On the Shoulders of Giants: Moses (Session 1)
- christopherrk7
- Apr 22, 2022
- 3 min read
How to do this
Read the scripture(s) provided
Answer the questions on your own or in your group
Scripture
Exodus 2:11-15 (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.
Acts 7:20-29 (ESV)
20 At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God's sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father's house, 21 and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. 22 And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.
23 “When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. 25 He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. 26 And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarrelling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’ 27 But the man who was wronging his neighbour thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 At this retort Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.
Questions
'When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel' (Acts 7:23). It came into Moses heart. Other translations say, 'it entered his mind'. This won't have been the first time this idea came to Moses. Afterall, he would have seen the Hebrews and their daily sufferings many times over and now he was moved to act. But in neither of the above verses or anywhere else in scripture will you read that God led Moses to kill the Egyptian. It was God's will for Moses to set His people free but, whether through an overload of compassion or anxiety or a frustration at waiting, Moses did things his way rather than waiting for Gods' way. What were the consequences of Moses actions to him and to the Hebrews?
Moses is later described to be 'praus' in heart. But this action was not praus. It was evidence of Moses great strength/gifts (intelligence, physical strength, heart to do good) being out of his control. What should Moses have done differently in this situation, assuming he had already got to the stage were he had resolved to go to see 'the children of Israel'? To guide you in this question, see 1 Samuel 30.
Have you ever acted hastily? What happened? Is there anything going on currently for you that is tempting you not to wait on God and instead take matters into your own hands?
End in prayer
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