May 5, 2024
Reading: Exodus 2:11-25
Focus: Exodus 2:14 – The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.”
Father God, Thank You for the blessings of this day. Help us to remember that there is nothing that we do that is hidden from You. Open our eyes and heart to the lessons that Moses learned. In Jesus Name. Amen.
When we left Moses last time, he was a baby and was adopted by the daughter of Pharoah. A princess of the land. It follows that Moses was educated as a prince of Egypt. He was a trained warrior and a scholar. He probably knew several languages, the customs and traditions of several nations as well as how to run a province or even an entire country. He lived a life of privilege but at the same time he knew that he was not Egyptian by birth but a Hebrew. We know this because Exodus 2:11 tells us that “. . . he went out to where his own people were . . .” So, there is no doubt that he knew he was a Hebrew and yet, he also knew that he was not enslaved as they were. This had to be troubling because the next thing we read is that Moses kills an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew. He had made sure that no one was watching but he did kill him. Then he buried him in the sand. Whew! Got away with that one. Not. The next day, two Hebrews were fighting, and Moses asked the one who had caused the fight, why. The reply shook him to his core. His deed was known!
Now, Pharoah heard about the killing of the Egyptian by Moses and tried to kill him, but he ran. Moses headed for Midian. Now, some scholars think that Midian is on the Sinai Peninsula, but that peninsula was under the control of Egypt, and it still is part of Egypt today. So it would not have done Moses any good to just run into that desert. He had to get out of Egypt. The picture shows a possible route to Midian, which is in what is now called Saudi Arabia. So, Moses ended up in Midian.
When he arrived in Midian, he sat down by a well. While he was there he witnessed shepherds messing with the seven daughters of a priest in Midian and trying to drive them away from the well. Moses stood up for them and helped water the flocks of the daughters. You wonder how one man could drive away several men. Men who were hardened by life as shepherds. Remember, Moses was a trained Egyptian warrior. He was one of the most advanced military men of the time. He was probably quite intimidating.
Apparently the daughters of the priest of Midian were quite impressed by him as well. They returned home earlier than usual with quite a story to tell. Their father asked where this paragon was. Then fussed at them about leaving him at the well. He told them to go back and bring him home for a meal. Moses was invited to stay with them and eventually married one of the daughters, Zipporah. Together they had a son, Gershom. His name commemorates the fact that Moses was a stranger in a strange land.
Moses thought he could get away with murder if he hid the body. But he failed to remember that if man didn’t see it, God would. But someone did see it. Sometimes we think that if no one sees us, we can get away with doing something wrong. However, somehow, someone will find out. Sometimes it is a person and if not, God has seen what you have done. Either way, it won’t remain hidden. So many people think that if it’s not seen it doesn’t hurt anyone. That is so not true. A wrong hurts someone. If not, someone else, then yourself. We will have to face judgement either here or before God.
Moses was forty years old at this time. He would not leave Midian for another forty years. It would take that long for him to be ready to do what God had for him to do. But his people, the Hebrews would have to suffer another 40 years before God would put into motion the events that would free them from Egypt. We are told that during that time, the Pharoah died and the Israelites groaned under their slavery. Their cries reached God and God remembered His Covenant. Exodus 2:25 says, “So, God looked on the Israelites and was concerned for them.” The Bible hasn’t said, until this point, that the Israelites cried out to God for deliverance. Now it appears that they were turning to the God of their fathers for deliverance. Now, they were becoming ready for deliverance.
Sometimes we suffer but don’t call on God until it is so bad that we have no where else to turn. That is a sad commentary on our faith. God should not be the last resort in our troubles and trials. When we first come up against the wall, our cries should be to God. We are not supposed to bear the load alone. Also, we should not “take care” of some things by ourselves and think that God doesn’t need to worry about it. We can do our part but we can also turn the situation over to God asking that He help us in a particular problem. Then, not worry about it. Think about it, yes. Do our part of the work, yes, But worry? No. God cares about everything that concerns us. Big or small. Great or insignificant.
Jesus, Himself, told us, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” (Matthew 6:31-32)
I saw this post on Facebook yesterday. Is this you? I find myself doing this time and again. I try to have the faith of a child. Knowing that my Father has it handled. But I am not a child and I keep trying to stick my fingers in that pie again. I have to remind myself that I gave it to God. He can take care of it. I can’t, He can. Worrying will not change anything one bit. So, I have to ask forgiveness for worrying over something that I gave to Him already. My dad once told me that worry is like telling God, I don’t think You can do it. Heaven forbid!! I can think about it. Pray about it. Again. Tell God that I know He will take care of me and the problem. Praise Him for His answers to my prayers. But worry? And pray “God, please help me not to worry.”
God remembered the children of Israel. He remember us. Call to Him when troubles come. Now, not later. He should be our first call and not our last resort.
When do you pray?
Father God, Thank You for caring about all that concerns me. Help us all to trust You with all that we have, do and are. Help us to call on You first rather than later. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Food for Thought
- Do you think that Moses identified himself as Hebrew? Why or why not?
- Do you think Moses thought he was better than the other Hebrews? Why or why not?
- What do think Moses was thinking when he killed the Egyptian?
- Do you think that God led Moses to Midian and Jethro? Why or why not?
- Do you think that the Israelites were calling on God as a last resort? Why or why not?
