IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Forty More Years of Growth

Date: Sep. 3, 2015

Passage

Exodus 2:11- 22 

Moses Flees to Midian

11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” 14 He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” 15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.

16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. 17 The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and saved them, and watered their flock. 18 When they came home to their father Reuel, he said, “How is it that you have come home so soon today?” 19 They said, “An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds and even drew water for us and watered the flock.” 20 He said to his daughters, “Then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.” 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. 22 She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Exodus 2:22

She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.”

First, lead others in God's strength and not by human impulse (11-14). Moses grew up in a palace, but he knew that he was a Hebrew. The suffering slaves were his own people. He could no longer turn his back on their suffering. When he realized that God had saved him for a purpose, he tried to stop the slave drivers with his own human strength. His people would not follow. He acted impulsively, revealing his need for more spiritual growth.

Second, embrace the "quiet years". When Moses fled he tried to survive. God led him to meet Jethro. He started to raise a family, and for the next forty years he took care of sheep. God was training one proud and able person to be a humble and compassionate shepherd. Moses really needed to embrace those years and grow through them. You cannot rush God. He has so many things to teach us that we can not even imagine at this time.

Prayer: Lord, I want to be impulsive and not follow the leading of your Spirit. Forgive me for being impatient. Help me to patiently wait on you and follow you...step by step.

One Word: God is teaching us patience, faith and compassion so we can be a blessing

Daily Bread

God is Our Deliverer

Psalm 78:40-72

Key Verse: 78:65

Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
like a strong man shouting because of wine.

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