INTRODUCTION:  This lesson deals with the importance of doing all things within God’s perfect timing and the troubles brought on by 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.

1. MOSES DEPARTS FROM EGYPT (Exodus 2:11-15 [11] And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. [12] And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. [13] And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? [14] And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known. [15] Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.
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1. His Choice (Exodus 2:11And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.
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1. He knew of his heritage and people (Exodus 2:11And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.
   See All...); he had probably learned from his mother (Exodus 2:8-9 [8] And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother. [9] And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the women took the child, and nursed it.
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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 (Hebrews 11:24-25 [24] By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; [25] Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
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3. He knew (by revelation?) that he was called to deliver the children of Israel and thought they would understand (Acts 7:23-25 [23] And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. [24] And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: [25] For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
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2. His Error (Exodus 2:11-12 [11] And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. [12] And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
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1. He saw injustice (Exodus 2:11And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.
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1. He looked on his brethren’s burdens.
2. He spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew.
2. He took matters into his own hands (Exodus 2:12And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
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1. Moses looked all around to make sure nobody was watching.
2. Moses slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
3. In like manner we often try to take matters in our own hands.  The admonition we receive from the Lord is to, "Be still, and know that I am God!"
4. “Moses had not learned that lesson when he saw the Egyptian smiting one of his brethren.  He rolled up his sleeves and said in so many words, "If ever there was a time when I was on call, it is now!"  and he blundered in like a bull in a china shop, smote the Egyptian, and tried unsuccessfully to bury him.  With the best intentions in the world, he became a murderer instead of a missionary!.....When Moses tried to tackle the job, he could not even bury one Egyptian successfully.  Maybe he left his toes sticking out of the sand!  When God tackled the job, He buried the whole lot of them in the Red Sea!  That is how competent God is to deal with His own business."–from The Saving Life of Christ by Major W. Ian Thomas
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 because they took matters into their own hands.
3. His Discovery (Exodus 2:13-14 [13] And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? [14] And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.
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1. He continues his feeble attempt at deliverance (Exodus 2:13And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?
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2. His ability to judge is questioned (Exodus 2:14And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.
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3. His sin has been found out (Numbers 32:23But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.
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1. Moses had done his best to make sure that nobody saw him smite the Egyptian.
2. Either the Hebrew who was smitten survived and told about it, or Moses missed somebody who was watching when he looked around.
4. His Departure (Exodus 2:15Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.
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1. Pharaoh received news about Moses smiting an Egyptian.
2. Pharaoh seeks to slay Moses.
3. Moses runs for his life.
4. Moses sits down by a well in Midian.
2. MOSES DWELLS IN MIDIAN (Exodus 2:16-22 [16] Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. [17] And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. [18] And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day? [19] And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock. [20] And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread. [21] And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. [22] And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.
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1. His Opportunity (Exodus 2:16-17 [16] Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. [17] And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
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1. Moses sees a need (Exodus 2:16-17 [16] Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. [17] And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
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1. The daughters of the priest of Midian came to draw water and filled their troughs to water their father’s flock (Exodus 2:16Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.
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2. The shepherds came and drove them away (Exodus 2:17And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
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2. Moses boldly provides help (Exodus 2:17And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
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1. He defended the daughters.
2. He watered their flocks.
2. His Recognition (Exodus 2:18-20 [18] And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day? [19] And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock. [20] And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.
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1. The father asks of their blessing (Exodus 2:18And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?
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2. The daughters tell of their helper (Exodus 2:19And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.
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1. His identity – an Egyptian
2. His deliverance – out of the hand of the shepherds
3. His aid – he drew water for us and watered the flock.
3. The father sends for Moses (Exodus 2:20And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.
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1. The father asks the daughters of their helper’s whereabouts.
2. The father asks why they left the man.
3. The father commands the daughters to call the man to a meal.
3. The Father
1. The priest of Midian
2. Reuel, meaning God’s friend
3. Also called by other names
1. Jethro (Exodus 3:1Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
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2. Hobab (Judges 4:11Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.
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4. Called the Kenite (Judges 1:16And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.
   See All...); the Kenites are mentioned as living among the Israelites in several passages and are the source of the holy Rechabites (1 Chronicles 2:55And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.
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4. His Stay (Exodus 2:21-22 [21] And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. [22] And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.
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1. Content to dwell with the man (Exodus 2:21And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.
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2. Married Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro (Exodus 2:21And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.
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3. Has a son: Gershom meaning a stranger here (Exodus 2:22And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.
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3. ISRAEL CRIES FOR DELIVERANCE (Exodus 2:23-25 [23] And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. [24] And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. [25] And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.
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1. In the Passage of Time (Exodus 2:23And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
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1. The king of Egypt died.
1. The Pharaoh who knew Joseph died prior to Exodus 1:8Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.
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2. The next Pharaoh died in Exodus 2:23And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
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3. The new Pharaoh seems to be familiar with Moses when he returns to deliver Israel (Exodus 5:4And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.
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2. The children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage.
3. Their cry came up unto God.
2. On the Ears of the Lord (Exodus 2:24-25 [24] And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. [25] And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.
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1. God heard their groaning (Exodus 2:24And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
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2. God remembered His covenant (Exodus 2:24And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
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1. With Abraham
2. With Isaac
3. With Jacob
3. God looked upon the children of Israel (Exodus 2:25And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.
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4. God had respect unto them (Exodus 2:25And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.
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CONCLUSION:  Are you trusting God to work things out in His timing (Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
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