February 1, 2025 -Victim of Circumstance

EXODUS 1:1-2:25

1 CHRONICLES 6:1-3

EXODUS 3:1-4:17

One Year Bible Audio & Daily Reading (oneyearbibleonline.com)

Exodus 2:11 Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews. 12 After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand. 13 The next day, when Moses went out to visit his people again, he saw two Hebrew men fighting. “Why are you beating up your friend?” Moses said to the one who had started the fight. 14 The man replied, “Who appointed you to be our prince and judge? Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?”

When I read this story this time, I felt bad for Moses. He lived on the edge of 2 words and was not liked by either of them. We know that the Egyptians hated the Hebrews and would only tolerate him because he was the adopted son of Pharoah's daughter. And we know that the Hebrews didn't trust him because of the reaction of the man that he stopped from beating up the other Hebrew. Granted if he was fighting with another one of his people, he probably didn't like anyone. But we all know human nature and I can't imagine a slave being willing to trust the guy who grew up in the house of Egyptian royalty. Moses had a heart for the Hebrews. He knew that they were his people and when he had an opportunity to help one of them he did, at great risk to his own safety. Maybe he thought that helping on of his own people would let them see that he was more like them than they gave him credit for. After all, he didn't have any say in what happened to him. From a human perspective we would say that he was a victim of circumstance. But from a heavenly perspective he was right where he needed to be. Going through everything he needed to go through. What choice did he have through his life?

Exodus 2:3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. 4 The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him.

Moses an innocent baby who had no say in what was happening. He is saved from death because his mother was willing to give him up. He didn't decide that, but his mother made a difficult decision to take the risk. Every mom thinks her child is special, but this one really was. What choice did he have but to float on down the Nile.

Exodus 2:5 Soon Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her.

As luck would have it (human perspective), he is found by Pharaoh's daughter. Even though we all know that it was not as luck would have it. It was as God would have it. Any number of things could have happened. She could have turned him into her father and he would have been killed. She could have ignored him. She could have even thrown him into the water and killed him herself. But she didn't. Her heart was turned toward him in tenderness. And he is saved (heavenly perspective).

Exodus 2:10 Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.”

Not only was he saved but his mother is blessed to be able to keep him and care for him until he is weened. But now we have a toddler who has no control over what is happening to him. He is ripped out of the home he knows and away from the people he loves. He is taken to a strange place with strange people. How scary that would be. He has no power and no say in anything that happens.

And when he is older and does make a choice to do something that he thinks he has some control over it blows up in his face. At least that's what it looks like from a human perspective. But we know that he needed to be where he was when he needed to be there. He needed to go through every problem that he faced.

So when we are feeling like we are a victim of circumstance and are suffering some difficulty or trial think about Moses. Think about Joseph. And remember that the things we don't have any control over are never out of God's control. Every struggle, every pain, illness, setback, and obstacle is something that God will use to help you grow and to find your way to exactly where you need to be. It may not make it any less painful or difficult but I hope that it gives you something to look forward to. Let yourself wonder, "What good will God use this for?"