Justice Training

Exodus 2:11-25

Moses found his effectiveness to do good (stop a fight between two Hebrews) compromised by his own action in murdering – by stealth – an Egyptian. As Moses feared, his offense was known. He fled.

In a new setting Moses once again witnesses an injustice. This time his reaction to correct this does not get out of hand, apparently, although we are not told the details of the event by the well.

In the first setting Moses is acting as a Hebrew against an Egyptian. Then there is the incident with the fellow Hebrews, although they probably don’t see him as fully one of them. Now Moses is perceived as an Egyptian and is involved with people who are neither Egyptian nor Hebrew. What I find especially intriguing in all this is that he has to flee from the setting where, like Joseph before him, he has a kind of dual citizenship. Then that is all flipped: In the region where he has no family or national ties he finds a home. Tying it together is his concern for justice.

Especially with the comments that then come in verses 23-25 about the change in king, God noticing the cries of the people and remembering his promise to the fathers of Israel, you get the sense a stage is being set for something big coming.

Prayer:
God, you work even through our imperfections and outright rebellion. But what is wrong is not made good by your bringing good through it. Conform me more and more to your good in the first place, so you can work all the more through me. Through Christ. Amen.