Moses Flees to Midian
August 19, 2022
Commentary
Moses comes to the aid and rescued seven girls that were the daughters of the priest of Midian, and had come to draw water (vv. 16-17). When Reuel, the father hears about this heroism of Moses he invites Moses to eat with them (vv. 18-20). Later Reuel gives one of the girls, Zipporah, to Moses for his wife (v. 21). They have a son named “Gershom” which meant “ a stranger” and suggests that Moses and his family knew their real place was with the people of Israel back in Egypt (v. 22).
After the death of the king of Egypt, the Israelites complained because they were forced to be slaves and they cried out for help (v. 23). God heard their cries and because He knew what was happening He felt sorry for them, (vv. 24-25) and moved to act for their deliverance long before they knew anything about it. God is at work on our behalf even when He appears silent. At this time Moses is taking care of a few sheep, however, later he will be leading a whole nation. Because of his faithfulness to do the humble work, God will use him to accomplish great tasks. Moses life is divided into three periods of 40 years. First as a prince in Egypt for 40 years, then 40 years as a shepherd in Midian, however, the next 40 years he will be the leader of an entire nation.
Moses had chosen to give up his royal name and possessions to serve God. When he first attempts to help his people he fails. Then God teaches him for forty years, lessons to prepare him to be the leader and guide his people. God’s timing is always perfect. God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and will give them the promised land of Canaan.
Application
It is easy to feel like a failure and then find that God doesn’t want me to do a particular task in my own strength but to let the Lord work through me. That is what the Lord did in Moses life. (James 4:10) says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
Exodus 2:16– 25 (NET)
16 Now a priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and began to draw water and fill the troughs in order to water their father’s flock. 17 When some shepherds came and drove them away, Moses came up and defended them and then watered their flock. 18 So when they came home to their father Reuel, he asked, “Why have you come home so early today?” 19 They said, “An Egyptian man rescued us from the shepherds, and he actually drew water for us and watered the flock!” 20 He said to his daughters, “So where is he? Why in the world did you leave the man? Call him, so that he may eat a meal with us.”
21 Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage. 22 When she bore a son, Moses named him Gershom, for he said, “I have become a resident foreigner in a foreign land.”
23 During that long period of time the king of Egypt died, and the Israelites groaned because of the slave labor. They cried out, and their desperate cry because of their slave labor went up to God. 24 God heard their groaning; God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the Israelites, and God understood.
Illustration: Leadership in a Class of Police Recruits
All morning, an instructor on my staff had been explaining leadership to a class of police recruits. Calling a man to the front of the class, he handed him a piece of paper on which was written: “You are in charge. Get everyone out of the room without causing a panic.” The recruit was at a loss for words and returned to his seat. The second man summoned tried: “Everybody outside. Go!” No one moved. A third man glanced at the instructions, smiled and said, “All right, men. Break for lunch.” The room emptied in seconds. (Howard Dean – Source unknown).