2024_01_15 Insight Post- Kim Feld
This week’s reading- Exodus 2, Acts 7:20-38, Hebrews 11:24-25
I am glad this week’s reading begins with Moses’ early years. We tend to focus on the many significant accomplishments of his life without spending much time looking at his early formation. If you go back to Exodus 1, you will see Pharaoh’s decree that all Hebrew boys were to be killed by being thrown into the Nile. Even under Egyptian oppression, the Hebrew population had grown to a sizable number that concerned Pharaoh. Moses’ mother kept him hidden, but when that was impossible, she put him in a basket in the Nile that was found by Pharaoh’s daughter. In an incredible twist that could only be attributed to God, Moses’ mother was allowed to care for him until he was weaned AND was paid to do it as a surrogate for Pharaoh’s daughter.
When Moses was 40 years old, he went out to watch the Hebrews at work and witnessed one being treated incredibly harshly. Scripture tells us that he looked around to make sure no one saw him (a clear indication that he knew what he was doing was wrong) and then killed and buried the Egyptian. We see a strong commitment on Moses’ part to defend the defenseless. Still, we also see Moses acting impetuously without thinking about the consequences of his actions.
I love the honesty of Scripture and that it includes both the good and the bad of the characters whose stories are told. Moses’ act indicated that he wasn’t ready for the job God was preparing him for. It would be another 40 years before God called him to lead the Israelites out of slavery (Barker and Kohlenberger, 2004). Could it be that God knew that Moses needed additional training and maybe even to be humbled before he was fit for service?
Merriam-Webster (n.d.) defines impetuous as “marked by impulsive vehemence or passion.” This describes Moses’ actions; if I’m honest, some of my actions could be characterized in this way too. There is a vast difference between reacting and responding, and it generally involves taking time to think through the situation’s implications. Time provides the ability to think of options not at the forefront of our thinking when we react impulsively. There are a couple of verses that address this:
Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good;
haste makes mistakes. (Proverbs 19:2, NLT)
Do not be quick with your mouth,
do not be hasty in your heart
to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
and you are on earth,
so let your words be few. (Ecclesiastes 5:2, NLT)
These verses are reminders to me about impulsive actions and words. Moses’s life is an excellent example of so many positive things. Still, in this instance, he gives us a glimpse of what impulsivity can cost us.
Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach
References:
Barker, K. L., & Kohlenberger, J. R. (2004). The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Old Testament. Zondervan Academic.
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Impetuous. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved January 14, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impetuous