Getting Ahead of God
Exodus 2:11-12: "One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand."
Though Moses was living in the comfort of the palace of Egypt, he was not oblivious to the abuses of his people. He chose to leave his place of comfort to look upon his people. In seeing the abuse firsthand, Moses took it upon himself to save one of the Hebrews. The verse says, "Moses looked this way and that." The problem is that Moses did not look up; even if no one else saw Moses, the Lord did. Moses was not called to intervene at that time. Moses acted in his own strength and wisdom.
Clearly, Moses had much to learn before he could faithfully lead the entire nation of Israel. After 40 years in the courts of Egypt, Moses would now spend 40 years in the land of Midian. He moved from the luxury of the court to the challenges of the desert, from being considered a son of Pharaoh to working as a shepherd (a most detestable occupation to the Egyptians).
The 40 years in the palace and the 40 years in Midian would be part of Moses' training. Moses experienced great failure in his first attempt to rescue his people. The 40 years in Midian would teach Moses a new humility as well as the skills needed to survive in the desert. Most importantly, Moses would learn that God had always had his eyes on Moses and the nation of Israel. Instead of looking this way and that, Moses would learn to look up to the Lord.
Reflection:
Do you ever get ahead of God and jump into action? How can you learn from the failures of your past to become the leader God has called you to be today?
Though Moses was living in the comfort of the palace of Egypt, he was not oblivious to the abuses of his people. He chose to leave his place of comfort to look upon his people. In seeing the abuse firsthand, Moses took it upon himself to save one of the Hebrews. The verse says, "Moses looked this way and that." The problem is that Moses did not look up; even if no one else saw Moses, the Lord did. Moses was not called to intervene at that time. Moses acted in his own strength and wisdom.
Clearly, Moses had much to learn before he could faithfully lead the entire nation of Israel. After 40 years in the courts of Egypt, Moses would now spend 40 years in the land of Midian. He moved from the luxury of the court to the challenges of the desert, from being considered a son of Pharaoh to working as a shepherd (a most detestable occupation to the Egyptians).
The 40 years in the palace and the 40 years in Midian would be part of Moses' training. Moses experienced great failure in his first attempt to rescue his people. The 40 years in Midian would teach Moses a new humility as well as the skills needed to survive in the desert. Most importantly, Moses would learn that God had always had his eyes on Moses and the nation of Israel. Instead of looking this way and that, Moses would learn to look up to the Lord.
Reflection:
Do you ever get ahead of God and jump into action? How can you learn from the failures of your past to become the leader God has called you to be today?
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