Highlights:
Early life of Moses; his flight into Midian; the burning bush; his commission to free the nation of Israel; his return to Egypt.
Moses, the son of Israelite slaves, enjoyed the luxury of the Egyptian palace and received all the privileges and opportunities of administrative training. As the adopted son of Pharaoh's daughter, it appears that he could have been the next Pharaoh of Egypt.
Moses was 40 years old when he executed the cruel Egyptian who was smiting (striking, beating) an Hebrew, one of his brethren (Ex. 2:11-12). This probably was Moses' legal right since he was of the royal household and possibly second only to Pharaoh in administering justice. Moses was in the prime of his life and, from a natural point of view, it would seem to be the ideal time for God to use him to set His people free from their suffering.
Instead, it was the will of God that Moses flee Egypt. This was followed by 40 years of loneliness as a shepherd in a desert wilderness. It must have seemed to Moses a waste of 40 of his best years to do nothing of importance. But, with the Lord, such time is never wasted. It was in the desert that the Lord appeared to him and said: Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground (3:5). Moses probably would never have learned humility or been able to come closer to God in an Egyptian palace. He was too busy and too important. However, both experiences — growing up in the palace and being humbled by God in the desert — were vital in preparing him to be the person God could use to lead His people out of Egypt, through the desert, and on to the border of the promised land.
No matter how much wisdom of the world we might accumulate, it alone cannot qualify us to make right decisions in life. We must be taught and led by the Holy Spirit of God through reading His Word and being obedient to its truth. It is the Holy Spirit's blessing on what we do and say that makes our lives truly worthwhile. Like Moses, our most basic need is to recognize the danger of self-sufficiency. It was spiritually necessary for Moses to tend sheep on the backside of the desert in order for him to develop greater dependence on God (3:1).
Regardless of the outcome, by faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt (Heb. 11:24-26).
Thought for Today:
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction (Is. 48:10).
Christ Revealed:
As the I AM THAT I AM who commissioned Moses (Ex. 3:13-14; comp. Heb. 13:8). Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily (Truly, truly), I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am (John 8:58).
Word Studies:
2:13 strove, were quarreling; 2:16 of Midian, of the descendants of Abraham through his second wife Keturah (Gen. 25:1-4); 2:23 sighed by reason of, groaned because of; 2:25 had respect unto, was concerned about; 3:22 spoil, take the wealth of.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Broadcasts sponsored by A Family That Loves Jesus • Staff: Bill Beach • Government Officials: Gov. Martin O'Malley (MD), Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (MD), Rep. Kay Granger (TX), and Rep. Michael H. Michaud (ME) • Country: Nepal (24.3 million) a mountain-ringed Himalayan state between Tibet and India • Major language: Nepali • Limited religious freedom • 85% Hindu; 10% Buddhist; 3% Muslim; 2% Christian • Prayer Suggestion: Be specific in your prayers (Luke 18:41-43).
Optional Reading: Matthew 18
Memory Verse for the Week: John 3:16
