Daily Devotions
Exodus
"O God, you know my foolishness, And my sins are not hidden from You." Psalm 69:5
Text: Exodus 2 : 16-20
REFUGE IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN
Moses fled Egypt in a hurry! His good intentions had come to an abrupt end! He found refuge in the land of Midian. [It is interesting to note that Midian was the name of the son of Abraham from his union with Keturah (Cf. Genesis 25:1)].
EVER HELPFUL
Moses really had a kind heart. Whether he was in Egypt or in the new land of Midian, he felt for those who were bullied by others.
“Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters.
And they came and drew water, and they filled
the troughs to water their father’s flock.
Then the shepherds came and drove them away;
but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.”
EXODUS 2:16-17
It seemed as if injustice was to be found everywhere. The stronger tended to take advantage of the weaker. Moses’ ire was stirred once again and he found himself single-handedly fighting off the bullying shepherds of Midian. Moses, the gentleman that he was, went on to help the daughters of the priest of Midian to water their father’s flock.
A GRATEFUL FATHER’S INVITATION
The priest of Midian was surprised that his daughters had returned earlier that day. Naturally, he inquired how they had completed their task so swiftly.
“When they came to Reuel their father, he said,
‘How is it that you have come so soon today?'”
EXODUS 2:18
Excitedly, the girls reported that they had help from an Egyptian that afternoon.
“An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds,
and he also drew enough water for us and watered the flock.”
EXODUS 2:19
This was a new experience for Reuel’s daughters! No one had ever “delivered” them from the hand of the shepherds. No one had ever been so helpful as the Egyptian stranger they had met that afternoon.
Reuel responded by urging his daughters to at least invite the kind Egyptian stranger for a meal with the family.
“So he said to his daughters, ‘And where is he?
Why is it that you have left the man?
Call him, that he may eat bread.'”
EXODUS 2:20
The priest of Midian was grateful for the help that Moses had rendered to his daughters. He wanted to meet up with the man who stood up to assist his daughters.