Introduction
Exodus 2:11–25: As an adult, Moses witnesses an Egyptian killing a Hebrew slave, whom he then kills. Because the king heard what Moses had done, Moses fled and escaped to the land of Midian. The chapter concludes with Moses’s marriage to Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro, the priest of Midian. But the Israelites remain enslaved in Egypt.
Today’s Key Verse: Exodus 2:23b, 25 GNT
The Israelites were still groaning under their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry went up to God … He saw the slavery of the Israelites and was concerned for them.
Read
11 When Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his people, the Hebrews, and he saw how they were forced to do hard labor. He even saw an Egyptian kill a Hebrew, one of Moses’ own people. 12 Moses looked all around, and when he saw that no one was watching, he killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand. 13 The next day he went back and saw two Hebrew men fighting. He said to the one who was in the wrong, “Why are you beating up a fellow Hebrew?”
14 The man answered, “Who made you our ruler and judge? Are you going to kill me just as you killed that Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and said to himself, “People have found out what I have done.” 15-16 When the king heard about what had happened, he tried to have Moses killed, but Moses fled and went to live in the land of Midian.
One day, when Moses was sitting by a well, seven daughters of Jethro, the priest of Midian, came to draw water and fill the troughs for their father’s sheep and goats. 17 But some shepherds drove Jethro’s daughters away. Then Moses went to their rescue and watered their animals for them. 18 When they returned to their father, he asked, “Why have you come back so early today?”
19 “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds,” they answered, “and he even drew water for us and watered our animals.”
20 “Where is he?” he asked his daughters. “Why did you leave the man out there? Go and invite him to eat with us.”
21 So Moses decided to live there, and Jethro gave him his daughter Zipporah in marriage, 22 who bore him a son. Moses said to himself, “I am a foreigner in this land, and so I name him Gershom.”[a]
23 Years later the king of Egypt died, but the Israelites were still groaning under their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry went up to God, 24 who heard their groaning and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25 He saw the slavery of the Israelites and was concerned for them.
Reflect
What caused Moses to escape to Midian? What incident prompted him to rescue Jethro’s daughters? What did Jethro tell his daughters to do? What was God’s reaction when he heard the Israelites’ cries for help? (You may wish to read about God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob mentioned in verse 24 in Genesis 15:13–18; 17:1–8; 19; 26:24; 35:9–12.)
Pray
Watchful and loving God, you hear us when we cry out to you for help. I thank and praise you for hearing my prayers this day as I come before you, trusting in your love, mercy, and care. In your holy name, I pray. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Exodus 3:1–22: God calls Moses.
