QT 2/2/2026 Exo 2:11-21, God is not looking for heroes

Exodus 2:11–21 (ESV) —

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.

 

NOTE: In his younger days, Moses fashioned himself as the hero type. But he wasn't well received by his fellow Hebrews. He had killed an Egyptian in defense of a Hebrew, and the response was to despise him for making himself prince and judge over the Hebrews. And when the word got out to Pharaoh, he ended the hero notion by seeking to kill him. Moses in his flight finds himself in Midian and he rescues seven daughters from the shepherds -- He is still trying to be the hero.

 

God doesn’t need heroes, well, God doesn't need anything, but he wants humble servants, men who believe that by God's power they can change the world. Moses started out believing he could change the world. God needed to humble him first. So, he brings him to Midian and turns the prince of Egypt into a humble servant who shepherds flocks for forty years.

 

I think all men want to be heroes. But God needs obedience and humility in his leaders. Heroes try to do things in their own power. God's servants do things in God's power.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I try to be a hero too often?
2. Do I feel I have to rescue the situation through clever words and stratagems?
3. Or do I rely upon God to do things only he can really do for good?

 

PRAYER: Father, sometimes I carry ministry loads on my shoulders which are not mine to carry and problems that are not mine to solve. I can't be what every person wants. I can only do what you give me the strength to do. And I need to rest in that. If I can't solve a problem that I have been praying about, I need to let it go -- give it completely to you. And believe that you are fully aware and are doing what you choose to do in the situation.