Connect Moses' experience in Midian to other biblical figures feeling like foreigners. Moses in Midian—“I Have Become a Foreigner” (Exodus 2:22) • “Zipporah gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, saying, ‘I have become a foreigner in a foreign land.’” • Moses, once the prince of Egypt, now herds sheep on the far side of the wilderness. • The name Gershom sounds like the Hebrew for “sojourner” or “stranger,” a living reminder that God’s servant is not home yet. • Midian becomes a classroom where Moses learns dependence on the Lord before leading Israel through its own wilderness journey. Abraham—Pilgrim with a Promise • “I am a foreigner and a stranger among you.” (Genesis 23:4) • God called Abram to “go from your country” (Genesis 12:1) and he obeyed, living in tents his entire life. • Hebrews 11:9–10, 13 reminds us Abraham “was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” • Like Moses, Abraham’s earthly displacement pointed to a heavenly homeland. Joseph—Faithful in a Strange Court • Sold into Egypt, Joseph prospers because “the LORD was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2). • He rises from slave to prime minister, showing that God’s presence, not geography, defines blessing. • Genesis 50:20: what others meant for evil, God used for good—saving many, including the very brothers who exiled him. David—Exile before the Throne • Hunted by Saul, David takes refuge among the Philistines: “One day I will perish by the hand of Saul.” (1 Samuel 27:1) • Psalms birthed in caves (e.g., Psalm 57) echo the heart of a man who knows he is a stranger even in Israel until God secures his place. • David’s fugitive years refine his character for future kingship, much like Midian shapes Moses. Daniel—Uncompromised in Babylon • Carried off with Judah’s nobles, Daniel “resolved that he would not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8). • His prayer life continues: “He knelt down three times a day and prayed” (Daniel 6:10), proving citizenship in God’s kingdom over any empire. • God honors faithfulness with influence, mirroring Joseph’s rise in Egypt. Israel—Songs by Foreign Rivers • “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept.” (Psalm 137:1) • Jeremiah 29:4–7 urges exiles to seek the city’s welfare while longing for home. • Their displacement disciplines the nation, yet preserves the messianic line. Jesus—Heaven’s King among Us • “The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.” (John 1:14) • Philippians 2:7 says He “emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant.” • The ultimate voluntary exile: leaving glory to redeem those far from God, fulfilling every shadow cast by earlier sojourners. Believers Today—Sojourners with a Secure Future • “Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and exiles…” (1 Peter 2:11). • “For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.” (Hebrews 13:14) • Ephesians 2:19 affirms, “You are no longer strangers… but members of God’s household.” • Like Moses naming Gershom, we carry an identity that whispers, “This world isn’t my final address.” Tying the Stories Together • God often prepares His servants in places that feel alien. • Earthly displacement fosters heavenly dependence. • From Midian to Babylon, from Bethlehem’s manger to today’s church, the recurring theme is clear: – We are strangers now, heirs forever. – God is present in every foreign land. – His promises anchor our pilgrimage until the true homeland is revealed. |
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