Read with Me
Exodus 2:11-15 (HCSB)
Years later, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his own people and observed their forced labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. Looking all around and seeing no one, he struck the Egyptian dead and hid him in the sand. The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you attacking your neighbor?”
“Who made you a leader and judge over us?” the man replied. “Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?”
Then Moses became afraid and thought: What I did is certainly known. When Pharaoh heard about this, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian, and sat down by a well.
Listen with Me
Moses spent the first part of his life, from the time he was weaned (Exodus 2:8-10) until he was about forty years old (Acts 7:23), in the household of Pharaoh, being educated in all the knowledge and wisdom of the Egyptians (Acts 7:22). This included becoming fluent in both the spoken and written language of Egypt, as well as understanding politics, warfare, and the structure of Egyptian government. God would use all those in His service when He brought Moses back to Egypt to lead His people out.
Moses was aware of the presence of the Israelites in Egypt doing the slave labor that was needed to support the many building projects undertaken by the Pharaohs. And he was also aware that, though he was considered a member of the royal household, the Israelites were his true people.
So, when Moses saw an Egyptian overseer beating an Israelite slave, something in him, a protective instinct, rose up, causing him to lash out at the Egyptian. The blow, driven by passion, was fatal. Moses was confident that no one but the servant he had rescued had seen him kill the Egyptian. And he knew that, even though he was an Egyptian noble, murder was still punishable by death in Egypt. So, he quickly buried the body in the sand and went away.
But the next day, when Moses, buoyed by his deliverance of the Israelite slave, tried to break up a fight between two other Israelites, one of them accused Moses of the murder. The slave he had delivered had told the story to some of the others! Moses knew how quickly news like that could travel. And he knew that if it reached Pharaoh, his life would be on the line.
Moses realized that he had no defense. The man he had killed had not been attacking him, so there was no plea of self-defense. And an overseer disciplining a lazy slave was not even a criminal offense. Moses only option was to leave Egypt entirely. So, he fled to the east side of the Gulf of Aqaba, into the desert area inhabited by the Midianites, who were descended from Abraham (Genesis 25:1-4), and camped near a well.
Pray with Me
Father, Moses was indeed destined to deliver Your people from the Egyptians. But he stepped into that role too soon, without Your calling, and in his own strength. And in so doing, he made a drastic mistake that could have cost him his life! Lord, You have for us not only a calling, but the ideal timing as well. Help us to seek You for both, so that we can accomplish all You have planned for us. Amen.