INTRODUCTION: This lesson deals with the importance of doing all things within God’s perfect timing and the pain of getting out of His timing. It also shows how strife (personified by Midian) works against us and how God can use it for our benefit.
I. MOSES DEPARTS FROM EGYPT (2:11-15)
A. His Chance (v.10)
1. His training (Ac.7:22)
2. His position (v.10) -as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter
B. His Choice (v.11)
1. He knew of his heritage and people(v.11); he had probably learned from his mother (v.8-9)
2. When “grown”, he made the choice to turn his back on his opportunities in the Egyptian court and to identify with his own people (Heb.11:24-25); “he went out unto his brethren”
3. He knew (by revelation?) that he was called to deliver the children of Israel and thought they would understand (Ac.7:23-25)
C. His Error (v.11-12)
1. He saw injustice (v.11)
2. He took matters into his own hands (v.12)
3. He was the right man; he had the right idea (delivering Israel);
but he applied the wrong methods at the wrong time
4. Both Moses and David (Uriah) were guilty of murder
D. His Discovery (v.13-14)
1. He continues his feeble attempt at deliverance (v.13)
2. His ability to judge is questioned (v.14)
3. His sin has been found out (Num.32:23); our sins will always be found out; we can never hide them from God
E. His Departure (v.15)
1. Pharaoh seeks to slay Moses
2. Moses runs for his life
3. Moses sits down by a well in Midian
NOTE: THE MIDIANITES
A. Background
1. Midian was a son of Abraham by Keturah (Gen.25:1-2)
2. His five sons founded the tribe of Midian (Gen.25:4)
3. The Midianites were nomadic Arabs who are found in various locations in the Bible
4. The city of Midian can be historically located on the Arabic side of the Arabian Gulf
B. Biblical Background
1. Midian means strife; this meaning finds spiritual application in the history of the Midianites as found in the Bible
2. The Midianites were involved in the buying of Joseph as a slave (Gen.37:25-28)
3. The Midianites attempted to corrupt Israel before they conquered the promised land (Num.25:6-9, 16-18)
4. The Midianites terrorized the children of Israel in the time of Gideon (Judg.6:1-6)
C. Spiritual Application -with Midian picturing strife in our lives
1. Midian always joined with confederates in attacking God’s people; strife by itself cannot destroy you (Pr.24:16)
a. With the Ismaelites (Gen.37:25-28)
b. With the Moabites (Num.25:16-18)
c. With Amalek and the children of the East (Judg.6:3)
2. Midian always attempted to destroy the blessings of God’s people; this is how Satan uses conflict and strife to destroy our blessings (Mk.4:16-19; 1Cor.3:3)
a. By enslaving them (Gen.37:25-28)
b. By corrupting them (Nu.25:6-9, 16-18)
c. By stealing their fruit (Judg.6:1-6)
3. Yet Midian, by its very opposition to the people of God, can be used of God to strengthen them for greater accomplishments for Him (see the examples above and consider Midian’s influence on Moses) see also Romans 5:3-5; Philippians 1:27-30; 1 Peter 1:6-7
II. MOSES DWELLS IN MIDIAN (2:16-22)
A. His Opportunity (v.16-17)
1. Moses sees a need (v.16)
2. Moses boldly provides help (v.17)
B. His Recognition (v.18-20)
1. The father asks of their blessing (v.18)
2. The daughters tell of their helper (v.19)
3. The father sends for Moses (v.20)
C. The Father
1. The priest of Midian
2. Reuel, meaning God’s friend
3. Jethro (Ex.3:1), meaning excellence
4. Hobab (Judg.4:11), meaning beloved
5. Called the Kenite (Judg.1:16); the Kenites are mentioned as living among the Israelites in several passages and are the source of the holy Rechabites (1Chron.2:55)
D. His Stay (v.21-22)
1. Content to dwell with the man (v.21)
2. Married Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro (v.21)
3. Has a son: Gershom meaning a stranger here
III. ISRAEL CRIES FOR DELIVERANCE (2:23-25)
A. In the Passage of Time (v.23)
1. The king of Egypt died
2. The children of Israel cried to God
B. On the Ears of the Lord (v.24-25)
1. God heard (v.24)
2. God remembered (v.24)
3. God looked (v.25)
4. God had respect (v.25)
CONCLUSION: Are you trusting God to work things out in His timing (Rom.8:28) or are you trying to make things work out according to your understand of how they should be? Are you allowing God to strengthen you through strife and conflict or are you letting strife destroy your relationship with the Lord?
MEMORY VERSES:
1. Philippians 1:29
2. Ecclesiastes 3:11
3. Hebrews 11:24-26
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