In Exodus 2:11-12 we read that Moses, the man of God, killed an Egyptian. While this account in Moses' life has elicited different opinions and views from people, it also gives us valuable insights into our own callings and responses to God's call over our lives.
In this article we will talk about why Moses did what he did, and the things that we need to learn from them.
Who is Moses?
Exodus 2:1-10 tells us that Moses was a Hebrew born to Hebrew parents who lived in Egypt at the time. Exodus 1 tells us that the Egyptians enslaved the Hebrews and treated them harshly. The Pharaoh even commanded that all newborn Hebrew boys should be killed.
Moses was a Hebrew boy who lived through that brutal command. His parents hid him in a papyrus basket placed by the reeds in the riverbank. The Pharaoh's daughter saw the basket and decided to adopt him, giving him the name "Moses."
Moses was still raised by his mother (see Exodus 2:8). When he grew up, he went to his people and saw their condition. Here is where the meat of our topic begins:
"Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand."
Intentional or not?
Many people argue with how and why Moses did what he did, but it's actually easy to understand.
There are some who argue that Moses, who grew up in Egypt and was probably trained in "Egyptian warfare", killed the Egyptian with his fighting skills. Very imaginative.
There are some who even believe that Moses did a "one-hit kill" on the Egyptian since certain versions say Moses merely "struck him." Sounds like an idea for a kung-fu movie.
Both of these, and many others, might sound appealing with all their flowery descriptions, but the Bible didn't actually say anything about how Moses killed the Egyptian.
It doesn't even say explicitly if Moses planned on killing the man. It only says that Moses looked to see if there were others around before committed the act, and that Moses buried him after killing him.
What we do know is that he killed him; the question is why.
Why did he do it?
Moses, raised by his mother, knew that he was a Hebrew. He went to his brethren and saw their predicament. Some scholars believe that Moses knew he was called to deliver the Israelites, thus slaying the Egyptian. Other scholars believe he was merely angered at how the Egyptian abused his fellow Hebrew.
Acts 7:23-25 sheds light on this matter:
"Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand."
What do we learn from it?
Friends, Moses knew in his heart that God would use him to deliver Israel. He knew that he had a call to lead God's people out of slavery and into freedom. The thing is, he didn't do it according to God's plans; he did it in his flesh.
Many of us today are like that. We know we have callings and understand God's purposes for us, but instead of waiting on God to instruct us that we may do His will His way, we simply charge forward and do things for God our way.
We can't fulfill God's will through the strength of our flesh. If only, it would only cause more problems. Ever noticed how Moses ran away for forty straight years after this?
Let us not get ahead of God, friends. We must not attempt to do His will in our flesh.
