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Exodus 2 English Standard Version (ESV)

Moses Flees to Midian

¹¹ 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.¹² He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. ¹³ When 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, “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 Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.

¹⁶ Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and 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 watered their flock. ¹⁸ When they came home to their father 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 watered the flock.” ²⁰ He said to his daughters, “Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” ²¹ And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. ²² She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.”

God Hears Israel’s Groaning

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

REFLECTION

• If time allows, read the whole chapter. Then read vv11-24 slowly once more.
• Toward the end of the 430 years, God chose Moses to be the leader to deliver His people out of hardship. But, God seemed to take a long time and a convoluted path to shape the soul and destiny of Moses.
• Are you aware of God’s hand in shaping your soul and destiny? What is it?  How are you responding?
• Have a conversation with God. Ask the Holy Spirit to help align your feelings and will with those of God’s.
• Read this hymn based on Ps 6:10-12 “God, you are re-arranging my future” by Watchman Nee as a conversation with God. www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/8273

   God, You are now rearranging my way

1. God, You are now rearranging my way. All I have built You’re destroying today.
   Those serving faithfully daily decrease.  Dishonesty, misunderstandings increase.

My eyes are teary; I can’t see You clearly, As though all Your words aren’t as real as before.
You make me decrease, that You might thus increase, To make Your will sweeter than ever before.

2. For Your hand stopping I’d almost implore, When I feel I cannot take any more.
   Yet You are God! Oh, how can You give way?  Please, Lord, do not give in; wait ’till I obey.
3. If Your good pleasure and will should decree That I must take suffering’s yoke upon me,
   Then may my heart’s deepest joy be this thing—  Obeying Your will to take the suffering.
4. It seems the price that’s required for Your joy Is that I’m hindered and knocked down by You;
   Therefore I’d welcome Your hindering pull,  If thus I could cause Your heart to be joyful.
5. You’ve given chariots to others instead. You have made them thus to ride o’er my head.
   You stretch Your hand out my all now to take, Yet please leave Your stripping hand here for my sake.