The Preparation of Moses

Exodus 2. We'll break this chapter down into three parts:

1. The Redemption of Moses: 2:1-10

2. The Murder of Moses: 2:11-15

3. The Marriage of Moses: 2:16-22

In the first part, God was preparing for Himself a leader. In all of these experiences, God is preparing Moses to be the one to lead the children of Israel out of bondage. But first, Moses is to be delivered himself. The application for us here is: If God is going to use someone to lead others to Christ, that someone has to be redeemed first.

In the second part, as God was preparing Moses, we see in Exodus 2:11 that Moses went out to visit his brethren when he was grown. Acts 7:23 tells us he was 40 years old at this time. We know nothing of Moses life during these 40 years. But now we come to the first recorded event in his life since his birth and deliverance, and it is this record of Moses' murder of an Egyptian. Why is Scripture silent for 40 years? Well, the verse says when Moses was grown (Exodus 2:11), or that could read "grown up". In other words, when he had matured. Was this the first time he went out among his brethren? No. Surely he had been out of Pharaoh's court many times, but this time was different. Something happened in Moses' heart. His insensitivity became compassion. The application for us here is: When God prepares us to be instruments of redemption in His hand, first we have to be redeemed (v.1-10) and then we're to have compassion for the lost. Much of the lack of growth in the Kingdom of God can be attributed to a lack of compassion for the lost.

So Moses has compassion for his brethren, but he goes about it the wrong way. He kills the Egyptian and buries him in the sand. Moses is going to try to redeem Israel one Egyptian at the time. But God's way would be better. God will bury the whole army under the Red Sea. Thus, you've got to do God's work, God's way.

One parting thought: Moses was a murderer. King David was a murderer and adulterer. The apostle Paul was a murderer. I'm glad God uses imperfect people to do His work, His way, or else none of us could serve in His Kingdom work in His redemption plan.