What is the meaning of Exodus 2:14? But the man replied, • The scene opens with a sharp, defensive response from one Hebrew to another (Exodus 2:13–14). • Moses expects gratitude for stepping in; instead he meets resistance—echoing Proverbs 9:7–8, where correction can provoke hostility. • Acts 7:26–27 recalls this very moment, underscoring that Moses’ intentions were misunderstood. “Who made you ruler and judge over us?” • The challenge exposes Israel’s spiritual state: even in bondage they reject God-appointed deliverance (John 1:11). • Ironically, God had indeed chosen Moses to lead (Exodus 3:10; Psalm 75:6-7). • Similar pushback greets later deliverers—Gideon in Judges 8:1, David in 1 Samuel 17:28, and ultimately Christ in Luke 19:14. “Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” • The rebuke reveals Moses’ secret sin is no secret (Numbers 32:23). • Sin’s fallout spreads quickly—compare Joshua 7:1, 11 where hidden wrongdoing thwarts blessing. • The question hints at fear of violent leadership rather than shepherd-like care (Ezekiel 34:4). Then Moses was afraid • Fear replaces the earlier zeal that led him to defend his kinsman (Hebrews 11:24-27 notes both his faith and his flight). • Legitimate concern surfaces: government authorities will seek his life (Exodus 2:15; Romans 13:4). • Yet God will use this fear-induced exile to shape Moses in Midian—paralleling Joseph’s detour to Egypt (Genesis 50:20). and thought, “This thing I have done has surely become known.” • Awareness of exposure brings accountability (Luke 12:2-3). • Moses must now depend entirely on God’s timing and protection, not on his own strength (Psalm 56:3-4). • The episode foreshadows the Passover: a concealed act of deliverance made public will ultimately free the nation (Exodus 12:12-13). summary Exodus 2:14 records a pivotal turning point. Moses’ premature attempt at deliverance is rejected, his hidden deed is uncovered, and fear drives him into exile. Yet God works through these events to prepare the very leader Israel will later follow. The verse warns against resisting God’s chosen servants, exposes the reach of sin’s consequences, and highlights how the Lord sovereignly shapes His instruments in ways that surpass human expectation. |
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