MOSES BECOMES A FOREIGNER IN MIDIAN

Passage: Exodus 2:11-25

Key verse: 22

NIV

Moses Flees to Midian

11 One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people(A) were and watched them at their hard labor.(B) He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. 12 Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?”(C)

14 The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us?(D) Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.”

15 When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill(E) Moses, but Moses fled(F) from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian,(G) where he sat down by a well. 16 Now a priest of Midian(H) had seven daughters, and they came to draw water(I) and fill the troughs(J) to water their father’s flock. 17 Some shepherds came along and drove them away, but Moses got up and came to their rescue(K) and watered their flock.(L)

18 When the girls returned to Reuel(M) their father, he asked them, “Why have you returned so early today?”

19 They answered, “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock.”

20 “And where is he?” Reuel asked his daughters. “Why did you leave him? Invite him to have something to eat.”(N)

21 Moses agreed to stay with the man, who gave his daughter Zipporah(O) to Moses in marriage. 22 Zipporah gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom,[a](P) saying, “I have become a foreigner(Q) in a foreign land.”

23 During that long period,(R) the king of Egypt died.(S) The Israelites groaned in their slavery(T) and cried out, and their cry(U) for help because of their slavery went up to God. 24 God heard their groaning and he remembered(V) his covenant(W) with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. 25 So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned(X) about them.

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Footnotes
  1. Exodus 2:22 Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for a foreigner there.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Moses Flees to Midian

11 One day, (A)when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their (B)burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people.[a] 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he (C)struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 When (D)he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” 14 He answered, (E)“Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” 15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But (F)Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by (G)a well.

16 Now the (H)priest of Midian had seven daughters, and (I)they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. 17 The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and (J)watered their flock. 18 When they came home to their father (K)Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have come home so soon today?” 19 They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and (L)watered the flock.” 20 He said to his daughters, “Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may (M)eat bread.” 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter (N)Zipporah. 22 She gave birth to a son, and he called his name (O)Gershom, for he said, “I have been a (P)sojourner[b] in a foreign land.”

God Hears Israel's Groaning

23 (Q)During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel (R)groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. (S)Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And (T)God heard their groaning, and God (U)remembered his covenant with (V)Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God (W)saw the people of Israel—and God (X)knew.

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Footnotes
  1. Exodus 2:11 Hebrew brothers
  2. Exodus 2:22 Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for sojourner
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Moses: social justice warrior (11-15).

Moses grew up very capable: educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, powerful in speech and action (Ac 7:22). Instead of becoming a great Egyptian, he tried to help his suffering people, even murdering an Egyptian. He thought the Hebrews would see him as God's superhero, but to them he was only another bully. They rejected him, and his actions resulted in him becoming a fugitive from Egypt.

2. Moses: husband and father in exile (16-25).

In Midian, Moses found refuge in Reuel's house, whose daughters he had helped. Midian was the child of Keturah and Abraham (Ge 25:1,2), and Reuel means 'friend of God,'or El, the God of the Patriarchs. Moses had a family, and a new life. But in naming Gershom he reveals his despair: he ended up a foreigner. During that long period, Moses thought the story was over, but God was just beginning. The king of Egypt died, and God heard the cry of his people. God remembered his covenant and looked with concern on Israel. He would take action in his time and in his way.

Prayer: Father, often I think I'm the main actor in the story, but you alone are the initiator of history. Help me learn to wait on your time.

One Word: Wait on God's time