We will begin this lesson with Exodus 2:15 “Now when Pharaoh
heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face
of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.”
We need to take a very long, hard look at this Scripture. How
soon the Pharaoh’s heart changed when Moses (a Hebrew) killed an
Egyptian. There was really bad blood between the Hebrews and Egyptians
at this point. The Hebrews were treated as sub-humanity with no rights
at all, at the mercy of the cruel Egyptians. Pharaoh approves of this
cruel treatment. Even though Moses was raised as his grandson, he wants
him killed. Moses’ fear of the Pharaoh now came into focus. Never
did we read that Pharaoh actually approved of his daughter having this
Hebrew child. Perhaps, he just tolerated him to please his daughter.
The word “Midian” means brawling or contention. This “Midian” was a
place of refuge for Moses. In this part of the world, the well was
also the gathering place, because there was such a shortage of water.
The Midianites and the Ishmaelites were probably intermarried. Midian
was the son of Abraham by Keturah, and it appears that Ishmael’s and
the Midian’s sons intermarried. The land of Midian was the land
Median, the man, inhabited.
Exodus 2:16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and
they came and drew [water], and filled the troughs to water their
father’s flock.
The custom of these people of the east was for the daughters to
care for the flock. Possibly he had no sons, just the 7 daughters were
mentioned. This word “priest” here does mean that he was of a priestly
order. As I said before, the watering well was a good place to meet,
because at least once a day the sheep must be watered. Moses would
certainly meet someone here at the well.
Exodus 2:17 And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses
stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
Here, we see the shepherds forcing these shepherdesses away.
Remember, Moses has been trained in fighting as well as being
educated in the Egyptian schools. Many Scriptures indicate that he was
a healthy man. These men of Midian didn’t have as easy a task as they
usually did with this strong man to help. Moses helped them water
their flock.
Exodus 2:18 “And when they came to Reuel their father, he said,
How [is it that] ye are come so soon today?”
We see from this Scripture that probably these daughters had
trouble every day with the shepherds, because their dad was used to
them being much later coming home. “Reuel” means friend of God. It
appears that Reuel and Jethro were the same person. Reuel was probably
his name and Jethro showed his rank or title. “Jethro” means his
excellence.
Exodus “2:19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the
hand of the shepherds, and also drew [water] enough for us, and
watered the flock.”
These daughters assumed that Moses was an Egyptian because of his
attire and because he came from Egypt. Moses had made himself useful,
and now is here at the father’s home with the seven daughters.
Exodus 2:20 “And he said unto his daughters, And where [is] he?
why [is] it [that] ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat
bread.”
The father reprimanded his daughters for not bringing this man so
he couldshow his appreciation for his helping his daughters. He
sent them back after Moses so he could show him hospitality for his
good deeds.
Exodus 2:21 “And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he
gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.”
Here we see Moses fled to an uncertain future from Egypt and
Pharaoh. If he ever thought of his call to lead his people out of
bondage, it had not been mentioned. At any rate, Moses had probably
gone to work for Reuel and now had become part of Reuel’s family.
“Zipporah” means sparrow. A sparrow is a plain bird. Whether this
meant that Zipporah was not a stunning beauty or not is not quickly
understood.
Exodus 2:22 “And she bare [him] a son, and he called his name
Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.”
The name “Gershom” means refugee. Moses had settled in Midian and
now had a family.
Exodus 2:23 “And it came to pass in process of time, that the
king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the
bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of
the bondage.”
Why do we wait until things are so terribly bad before we cry out
to God for help? We see 400 years of misery coming to a climax. The
cruelty of the king had caused the Israelites to be pleased when he
died. They were hoping for better things. In their need, they cried out
to God. God always listens, and this time was no exception. God felt
pity toward them. He hurt, too, for their bondage. We Christians,
too, had been a slave to sin before we cried out for mercy and God
heard and sent us a Saviour {Jesus}. This wicked king had ruled even
before Moses left Egypt and now about 40 years later, he dies. Moses
is now 80 years old. He was 40 when he left Egypt, and he lived 40
years in Midian; and now at 80 had a family and felt that he had
settled in to stay.
Exodus 2:24 “And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his
covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.”
Jacob (Israel) was called by this name “Jacob”, because he was a
family head when the covenant was made. He was called “Israel” when the
nation was meant. These were the three patriarchs that God had made the
covenant with. Their descendants were these 12 tribes of Israel and
their families. God had promised to bless them and make them into such
a large group that they would be like the sand of the sea, and also,
that all nations would be blessed through them. These last 400 years,
and most especially the last 60 to 70 years, they did not feel blessed
at all. Even though they had grown from 70 to nearly 3 million people,
they were still not an innumerable group. God’s Word is good. What He
promises, He will do. God remembers His covenant and these promises.
Help is on the way.
Exodus 2:25 “And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God
had respect unto [them].”
Probably, the word “respect” here means that God keeps His
covenant. We know just as surely as He sent a deliverer to these
Israelites, He sent us a Deliverer (one Jesus Christ, our Lord). Just
as these Israelites were freed from bondage, so are we. We shall not
always suffer, but will truly inherit our eternal life in heaven with
Jesus, if we do not faint but hold firm to our faith. We must know
that God is the rewarder of those who stay true to the faith.