Topical Bible: Moses: Takes the Life of an Egyptian Taskmaster

◄ Moses: Takes the Life of an Egyptian Taskmaster ►

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Biblical Context:
Moses, a central figure in the Old Testament, is renowned for leading the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. His life is chronicled in the Book of Exodus, which details his birth, upbringing, and eventual role as a deliverer of his people. The incident where Moses takes the life of an Egyptian taskmaster is a pivotal moment in his early life, marking a transition from his privileged position in Pharaoh's household to his identification with the suffering of his Hebrew brethren.

Scriptural Account:
The event is recorded in Exodus 2:11-12 : "One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his own people and observed their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. After looking this way and that and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand."

Historical and Cultural Background:
Moses was born during a time when the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt. Pharaoh had decreed that all newborn Hebrew boys be killed, but Moses was saved by his mother, Jochebed, and later adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. Raised in the Egyptian royal court, Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians (Acts 7:22). Despite his Egyptian upbringing, Moses retained a connection to his Hebrew heritage, which became evident in his reaction to the oppression of his people.

Theological Significance:
Moses' act of killing the Egyptian taskmaster is often viewed as an early indication of his role as a deliverer. It demonstrates his deep sense of justice and his willingness to act on behalf of his people, even at great personal risk. This incident foreshadows his later leadership in the Exodus, where he would confront Pharaoh and lead the Israelites to freedom.

Moral and Ethical Considerations:
From a moral perspective, Moses' action raises questions about justice, violence, and the defense of the oppressed. While the Bible does not explicitly condone the killing, it presents the act as a catalyst for Moses' eventual mission. His decision to intervene reflects a profound empathy for his fellow Hebrews and a rejection of the injustices perpetrated by the Egyptians.

Consequences and Aftermath:
Following the incident, Moses feared for his life, as it became known that he had killed an Egyptian. Exodus 2:14-15 states: "The man replied, 'Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?' Then Moses was afraid and thought, 'What I did must have become known.' When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, where he sat down by a well."

Moses' flight to Midian marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life, where he would spend years in exile, marry Zipporah, and encounter God in the burning bush. This period of exile was crucial for Moses' spiritual development and preparation for his future role as the leader of the Exodus.

Reflection in Christian Thought:
In Christian theology, Moses is often seen as a type of Christ, a deliverer who prefigures the ultimate deliverance brought by Jesus. His actions, though flawed, are part of a divine narrative that underscores God's sovereignty and the unfolding of His redemptive plan. Moses' life, including this early act of defiance, is a testament to God's ability to use imperfect individuals to accomplish His purposes.

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Exodus 2:11-22
And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brothers, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brothers.
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Acts 7:24-29
And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
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Library

A Stanza of Deliverance
... the Nile, even of the river of the water of life. ... began to murmur, and to complain
of Moses, and to ... for my iniquities." The slavery of sin takes away manliness ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/a stanza of deliverance.htm

"Now the End of the Commandment is Charity Out of a Pure Heart ...
... to God's end of sending it, and as it takes in all ... the flesh, and it is now impossible
for it to give life. ... as far advanced as Paul, or David, or Moses, or Job ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xi now the end.htm

Prosperity under Persecution
... not only meet evil with good, but he takes the evil ... tells us in almost the same words
that Moses had used ... the regions beyond our present sphere of life and labor ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/prosperity under persecution.htm

The Exodus
... and by his strong and mighty hand takes out of ... before resurrection there must come
death; before life there must ... As Moses said, "Not a hoof shall be left behind ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the exodus.htm