Devotion 25 August 2026

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Romans 11: 33-34

READING: Exodus 2: 11-15a

Today we read how the path of Moses’ life changed as he killed an Egyptian oppressor of his Hebrew brethren, was rejected by his own people, and fled for his life.

Moses, in his 40s, having survived Pharoah’s massacre of Hebrew babies, was living a privileged and successful life, effectively as an Egyptian prince. Despite his exalted position, he chose to look with compassionate emotion on the suffering of the Hebrew slaves (v 11).

As a royal son choosing to identify with lowly slaves marked for extermination, Moses prefigures Christ. The Book of Hebrews praises Moses for doing this (Hebrews 11:23-27).

But while this is commendable, we see that he let his enthusiasm for justice lead him to move ahead of God. We should follow God’s lead (Luke 9:23, John 15:4, Matthew 16:21-23). Of course we are called to do justice and to love mercy (Micah 6:8). But we must do so with humility and wait on His wisdom, timing, guidance, and power.

Moses had chosen the right people - his Hebrew brethren. He saw a real problem - an Egyptian beating one of his brethren. But the question before him was whether he would respond in God’s way or in his own strength.

In verse 12 we see Moses “looked this way and that”; perhaps the actions of a man who knew he was about to do wrong. Or was he looking for anyone else, or even God, to intervene and stop this injustice?

Then he makes up his mind, to act as a deliverer. Acts 7:23-25 explains that Moses did this to avenge the beaten Israelite, but also with the expectation that the Israelites would acclaim him as their deliverer. But he was not acting in God’s power, rather in his own strength and self-righteous anger. Moses was not yet the deliverer God would use. He had to get down from the palace and into a humbler place before he could be used by God.

Then Moses the murderer became Moses the meddler. The next day, finding two Hebrews fighting each other (v 13), he intervened - verbally instead of physically. But instead of being seen as their beloved deliverer, Moses got a stern confrontation (v 14a). Those Israelites first challenged his authority and right to judge them. Then they sought to intimidate Moses by revealing that many of them knew of his murder of the Egyptian.

These two questions unnerved and deflated Moses. He feared for his life and abandoned his self-righteous quest to liberate his brethren by himself. Fleeing to Midian, he probably felt that God’s plan for his life was completely defeated.

But even after 40 years of seemingly perfect preparation, God had another period of preparation for both Moses and the people of Israel. God needed him to remain for a while in Midian, to mature and learn more about God before He could use him to fulfil His plan.

Prayer

Almighty God, help me to always seek Your wisdom before action; may I seek to humble myself before You; save me from self-righteousness and self-importance, and accept Your plan for my life. Amen