Trying to Make Things Happen

As a small child, Moses had been raised by his mother and was familiar with his family and race.  Later he had been raised and trained as Pharaoh’s grandson, but he never forgot his roots.  He became increasingly upset about the racism and discrimination he saw against the Hebrews, as we see in Exodus 2:11-12.  “And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.  And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.”   Like many who have never experienced discrimination, Moses thought he could end it quickly by destroying those who practiced it, not understanding the underlying causes.   He murdered the Egyptian. 

The next day, Moses found two Hebrews fighting and attempted to break up the fight, as Exodus 2:13-15 describes.  “And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?

And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian?

And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.  Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.” 

Moses’ efforts to end discrimination against the Hebrews did nothing to make things better, because it did not address the root issue.  Moses assumed the people were desperate for freedom and would just flock to him as Acts 7:23-25 tells us.  “And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.  And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.”   The Hebrew people had no assurance Moses was acting on their behalf, and were afraid he might kill indiscriminately, or that he might trigger retaliation by the authorities, and they were not prepared to fight the Egyptians. 

Like Moses, many people are angered by what they perceive as a wrong and try to fix it without considering what will be required.  Such efforts antagonize the opposing side while often alienating those they hope to help, usually making things worse.  Moses would have to wait for God’s direction in order to solve the problem.   Without his approval, Moses efforts failed.  Just because we are aware of problem does not mean we are called to resolve it, contrary to what some have taught.  We need God’s direction and help to accomplish his purpose.