Moses - Servant of God - The Meekest Man in All the Earth
3 - Moses in Midian
We continue our study of the life and work of Moses the servant of God.
Having completed the first forty years of his life in the palace of Pharaoh, we read in Exodus chapter 2 verse 15 that Moses having killed a man who was ill-treating a fellow Hebrew, had to flee for his life from Pharaoh, who was intent on putting him to death. We read that because of this Moses fled and went to live in the country of Midian. We finished last time by noting that fear was not the overriding factor in Moses' leaving Egypt. Although his life was in real danger, it is evident that Moses was already conscious of the fact that God had plans for him where the liberation of his fellow Hebrews was concerned. We are told in Hebrews chapter 11 that it was "by faith" that he left Egypt to go to the land of Midian. The Midianites were a nomadic people, who lived in tents, kept sheep and travelled on camels. They mainly inhabited the dry barren lands on the western edge of the Arabian Desert. It is obvious that God guided him to this place, to live with people who were of the family of Abraham. These were God fearing people who dealt kindly with this runaway.
On his arrival in Midian we are told that Moses sat down by a well. He was, no doubt, tired and thoughtful, and very much on his own. What a contrast with his previous station in life! Here was no royal palace. Now Moses was thrown entirely upon God. This second stage in his life was to be one of great importance. Egypt had made him a scholar, prince and soldier which would fit him to rule Israel eventually. Midian, however, would teach him how to commune directly with Almighty God. This was in readiness for the day when he would converse with God at Horeb. He was to discover that while his forty years in Egypt were valuable, the second forty years in Midian would prove invaluable.
Someone has said: "Nothing can ever make up for the lack of secret communion with God in solitude, or the special training and discipline of his school". All of God's substantial servants in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible have had to pass through training with God alone. For example we have Elijah at the brook Cherith in 1 Kings chapter 17, where God communicated with him directly. We also have Ezekiel at Chebar. Here this great prophet of the Lord heard the voice of God saying to him, "Son of man stand up on your feet and I will speak to you to tell you that I am sending you to the rebellious nation of Israel as my messenger." Then in the New Testament, we have the Apostle Paul in Arabia. For a few years following his amazing conversion, God, it is believed, instructed him directly for his future service as the Apostle to the Gentiles. Finally, we see God's perfect servant, our Lord Jesus Christ and note that the time He spent in private was nearly ten times as long as that spent in public ministry. He spent much time in prayer and in communion with his Father, away from the crowds and in quiet places.
In all this we discover that the hand of man can never mould a vessel suitable for God's use. God alone can prepare individuals for His purpose. Here we can all learn a lesson if we are to become useful in God's service. Our preparation must centre upon God's work manual - the Holy Scriptures. Before Jesus left His disciples to return to His Father, He promised that He would send the Holy Spirit who would teach His followers all about Himself and the work they were to do for Him. We should, as followers today, make time in our lives to read and meditate upon God's precious word. It is that "which will thoroughly equip the man of God for every good work", as Paul wrote in his Second Letter to Timothy chapter 3 verse 17.
When Moses arrived at Midian he was led by God to meet the family of Jethro, a God fearing man who had seven daughters. Moses met the daughters first when they came to the well, where Moses was resting, to draw water for their sheep. His first act was that of a gentleman when he drove off some shepherds who were harassing the young women. Afterwards, Moses was invited into their family home. He was well received and offered hospitality. Eventually he was given one of Jethro's daughters as his wife. Her name was Zipporah and she later bore him a son whom Moses named Gershom, saying, "I have become an alien in a foreign land". Moses in turn became a shepherd working for Jethro. In tending and caring for the sheep, Moses learned some of his sweetest and most enduring lessons in preparation for what lay ahead.
It is interesting to note that in Scripture some of God's greatest servants were shepherds. Looking after sheep is one of mankind's oldest occupations. Shepherds often lived a hard, tough life battling against the elements and protecting their flocks from wild animals and other dangers. Perhaps the most famous biblical shepherd is King David whose experiences as a shepherd boy prepared him for his later battles and service. Out of his shepherd experience he was able to write his Psalm of praise and confidence in the Lord who was his shepherd - Psalm 23. David was, of course, the ancestor in his human family of the Lord Jesus who described Himself as "The Good Shepherd." We read this in John's Gospel chapter 10 verse 11 where he says: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." Later, in verse 14, He says, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me."
The Lord Jesus is comparing himself with bad shepherds who are only hired men and care little for the flock because the sheep do not belong to them. This good shepherd cares so much for His flock that He is prepared to lay down His life for the sheep. Jesus in His love for you and me offered up His life for our sins on the cross. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah, in chapter 53, puts it like this, "We all like sheep have gone astray, each one of us has turned to His own way; and the Lord has laid on Him (the Lord Jesus) the iniquity of us all." The good shepherd knows who are His Sheep and his Sheep know Him. Do you know Him? Have you, by faith, accepted Him as your Saviour and Lord?
So Moses, formerly an Egyptian prince, educated in all the wisdom of ancient Egypt, became a lowly shepherd. He remained in Midian for forty years before he completed this second stage in his development for the future leadership of Israel.