Exodus Section 4 Notes: Moses Flees to Midian

Section 4: Moses Flees to Midian - Exodus: 2: 11-25

Theme or topic of this section

Moses is in training to save the slaves

Some interesting points

- Is Moses a Hebrew or an Egyptian?

            - he is a Hebrew dressed like an Egyptian.

            - he was circumcised, so he had to know that he was a Hebrew.

            - But he was schooled as an Egyptian.

            - But the Hebrews didn’t accept him as one of them.

- Seven daughters?!  And they didn’t invite Moses over for dinner?

- Father-in-law Reuel is a priest of Midian.  Midianites were ‘shirt-tail’ relatives of Hebrews.

- “In 2:19 we’re not in Kansas any more!”

- Moses’ character

            - he’s a killer.

            - impetuous

            - naïve

            - irresponsible

            - helpful to the daughters

            - This is his initial realization – it’s the beginning of making him into the one who will save the slaves.  He knows it isn’t right but doesn’t know what to do!  So he runs away.  He is torn. 

            - He doesn’t know where he belongs or who he belongs to.

What we learned about the nature of God from Exodus Chapter 2

- God is really smart! 

- God is acting/ orchestrating the events.

- God knows the plan.

- God’s hand is in it, but through the humans making choices.

What we learned from this passage that we can apply to our lives

- What to do when there is a great conflict:  Moses doesn’t know where he belongs and he has killed a man.  There are times when we find ourselves not accepted by others or we have a conflict.  It’s good to go away for a time and think about things, instead of reacting right away.