course, Aaron was already on his way.  Acts 7:22 relates And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words (or eloquent of speech) and in deeds. 

God gave Moses three miraculous signs to prove to the Israelites that he (Moses) was sent from God. And Scripture records that the elders of the Israelites saw the signs and believed.

God also told Moses that He would harden Pharaoh's heart. But we find out later that there is a reason for this hardening of the heart. God gave Moses His entire plan, from beginning to end, including the final plague.

When Moses left Midian for Egypt he put his wife and sons on a donkey.  The Chumash says that when the Messiah comes He will be riding on a donkey.  Hmmm…

Quite puzzling about the circumcision of Moses’ son.  The Chumash states that he was a newborn and hadn’t yet been circumcised.  Moses thought that God wanted  him to get on with his journey to Egypt and he didn’t want to wait for the son to fully recover from the circumcision so he left before having done that.

In the genealogies it is listed that Moses’ father Amram married his aunt Jochebed. 

Going back to Moses' excuses, can we draw some conclusions concerning ourselves? How often have all of us offered up the same or similar excuses when God calls us to do His work?

We must remember that God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called!