Many things to remember when one reads Exodus: "Exodus is best understood as a composite of traditions shaped over many centures by an unknown number of storytellers and writers" (Carol Meyers, The New Oxford Annotated Bible, NRSV)
We see clues of this editing from different sources right away. Moses' father has two names: Reuel and Jethro (and a third name, Hobab, in the book of Judges). The mountain of God is called both Horeb and Sinai.
We also hear echoes of Genesis in Chapter two (which also serves to continue the story that has already unfolded). At the beginning of Chapter two, the mother sees that her baby is very fine: he is "good, very good"---just like Creation in Genesis. And then, the word used for "basket"--which baby Moses is placed inside in order to be saved---is the same word that is used for "ark" in Noah's story. And this basket/ark also uses bitumen and pitch, just like Noah's ark. Both this story of salvation for Moses, and Noah's during the Great Flood, have people saved through the waters. Being saved through water is our story, isn't it? Exodus' great theme is a people's escape from oppression through the intervention of God. Take note of this happening over and over.
Women play a large role in salvation of the Hebrews. First, the midwives, the mother of Moses, Miriam (Moses' sister), and the daughter of Pharaoh, not to mention Moses' wife, Zipporah.
We hear the affirmation of God's saving intervention in Psalm 18:1-20. God frees us from our oppression.
In Matthew, we have the fourth discourse, or teaching, and it's all about Living Together--the community, the church. Read this teaching carefully; pay attention to Jesus' commands of how we are responsible for one another. We leave no sheep lost; we forgive (here Jesus reverses Lamech's ratcheting up of vengeance that we read in Genesis 4 by ratcheting up the requirements to forgive one another as often as it takes). We release one another from debts and encourage and support each other---including those with no power or status (children in this society). This is how we live together in community---with love---love that is action.
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