IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Moses Becomes a Foreigner in Midian

Date: Jan. 5, 2021

Passage

Exodus 2:11-25

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.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Exodus 2:22

She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.”

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

Daily Bread

Remember Who God is

Psalm 77:1-20

Key Verse: 77:11

I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.

Read More

Intro Daily