Moses made quite a mess by killing an Egyptian in anger in an effort to stop injustice. He had to deal with the consequences and leave the country, eventually settling in Midian. However, although Moses likely recognized his error, he did not stop trying to honor God by helping others. We see in Exodus 2 that Moses continues to help others when he sees they are in need. This time he is does so more effectively… without killing anyone. It is his act of helping others that actually opens up the door to marrying Zipporah and finding fellowship in the land of Midian.
11Now it came about in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his brethren and looked on their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12So he looked this way and that, and when he saw there was no one around, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13He went out the next day, and behold, two Hebrews were fighting with each other; and he said to the offender, “Why are you striking your companion?” 14But he said, “Who made you a prince or a judge over us? Are you intending to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and said, “Surely the matter has become known.”
Moses Escapes to Midian
15When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, and he sat down by a well.
16Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came to draw water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17Then the shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock. 18When they came to Reuel their father, he said, “Why have you come back so soon today?” 19So they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and what is more, he even drew the water for us and watered the flock.” 20He said to his daughters, “Where is he then? Why is it that you have left the man behind? Invite him to have something to eat.” 21Moses was willing to dwell with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses. 22Then she gave birth to a son, and he named him Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.”
We are all subject to making mistakes on some level when we try to step out in faith to obey God’s commands and stop unrighteous behavior. Of course it is an even bigger mistake to not obey God’s commands by rebuking the wrong behavior. The wise will seek to learn from their experiences, change and improve how they intervene. Do not turn away from obeying God’s commands and serving Him just because of a bad experience in how you intervened in a situation before.
Be encouraged, even Moses, one of the greatest of God’s prophets, made mistakes. He learned from them and continued with a passion to obey God’s commands and fight unrighteous behavior and injustice. God was able to develop him and use him to great glory for the kingdom of God.
Have you had one or more bad experiences in the past when you tried to intervene to help someone who experienced injustice from others? Are you letting it discourage you from intervening in new situations you see around you? Pray for God to help show you how you can intervene more effectively and continue to rebuke wrong behaviors when you see them and help others when they are in need.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burke
Philippians 2:3-4 3Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
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