Exodus 2:11-25

Notes for BSF

Exodus 2:11-25

Exodus 2:10

When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.

MOSES KILLS AN EGYPTIAN (Exodus 2:11-14)

Acts 7:23-24

When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. 

Moses killed the Egyptian while defending the Jew that was being abused. Moses could not stand injustice. Whenever he sees a weaker person being bullied or taken advantage of, he would step up and help the weaker person.

Although we can sympathize with Moses’ reaction, we still need to recognize that Moses ended up in this situation because he failed to look “up.” He looked right and left before taking things into his own hands, because he knew what he was about to do was not right. It is good that he felt the injustice and was compelled to take action. However, his method was wrong.

It’s always easier to criticize what other people can do better, and I’m not trying to do that here with Moses. Instead, I think we should learn from this situation. When we feel like we’re trapped in a hole, and our only option to get out of the trap is to commit a sin, we have to remember to look up! God is all powerful, and He can deliver us from anything. When we try to rely on ourselves, we will be limited by our imperfections and dig ourselves into a deeper hole. Take the time and look up when we find ourselves in a difficult situation. Let God tell us where to go next. Never rush into a decision made without having prayed to God about it!

Acts 7:25

Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. 

Moses saw that his people were in bondage and treated with great injustice. Aware that God had promised His people that He would deliver them from bondage (Genesis 15:13), and aware that God was very present in his life, Moses thus thought his people would understand his bold stand against the Egyptians’ injustice. However, Moses was rejected by his own people.

Hebrews 11:26

(Moses) regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

By standing up for his own people, Moses lost his place as royalty of Egypt, the most powerful and richest country in the world at the time. He gave up his life of material luxury – Yet, it gained him eternal salvation in Christ!

Moses valued his life in Christ more important than the luxurious life as royalty of Egypt. To non-Christians, this would be a foolish thing to do, because, wow, look at all that power and riches Moses gave up! But to Christians, we understand what it means to “look ahead to our reward” – Our eternity in Jesus. To us Christians, we can comprehend why Moses willingly gave up the world (literally!) for Jesus. It’s an easy choice!

MOSES SEEKS REFUGE IN MIDIAN (Exodus 2:15-22)

As exhibited earlier, Moses didn’t hesitate to stand up for the daughters of Midian when he saw them being taken advantage of by the shepherds. This time, instead of punishing the oppressor, Moses went and helped the oppressed instead. That is, instead of killing the shepherds, Moses helped the daughters water their flock.

Reciprocating Moses’ act of kindness, Reuel (the father) invited Moses to stay with them. Seeing how he could no longer return to Egypt and had no place to call home, it was probably a good idea for Moses to take Reuel up on his offer. Despite having a new place to call home, Moses’ heart still longed for his homeland and his people. Prime example of his pining heart is that he named his son, Gershom, meaning, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.”

During his exile in Egypt, Moses learned to be patient, learned to lead a flock, and smoothed out the edges of his young and over-zealous temper.

THE ISRAELITES CRIED OUT FOR GOD (Exodus 2:23-25)

Meanwhile, life only became harder for the Israelites under the Pharaoh. In fact, life got so difficult, the Israelites groaned and cried out to God to deliver them. God, being the loving Father, heard, remembered, looked upon, and acknowledged His people. Through Moses, God will indeed deliver His people from bondage!

God is actively involved in our lives. He hears us; He remembers us; He watches over us; He listens to us. If we feel like we are in a bondage (be it physically or spiritually), all we need to do is to look upon God, and He will come to our aid.