Unfruitful Effort
Exodus 2:11-15
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. MOSES' SELF-SACRIFICE (Hebrews 11:24-26).

1. He owned his relationship to the enslaved and hated people.

2. He cast in his lot among them. God calls for the same sacrifice to-day; confession of Jesus and brotherhood with his people.

3. The result of a mother's influence: from her he must have learned the truth regarding his descent and the hope of Israel. The seed sown outlived the luxury, temptations, ambitions of the court. God's blessing rests on these efforts of holiest love.

II. THE LESSONS OF HIS FAILURE.

1. True desire to serve is not the only requisite for success. We may be defeated by mistakes of judgment, an ungoverned temper, etc.

2. There can be no true service without the heart's waiting upon God. In order to guide we ourselves must follow.

3. The power which does not wait upon God comes to nothing. Contrast the prince with the unknown wanderer in Midian. Not only were means and influence lost, his very opportunity was gone. "Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil." - U.



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.




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