Exodus 2:15-16
When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed 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 filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What might seem like Moses's sudden flight out of fear is actually a carefully orchestrated move by God. By sending Moses to Midian, God not only protected him but also prepared him for his future role, giving him time to mature and learn about the land he would one day lead his people through.
Just moments after Moses avenged an abused Hebrew by killing his Egyptian oppressor, Pharaoh learned of the act and sought Moses' life. This forced Moses to flee from Egypt and seek refuge in the land of Midian, where he eventually settled by a well, a stark contrast to his former life in Pharaoh's court.
Ever felt like things are happening too fast or too slow? Moses' life took a sharp turn, but it wasn't by accident.
The Purpose Behind the Pause
When Pharaoh discovered Moses had killed an Egyptian, the order went out: Moses must die. It would have been easy for Moses to feel defeated, or even abandoned by God, especially after his bold move to defend an Israelite. But the text reveals a deeper truth: God's plan for Israel’s deliverance, and for Moses’ leadership, wasn't ready yet.
This exile wasn't a punishment, but a necessary pause, a strategic retreat orchestrated by God. It demonstrates that sometimes, God’s path forward involves stepping back or waiting, trusting that He is working behind the scenes.
Moses went from the palace to the desert. What could possibly be gained from such a drastic change?
The Wilderness as a School
Moses’ flight to Midian wasn't just about escaping Pharaoh; it was about entering God’s specialized training program. The land of Midian, settled by descendants of Abraham, offered a unique environment.
Understand the original words
Paroh · Hebrew Noun
The monarch of Egypt, representing worldly power, pride, and opposition to the redemptive purposes of God for His people.
be’er · Hebrew Noun
A place of refuge and water in the wilderness, often serving as a site for divine encounter, marriage, and significant life transitions in the biblical narrative.
kōhēn · Hebrew Noun
An individual who serves as a mediator between God and the people, often performing sacrifices, interceding, and teaching the law in ancient Near Eastern and biblical contexts.
šāqâ · Hebrew Verb
To provide for the survival of living creatures by providing hydration, often used metaphorically for spiritual sustenance or God’s provision.
Moses' 40 years in Midian were not a period of idleness but a crucial divine preparation. God used this time to humble Moses, teach him patience, and familiarize him with the wilderness he would later lead his people through, shaping him into the leader Israel needed.
c. 1527 BC
Birth of Moses
Moses is born to Hebrew parents during a time when Pharaoh has ordered the killing of all newborn Hebrew boys.
c. 1527 BC
Moses Adopted by Pharaoh's Daughter
Moses is found and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter, growing up in the Egyptian royal court.
c. 1487 BC— this verse
Moses Kills an Egyptian Taskmaster
Moses, now an adult, witnesses an Egyptian beating a Hebrew and, in a fit of anger, kills the Egyptian. This act is discovered, leading to Pharaoh seeking Moses' life.
c. 1487 BC
Moses Flees to Midian
To escape Pharaoh's wrath, Moses flees across the Sinai Peninsula to the land of Midian, a territory inhabited by descendants of Abraham.
This passage beautifully contrasts Moses's choice to leave Egypt and face hardship with the comforts of Pharaoh's court, directly echoing his flight in Exodus 2:15. It highlights his faith, which motivated his actions, even in exile.
Acts 7:29Stephen recounts Moses's departure to Midian, emphasizing that he went 'as an alien and a stranger.' This deepens our understanding of Moses's status and feelings during his time by the well, far from his privileged upbringing.
Genesis 24:10-14This passage describes Abraham's servant arriving in Mesopotamia and waiting by a well, where he encounters Rebekah. The parallel of a significant future meeting occurring by a well highlights the thematic importance of this location for divine appointments and new beginnings.
Judges 6:11-12This describes an angel appearing to Gideon by an oak tree, a seemingly ordinary place where significant divine interaction occurs. It parallels Moses sitting by a well, an everyday location where God's plan begins to unfold after his desperate flight.
bensonExodus 2:15: "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."
Exodus 2:15 . Moses fled from Pharaoh — God ordered this for wise ends. Things were not yet ripe for Israel’s deliverance. The measure of Egypt’s iniquity was not yet full; the Hebrews were not sufficiently humbled, nor were they yet increased to such a multitude as God designed: Moses is to be further fitted for the serv…
calvinExodus 2:11-15: "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."
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.
Pharao etiam audito hoc sermone, quaerebat interficere Mosen. Et fugiens Moses a facie Pharaonis mansit in Madian, seditque…
What might seem like Moses's sudden flight out of fear is actually a carefully orchestrated move by God. By sending Moses to Midian, God not only protected him but also prepared him for his future role, giving him time to mature and learn about the land he would one day lead his people through.
Just moments after Moses avenged an abused Hebrew by killing his Egyptian oppressor, Pharaoh learned of the act and sought Moses' life. This forced Moses to flee from Egypt and seek refuge in the land of Midian, where he eventually settled by a well, a stark contrast to his former life in Pharaoh's court.
Just moments after Moses avenged an abused Hebrew by killing his Egyptian oppressor, Pharaoh learned of the act and sought Moses' life. This forced Moses to flee from Egypt and seek refuge in the land of Midian, where he eventually settled by a well, a stark contrast to his former life in Pharaoh's court.
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This period wasn't idle waiting; it was active formation. The place of his refuge became the place of his crucial preparation.
ṣō’n · Hebrew Noun
A group of animals under the care of a shepherd; in the Bible, it is frequently used as a metaphor for God’s people under His divine care and leadership.
c. 1487 BC
Moses Settles in Midian
Moses arrives at a well in Midian, weary and uncertain of his future, and begins a new life as a shepherd.
c. 1447 BC
The Burning Bush
Forty years after fleeing Egypt, Moses encounters God in a burning bush at Mount Sinai, receiving the divine commission to deliver the Israelites from slavery.
c. 1447 BC
Confrontation with Pharaoh
Moses, now eighty years old and accompanied by his brother Aaron, returns to Egypt to confront Pharaoh and demand the release of the Israelite people.
"When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed 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 filled the troughs t…" — What might seem like Moses's sudden flight out of fear is actually a carefully orchestrated move by God. By sending Moses to Midian, God not only protected him but also prepared him for his future ro…
