A Failed Attempt at Freedom

Exodus 2:11-22

There was Moses way and then there was God’s way.  We see both Moses (v.11) and God (v. 25) looking upon the mise

ry of their people.  They were both concerned.  Moses acted rashly to deliver the Hebrews in his own strength and with his own wisdom and found the respective results of that equation, needless death, deception and despair.  So Moses has to run and, in a sense, goes into his own exile from his own people.

While in exile, Moses is going to go to school on the art of delivering people--God’s way.  He couldn’t deliver all of Israel, but he does deliver seven women from some scoundrel shepherds.  Moses was hoping to deliver Israel from the hand of Egypt, but instead he delivered some women from some shepherds.  Then Moses became a shepherd himself.  This new life of tending sheep, patiently nurturing them, leading them to food water and protection would be an internship for Moses on

 what it means to be a leader.  As Moses learns to lead sheep, he will begin to learn to lead people.

We should listen well to the consequences of our mistakes.  They are often our greatest teachers.  We should expect to continue learning as long as we live on this earth.  If we stop learning, we stop believing that God has more for us.  Stopping the learning process suggests that God is done with us, maybe done with this world.  

That is not the God we have witnessed in these two chapters.  Behind these past two chapters rests the gaze of God, listening to the cries of his people, hearing their groaning, remembering his promises and preparing history and this world—for freedom.