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RUSSELL SANDERS
2-1-2022
THE LIFE OF MOSES – LESSON 2
MOSES THE MURDERER
Moses was raised as a prince in the court of Pharaoh. It has been thought by numerous scholars and Egyptologists that the Princess who adopted him became Queen Hatshepsut (Haley’s Bible Handbook) who was the wife and half-sister of Pharaoh Thutmose II and the real ruler behind his throne for his ten years. She then ruled as regent for twenty years on behalf of Pharaoh Thutmose III. If so, there could have been a possibility that her son Moses could have been a possible heir to the throne.
Regardless of whether that could be so, Moses as a prince, was given position and authority in the government. The renown Jewish historian, Josephus, wrote that Moses had commanded an Egyptian army in the south. This would have given him some proven leadership skills needed to lead two million people in the wilderness.
He quite likely might have also had some responsibility in monitoring the work of the slaves. One day as he went to check things out, he came upon a scene where an Egyptian was beating a Hebrew. (Exodus 2:11-15). It greatly angered Moses to see one of his Hebrew brethren being brutalized like that. He looked around and saw nobody else in the area. Confident that there would be no witnesses, he seized upon the Egyptian and killed him.
The next day he went out there again. He saw two Hebrews fighting. He questioned them, determined who was at fault, and asked why the guilty one was beating the other man.
Much to his surprise, the man questioned Moses’ interference. He asked Moses if he was going to kill him just as he had killed the Egyptians. Moses became terrified. There obviously had been one or more witnesses to his killing the Egyptian and now it was known what he had done. Murder was bad enough, but worse in that it was an Egyptian.
Pharaoh got word of it and sent out his men to capture Moses so that he could be executed for the murder he had committed. Moses promptly escaped, fleeing from Egypt into the Sinai wilderness.
Think about this. God was going to use a murderer to accomplish His works. Through this murderer many great miracles would be done. Not only was he a murderer, but he also disobeyed God’s direct command to speak to the rock at Meribah (Exodus 17) to bring water. He struck the rock out of anger or frustration, and it cost him the promised land.
Folks, this shows us that no matter where we have been in life or what we have or have not done, God will still use us if we are willing. That shows His never-ending mercy. It also proves His grace (favor) towards us.
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