Strife, Intervention, and Flight of Moses
J. C. Gray. Exodus 2:11-12 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brothers, and looked on their burdens… I. STRIFE. 1. Between the Egyptian and Hebrew. The Egyptian was smiting the Hebrew. Whipping him to his work, or punishing him for doing less than his allotted task. Cruel, tyrannical. The strong and protected, persecuted the weak and defenceless. Pride of power. Official meanness. Domineering spirit and conduct. 2. Between Hebrew and Hebrew. This is a worse feature of strife. Fellow bondsmen increasing each other's sufferings. Children of one family.striving. II. INTERVENTION. 1. The person. Moses. Adopted son of Pharaoh's daughter. Learned. Mighty in deeds and words. Honour, title, wealth before him. 2. His patriotic feelings. Did not abandon his nationality. "Not ashamed to call them brethren." 3. Slays the Egyptian. Unjustifiable conduct. "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." Yet it was an heroic act, under the peculiar circumstances. The first blow for freedom. 4. Concealment. Hides the body. 5. Second intervention. Not to kill, but to expostulate. 6. Repudiation of Moses by his brethren. Jesus was despised and rejected, "came to His own, and His own received Him not." III. FLIGHT OF MOSES. 1. The reason. Pharaoh sought to slay him. Moses, dwelling in the palace, would soon hear of this design. His friends — perhaps the princess if living — would inform him. 2. The course of his flight. Over ground to be presently traversed by the Israelites. A long and solitary journey. His thoughts by the way. 3. Incidents of the end. The well's mouth. How many incidents have occurred at the mouth of wells! The sheperdesses and the boors. Moses' courage and politeness. The Christian should be a true gentleman. The reward of chivalry and politeness. Kind words and deeds easy. Defence of the weak a mark of true nobleness. Moses a real nobleman. Christ mighty to save the weak; and willing.LEARN — 1. The meanness of taking a base advantage. 2. The strong should be helpers of the weak. 3. Jesus, a prophet like unto Moses, raised up to be our peacemaker and deliverer. (J. C. Gray.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. WEB: It happened in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his brothers, and looked at their burdens. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his brothers.