IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Do God’s Work in God’s Ways

Date: Jan. 5, 2026

Passage

Exodus 2:11-22 (ESV)

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.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 2:14

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.”

The baby Moses, delivered from death, became a prince of Egypt and a beloved son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He was also nursed by his birth mother. She was a godly woman and must have taught the boy Moses to have faith in the God of Israel.

Moses, when he had grown up, identified himself with his enslaved people and wanted to help alleviate their suffering (Acts 7:23; Heb. 11:24,25). But he was not prepared spiritually to carry out God’s purpose despite receiving the best education available at that time. Seeing an Egyptian slave driver beating a Hebrew, he acted on impulse and killed the Egyptian. He buried his corpse but could not keep it a secret. He knew he had to run for his life. He went to Midian (v. 14; Acts 7:24-29).

In God’s redemptive history, the end does not justify the means. Too many well-meaning servants adopt human means to do “God’s work.” But God is not pleased with such efforts. He does his own work through his servants who adhere to his instructions. “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1Sam. 15:22). Moses’ long process of sanctification included being rejected by his fellow Hebrews and running for his life to Midian and establishing a family there.

Prayer: Father, thank you for Moses’ love for your people. Help me have the same love, but more importantly, obedience to your words. Amen.

One Word: Love and obedience

Daily Bread

We Have Come to Worship Him

Matthew 2:1-12

Key Verse: 2:2

saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Read More

Intro Daily