The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 3 December 2020 – Where Do You Belong?
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Topic: Where Do You Belong?
Read: Exodus 2:11-25 (NKJV)
- Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren.
- So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
- And when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, “Why are you striking your companion?”
- Then he said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” So Moses feared and said, “Surely this thing is known!”
- When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.
- Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. And they came and drew water, and they filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
- Then the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
- When they came to Reuel their father, he said, “How [is it that] you have come so soon today?”
- And they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and he also drew enough water for us and watered the flock.”
- So he said to his daughters, “And where [is] he? Why [is] it [that] you have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.”
- Then Moses was content to live with the man, and he gave Zipporah his daughter to Moses.
- And she bore [him] a son, and he called his name Gershom; for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land.”
- Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage.
- So 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 acknowledged [them.]
THE MESSAGE:
Today’s passage has a striking lesson to every parent, teacher and church worker. The life of every child is basically formed by the type of teaching he or she receives at the early age. There is no doubt that Moses’ mother did her work very well in the life of Moses. If not, there is no way Moses would have identified with the Hebrew people, considering his royal privileges and influence. Verse 11 clearly shows that Moses at that grown-up age never had any attachment to the Egyptians but his complete identity was given to the Hebrew people. His zeal to rescue his brethren made him to commit murder (v.12). To escape punishment for killing an Egyptian after being exposed by a Hebrew brother, he ran away to Median. The assistance he gave to the daughter of Jethro (Exodus 3:1) gave him access, residence, privilege, and marital opportunity in Median.
Where do you belong? Do you belong to the kingdom of light or darkness? Moses knew his identity and stood for the defence of the less-privileged on two different occasions in our text today (vs. 12&17). Adopt the right approach- don’t kill as Moses did, but show interest in standing for the rights of the less-privileged in your areas of influence. Don’t mind what other people in your type of business or profession may be doing against the poor. Try to speak up for those who have no one to speak for them. Give justice to those who cannot pay for it. Help those who cannot afford medical bills. Give help to brilliant children who cannot afford school fees. Above all, ensure that your service is based on your faith in Christ, not on desire for human glory. That will give you access to enduring reward.
PRAYER: Guide me Lord in my pilgrim journey in this barren land.
