Exodus 2:11, Hebrews 11:24-26, and Acts 7:24-25 Speak about perhaps the lowest point in Moses’ life. It was a pivotal moment. Much was used by God for good, but some mistakes as well.

Let’s look at and just make some observations and see what the Holy Spirit inspired Word says of it and then make some observations about becoming active in hard circumstances.

You know, I’m sure, that Moses was born of the children of Israel, living in Egypt, under great duress as the people had become enslaved. His mother protected him, and he was taken in and raised by Pharoah’s own daughter. He had everything that could be imagined. He was raised with wealth and education as if the Prince of Egypt. Yet, his people were suffering.

“When he was GROWN”, Exodus 2:11 tells us, he would have been roughly 40 years old.

years later, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his own people and observed their forced labor – CSB

when Moses was grown… he went out unto his brethren and looked on their burdens – KJV

That word – bsiblot = burden bearing forced labor

He knew who he was, and where he came from. His own mother had weened him probably to 5 or 6 years old and would have taught him about the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But he also had been raised in Pharoah’s house.

At 40 he had seen it, perhaps it had started to boil over. But this day, he saw it and felt it, it hurt, it angered him, and he responded. he saw an Egyptian, striking a Hebrew, one of his people 12 Looking all around and seeing no one, he struck the Egyptian dead and hid him in the sand.

Was he just? Was this righteous?

• He saw what was happening. The Egyptian whether a taskmaster or just an individual we aren’t told, but he struck the Hebrew. It does not say that the Hebrew was killed. However, the attack was unjust against the Hebrew.
• Should we / Can we defend the defenseless? YES. But action should match circumstance and be for good, toward change, and just in response and intended for protection and/or defense.
• Moses “looking all around” – premeditation – Moses could have attempted to stop the action, brought the perpetrator to further authority, Moses WAS a Prince – he could have corrected the Egyptian – But what did he do? Premeditated Murder – then when found out, he ran away to the desert, because we are told that when Pharoah found out he wanted to kill Moses.
• Again, he could have sought understanding, change, justice. He even, if unjust, could have rallied the Hebrews, sought the Lord God, organized an effort against the injustice, a national effort, even war could have come. But instead he reacted, planned, and killed

Did good come in spite of this? Yes

Hebrews 11:24 says he refused to associate with people abusing his people

v25-26 tells us he in essence laid down his wealth for poverty looking ahead to reward

v27 he left Egypt behind, and persevered as one who sees the God who is Invisible

Now to be fair, the book of Hebrews has the benefit of 20/20 hindsight… and Moses didn’t see all of this at once. He learned it over time, 40 years in the desert, through hardship, sometimes he didn’t want to, but God was taking him to what could be and would be.

God IS there Through It All

Then in Acts 7 – that preaching Deacon Stephen tells this story and gives insight into what Moses was TRYING to do –

• 7:24 he saw the mistreatment and came to the Rescue… and avenged – that word literally means to “do vengeance”. Let me say that while he had good intent, I believe he overreacted – Remember Vengeance and Defense are two different things. God says, “vengeance is mine”. We are not just enough, nor love enough, to carry out Vengeance, only God is.
• 7:25 – he assumed the people would understand… but they did not. Timing and God’s leading are important. Praise God for his Omniscience and patience – 40 years pass and God reveals himself again to Moses.
• I wonder, could it be that God could have done all he did for Israel SOONER if Moses had been in proper order? Perhaps

So, let me just hit some bullet points for us to consider in regards to responding when we see the burden of People and seek to join the Effort…

1. Grow Up – when he was grown – Time is a beneficial Tutor and Mentor
2. Get Outside what is normal and comfortable – he went out – we need to get out more and see for ourselves
3. Go Look – take notice, pay attention, ask questions, examine – he observed, that word means “spy”
4. Get a Feel for the Burden of Others – what is the weight they bear?
5. Give a Measured, God-led Response – Moses definitely did not do that.
6. Consider the Options – there are many things Moses could have done, but he just looked around to make sure no one would see, he had already decided what he was going to do.
7. Come Near to God, Come Near to the Need
8. Count the Cost – consider the potential Reproach of others for the sake of Christ and weight against lack of response.
9. Continue with The Invisible God who will be Visible for Eternity. Surrender to the “Invisible” throne within us, knowing it will give way to the Glorious Appearing. Know that your reward it not always for now.

There is suffering all around. God does want us to be involved, but he wants us to Join Him and Trust his Timing. When we look this way and that, make sure we are looking to the Lord and then move as HE says