Sheep Herder University

Exodus 2:16-25

“Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.” (Exodus 2;16-17)

Fleeing from Pharaoh’s wrath, Moses came to a well in Midian. He stopped to rest and get a drink while thinking about what to do next. While he was there, the priest of Midian’s daughters came and began filling the water troughs to water their father’s sheep. Other shepherds waited until they had carried enough water then drove the girls away, and watered their own sheep instead, with the intention of making the girls carry all the water. Having a very strong sense of justice, Moses intervened, driving away the other sheep and helping them water theirs.

“And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?

And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.

And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread. ” (Exodus 2:18-20)

The other shepherds had apparently been taking the girls water for some time as their father was surprised how quickly they finished that day. After hearing what Moses had done, Reuel insisted they should at least feed him as a tangible way of showing their appreciation. When Moses came, he was offered a job managing their flocks.

“And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.” (Exodus 2:21-22)

Moses took the job, and stayed about forty years, eventually marrying one of Reuel’s daughters and having a son they called Gershom, or “a refugee” because Moses was a refugee from Egypt. During the time Moses was in Midian, the Egyptians became increasingly cruel in their treatment of the Hebrews.

“And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.” (Exodus 2:23-25)

When the Old Pharaoh died, his son became the new one. Like many children who‘ve always had everything they want, the new Pharaoh had no concept of limits to his spending. He constantly pressed for more public works to show his power and prestige and leave a legacy others would remember. It had to be paid for by increasing the demands on the people, and especially on those least able to protect themselves. As the demands became more onerous the Hebrew people began to pray for relief. It is amazing how long people will put up with abuse before seeking relief.

When they began to seriously seek relief, God began to act on their behalf. Like Jacob, who stayed in Padanaram even though Laban constantly took advantage, people often are not willing to follow God’s will until things get unbearable. Until we are willing to walk away, every attempt to move us will only result in a desire to go back.

To work with animals successfully, one must develop an understanding of the animals themselves. The more complete one’s understanding of their needs and instincts the more effectively one can avoid problems. Moses spent forty years in “Sheepherder University,” as one pastor called it, learning to observe and care for sheep. It was ideal preparation for leading the nation of Israel, teaching him to observe and consider the needs and nature of the people. Jesus described himself as the great shepherd, and his people as his sheep. In the great message about the responsibilities pastors and leaders in Ezekiel 34, they are compared to shepherds as well. In fact the very term pastor means literally a sheep herder.

The area he was herding sheep in was part of the area he would lead Israel through later, giving him a familiarity with the climate and terrain that would stand him in good stead. Midian was located along the Gulf of Aqaba in the Northwest corner of the Arabian Paeninsula.