Bible ReadingMatthew 16:13–1613. Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
[42:22]14. And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
[42:25]15. He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
[42:49]16. Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
[39:40]Exodus 1:15–2215. Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.”
[36:20]16. But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.
[36:27]17. So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?”
[36:50]18. The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.”
[36:53]19. So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong.
[37:03]20. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.
[37:04]21. Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”
[37:09]Exodus 2:1–101. Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman.
2. The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months.
[37:19]3. When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank.
[37:21]4. And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him.
[37:21]5. Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it.
[37:42]6. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”
[37:46]7. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?”
8. And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother.
9. And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him.
[37:53]10. When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”
[38:14]Observation questions- What does Pharaoh fear about the Hebrew people, and what actions does he take because of that fear? [35:25]
- What do Shiphrah and Puah do differently from what Pharaoh commands, and what explanation do they give him?
- In Exodus 2, which women take action to protect Moses, and what does each one do?
- What different answers do people give about Jesus before Peter says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”? [42:25]
Interpretation questions- Shiphrah and Puah “fear God” rather than Pharaoh. How is reverence for God different from being scared of God, and how does that difference shape their choice? [36:27]
- Pharaoh intends the Nile to be a place of death, yet Moses is carried through that same river toward protection. What does this reveal about God’s work when powerful people try to cause harm? [38:14]
- In a place where Caesar claimed titles like “son of God,” why would Peter’s confession that Jesus is “the Son of the living God” be bold and dangerous? [39:29]
- Jesus’ compassion, healing, welcome, justice, grace, and love help show what it means to call him Christ. How might this fuller meaning keep faith from becoming only words or church language? [43:44]
Application questions- Many voices compete for attention through advertising, social media, fear-filled news, politics, and messages that may not be real. Which voices most often shape your worries, reactions, or decisions? What practice could help you listen more carefully for God’s voice? [47:41]
- Shiphrah and Puah were ordinary people who refused to cooperate with Pharaoh’s cruelty. Is there a situation in your work, school, neighborhood, family, or online life where staying quiet could feel like cooperating with something harmful? What might faithful, wise action look like?
- Pharaoh’s daughter allows compassion to outweigh loyalty to her father’s cruel command. When have you been tempted to overlook someone’s need because helping would be inconvenient, unpopular, or uncomfortable? What is one small act of compassion you could take this week? [37:46]
- Jesus cannot be reduced to a comforting friend who is ignored when his way becomes difficult. In what areas is it easiest to welcome Jesus’ comfort but resist his call to care for poor, oppressed, persecuted, marginalized, or mistreated people? [40:46]
- Peter’s words name Jesus—not Caesar, a political party, a nation, or personal comfort—as the one worthy of ultimate allegiance. What other loyalties can quietly become too important in your life, and how can you recognize when they are competing with Christ?
- God uses imperfect people, including Peter, who later denies Jesus, and ordinary midwives whose names might otherwise have been forgotten. What mistake, weakness, or sense of inadequacy makes you hesitate to believe God can use you? [46:25]
- Sharing Christ includes doing the kinds of things Christ did: showing mercy, forgiving, welcoming, healing, and loving. Who is one person or group you could treat with more dignity, patience, or practical care this week? [47:10]
