I believe it was Lyndon Johnson who said, “Everyone knows what the problem is. The issue is how to solve it.”
Moses and all of the Israelites could easily identify the problem: slavery. Moses’ solution was based on anger and impulse.
One day after Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and saw their forced labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people.
He looked this way and that, and seeing no one he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand (Exodus 2:11-12).
Moses revealed the wisdom of the Proverbs.
There is a way that seems right to a person,
but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 14:12)
What seemed right to Moses didn’t end in his death, but was a disaster.
When he went out the next day, he saw two Hebrews fighting, and he said to the one who was in the wrong, “Why do you strike your fellow Hebrew?”
He answered, “Who made you a ruler and 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.”
When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses (Exodus 2:13-15).
Reflection
Like President Johnson’s observation, we can all remember when we acted on impulse, possibly out of anger or another emotion. The question is: How can we learn to follow the direction of the Holy Spirit rather than our impulses?
On my good days, when the Spirit leads most of my attitudes and actions, I begin them with a significant time in prayer and Bible reading.
During that time, God often plants a thought in my mind that stays with me throughout most of the day. It helps me stay focused on God’s direction and not consumed by mine.
You may have another way to go beyond our drive to solve our problems separate from God’s direction. Take a moment to think of how you cooperate with God in your attitudes and actions.
Moses On the Run
Exodus 2 is devoted to 80 years of Moses’ life. Only a brief sketch of his life is recorded in this chapter and it began at a well.
We frequently find wells in the story of God’s interaction with His people.
- Hagar encountered the angel at a well in Genesis 16.
- In Genesis 24, Rebekah met Abraham’s servant at a well, an event that lead to her becoming Isaac’s wife.
- Jacob met Rachel at a well in Genesis 29.
- Moses met Zipporah and her sisters at a well in this chapter.
So Moses fled from Pharaoh. He settled in the land of Midian and sat down by a well. The priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came to draw water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
But some shepherds came and drove them away. Moses got up and came to their defense and watered their flock.
When they returned to their father Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have come back so soon today?”
They said, “An Egyptian helped us against the shepherds; he even drew water for us and watered the flock.” 20 He said to his daughters, “Where is he? Why did you leave the man? Invite him to share a meal.”
Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah in marriage.
She bore a son, and he named him Gershom, for he said, “I have been an alien residing in a foreign land” (Exodus 2:15-22).
Looking Back
When Moses reached the end of his life, he could look back and see God’s guiding hand.
At 75, I can look back and see God’s gracious guidance. Certain decisions were made that shaped our marriage, family, and ministry – just to name a few areas of God’s blessing.
Had I not listened to a professor in seminary and moved to a small town in Louisiana, I would never have met Toni.
Had Toni remained in the Army, we would have been stationed in Germany and our ministry would have been far different.
We interviewed with Maywood Baptist Church in 1984 and chose (by God’s direction) not to interview with two other churches. Forty years later, we know this was the very best for us and hopefully good for the church.
What about you? When did you last look back, and examine God’s hand in your life?
Give it a try and see what God has done for you.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 