Moses had identified himself with God’s people and it is this first devotedness which is recorded by the Spirit of God in Hebrews 11 24-26. But there is often an energy of nature displayed along with this earnest energy of faithfulness, and it is one of the ways of God to put aside a servant in order that the service might depend directly and entirely on Him. So it was with Moses.
His sympathies for his people led him to slay the Egyptian whom he saw smiting one of his brethren. This act, though well intentioned, was really the energy of nature, the flesh —impulsive and unwise. The next day he saw two Hebrews striving together and sought to reconcile them, but the love that sought their good was repulsed. It was the man who was in the wrong that had the bitter feeling against him who loved them both; it was he who taunted Moses with the words, “Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday?” The Israelite’s own proud spirit was ready to insinuate pride in Moses. Moses bowed to circumstances. Evidently the time was not yet come for the deliverance of such a people.
When Pharaoh heard what Moses had done he sought to slay him. The immediate result of his hasty act was seen in his fear, even in the midst of his faithfulness. But too he was repulsed by the unbelief of his brethren, and their failure to rightly interpret his motives.
Moses fled from Egypt, yet not so much in fear of the enmity of Pharaoh, but it was the unworthy dealing of his brethren, the unbelief of those toward whom his love and his faithfulness carried him, that broke up all hope for the present.
“By faith (Moses) forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:2727By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. (Hebrews 11:27). Moses retired from the scene to the land of Midian, where he was put through the discipline that was necessary for the mighty work God was yet to call him to.
From this point he becomes a type of Christ in rejection; for he is rejected by the people whom he loved, and becomes in his flight separated from his brethren. He still trod the path of faith, though that path led him into the desert among a strange people. God had his eye upon him, for He never forgets those who are His, even though we may often err.
Moses certainly had been hasty; and the Lord judged it. But he was right in the main; and the Lord left accordingly to him and not to another the due accomplishment of Israel’s deliverance when the fullness of the time was come.
ML 06/16/1968