Even as an infant, Moses was marked for a special purpose. Never suppose to live much beyond his first breath, his mother hid him for three months until it was becoming impossible to keep him a secret. Then in desperation, she formed a basket made of papyrus reeds and pitch, and sent him afloat in the Nile River. Our heavenly Father protected him and led him to the feet of an Egyptian princess who felt great compassion and decided to raise him as her own. She unknowingly hired Moses' mother to be his wet nurse and the irony begins. A child ordered to be killed by the king becomes a grandson to that same king. A mother whose arms were to stay empty was able to hold and care for her child all the while being paid to do so. Israel's freedom would come from the same river that was suppose to be their demise. Irony.
Let us pick up where we left off! We are going to continue in Exodus 2, reading verses 11 through 15. "Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews. After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand. The next day, when Moses went out to visit his people again, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. “Why are you beating up your friend?” Moses said to the one who had started the fight. The man replied, “Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?” Then Moses was afraid, thinking, “Everyone knows what I did.” And sure enough, Pharaoh heard what had happened, and he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian. When Moses arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well." (Exodus 2:11-15 NLT)
Whew! I told you Moses was real. He had incredible faith as we will soon see, but he also had some very real flaws! To be honest, we know very little about his childhood years and what took place during that time. I do pick up on a couple of things from this passage, however. I sense that he was a man struggling to find his place. It appears that he knew he was an Israelite as it expresses in verse 11 that he went to visit "his own people" and yet he wasn't one of them. He had been raised in a palace and never knew the hardships they had suffered. It is obvious that he felt sympathy over it all, but he had never had to live under the oppression they did, As a result, they did not see him as one of their own. At the same time, the Pharaoh certainly didn't seem to have great affection for him either. As the king, he could have "covered up" the murder that Moses had committed, but instead seized the opportunity to have him killed. It makes me wonder if Moses presence within the palace all these years had been an ongoing thorn in his side. Remember this was the same Pharaoh who had ordered his death. It seems to me, that Moses was a man trying to find his place- where did he fit in such a complicated situation?
Another thing I sense is that he was desperate to connect with the Israelite people. He was going out day after day to see them, and to understand the life they lived. He couldn't stand the atrocities he witnessed and finally had enough. He killed an Egyptian who was several Hebrew people. Now, do not think this was just a crime of passion that he became so overwhelmed by what he saw that he "snapped". Instead, this was a planned out crime. I looked in several different versions of the scriptures and all indicated that he looked around before committing the crime. He knew what he was doing, but just thought he could keep it a secret. However, his plan failed. The very next day, when he was out visiting the Hebrew people again, his sins came into light. As an even greater insult to his deed, the Hebrews did not appreciate how he had tried to defend them, but instead responded with, "Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?” In the full realization that his secret crime had been seen, he fled to Midian.
My friend, Moses did not seem to fit anywhere in his world. He was different because he was born in one life and grew up in another, but as a result, he never seemed to find a place where he truly belonged. A misfit- an oddity....but, God saw Him as the perfect person to deliver His message to the Pharaoh and to lead a nation into freedom. Who else could identify with the Hebrews and yet still speak with connection to the king of Egypt? Only Moses. You may feel like a misfit or as an oddity in your world, but never mistake that to mean you are of little value. My friend, God has just as great a plan and divine purpose for you. God may be shaping you for a very special task that only you can accomplish for him. Never underestimate your value!!!
Finally, my friend, Moses was not perfect. He had taken the life of another person. All sin is heartbreaking to the Father and all have sinned- except our perfect Redeemer Jesus Christ. One of the most beautiful aspects of God's redemption of man through His Son is that after He redeems, He restores. He restores our purpose and provides opportunities to be used for eternal change in our world. Meaning? His love doesn't stop at saving you- He chooses to use you for eternal impact in your world. Never think that your redemption was the end, my friend, it was only the beginning!
Well, the plot thickens doesn't it? Our hero has run away in fear for his life and he seems to be a square peg in a round world, but our God is just getting started. The Father delights in working in situations that seem impossible or desperate so that we will see Him for who He truly is. I am so excited to be on this journey with you!
Blessings!
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