Exodus 2:11-22

One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and saw their forced labour.¹ He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his kinsfolk.² He looked this way and that, and seeing no one he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.³

When he went out the next day, he saw two Hebrews fighting; and he said to the one who was in the wrong, ‘Why do you strike your fellow Hebrew?’⁴
He answered, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?’⁵
Then Moses was afraid and thought, ‘Surely the thing is known.’⁶ When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses.⁷
But Moses fled from Pharaoh. He settled in the land of Midian, and sat down by a well. The priest of Midian⁸ had seven daughters. They came to draw water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. But some shepherds came and drove them away. Moses got up and came to their defense and watered their flock.⁹
When they returned to their father Reuel, he said, ‘How is it that you have come back so soon today?’
They said, ‘An Egyptian helped us against the shepherds;¹⁰ he even drew water for us and watered the flock.’
He said to his daughters, ‘Where is he? Why did you leave the man? Invite him to break bread.’¹¹
Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah in marriage.¹² She bore a son, and he named him Gershom; for he said, ‘I have been an alien residing in a foreign land.’¹³

1He sees their forced labor, and immediately knows it is wrong. This must have been going on for at least 30 years now...how much longer?

2“his people”, “kinfolk” - appears to already know that he is a Hebrew

3Violent resistance...out of ethnic solidarity or desire to end oppression?

4Both seem to be in play – he questions the one who was “in the wrong”, but appeals to ethnic solidarity.

5Doesn't go over well – he has no authority.

6Fear of wrong being known – shame-based mentality.

7Violence begets violence. It doesn't take much for Pharaoh to seek to kill the man his wife had raised as a son.

8A priest! Fascinating. I wonder why this is an element of the story.

9Again stands up for the weak – appears to have a strong sense of justice.

10Appears to have been a long-standing battle.

11Such an act should be repaid.

12Wow – what a repayment!

13Strong ties to ethnic roots. But is Egypt really Moses's homeland?

Take-home: Moses, motivated both by ethnic solidarity and a desire for justice, tries to address the situation with violence but ends up causing more problems than he solves and must flee.  This duel motivation is an interesting parallel with God, who assists the Israelites both because he sees their oppression and because they are His covenant people.