Exodus - Part 3 - Exodus 2:11-25

Between Exodus 2:10 and 2:11, some forty years have passed. Moses is living in the house of Pharaoh, under protection even though he is a Hebrew. That’s an amazing picture of God’s saving mercy and grace. Moses is now about 40 years old. He was raised as a prince and received an excellent education. But he knew of his heritage and had a deep sympathy for his people, the Israelites. He was a bit impulsive and felt he had to do something to ease the suffering of his people.

One day, he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew. After looking around, he killed the Egyptian and buried him in the sand. He thought no one had seen what he had done, but Pharaoh had found out. Now he was in trouble. Pharaoh wanted to kill Moses, but Moses fled to Midian.

Moses thought he knew what he was doing and all the factors in play. He thought if he could just get rid of the Egyptian oppression, the Hebrews would rally behind him. He thought he could deliver them by his own strength. His motives may have been good, but his actions weren’t. This is a pattern we see repeated when people think they know the best way and don’t want to wait for God.

When Moses made it to Midian, he stopped at a well. He saw some shepherds harassing and bullying some women who were shepherdesses. Moses defended them and watered their flocks. Their father, Reuel (Jethro) was the priest in Midian, and in payment of Moses’ kindness, Moses stayed with them. He married one of Reuel’s daughters, started a family of his own, and became a shepherd.

Moses went from a palace to a pasture. A complete 180 degrees from the life that he knew. Taking care of sheep is dirty, chaotic, and hard work. But that’s exactly the kind of training Moses needed from God to do what God would have him do later in Exodus. Pretty soon, God would send him back to the land he left.