Exodus 2:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This meekest of all people, born during a time of suffering for his fellow countrymen, experienced separation from his parents and was raised by strangers in his formative years. For a wise young Jew, considered the son of a royal lineage, this circumstance must have been profoundly distressing. Yet, even beyond this burden, he was acutely aware of the grave hardships faced by his people. How could he, who desired neither life nor recognition in the book of God without the salvation of his brethren, find solace in the king's court while witnessing their plight? If we, generations later, feel deep compassion for the suffering of their children during that time, what must this blessed man have felt, innately bound by a great love for his nation, witnessing their suffering firsthand, and having to regard those inflicting this pain as family? It is likely that his grief for the children surpassed even that of their own parents, as shown by his subsequent actions. Unable to persuade or coerce his adoptive father to retract the cruel and murderous decree, he ultimately resolved to share in their suffering.

Moses, long before leading his people, exhibited great fortitude and bravery by punishing wrongdoers and defending the oppressed. He renounced the luxuries, honors, and privileges of the royal banquet, hastening instead to the work of making bricks. He deemed the care for his own people as a nobler pursuit than all earthly pleasures and accolades.

The truth of the Apostle Paul's words resonates here: "but when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son (the only begotten), who was born of a woman, subject to the law" (Gal. 4:4). It is essential to understand the significance of the mission initiated and fulfilled by the Apostle. Can we not concur that the Word, who came from God the Father, took on humanity, departing from His divine essence, becoming lower than the glory of God? It is indeed true that Christ "being rich, became poor" (2 Cor. 8:9) and "humbled Himself" (Phil. 2:7). Thus, even after accomplishing the work of salvation, as He prepared to return to the Father and take His place at His right hand above all powers, He proclaimed: "Glorify Me, Father, with Yourself, with the glory I had with You before the world began" (John 17:5). How could the Lord of heaven and earth, who by nature holds dominion over everything, not emerge from His divinity, presenting Himself as a servant? He, who "for by Him we live and move and exist" (Acts 17:28), if He was seen among us in His earthly vulnerability and later arose as the source of life (John 14:6), would He not, even momentarily, be able to yield that which is most intrinsic to Him? How could anyone hold doubt about this? Therefore, He went out to His brethren, the children of Israel, for "theirs are the promises, and theirs are the fathers" to whom the pledges were made (Rom. 9:4-5). Consequently, He declared, "I am sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt. 15:24).

Moreover, this struggle is reflected in our own experiences. Humanity exists as if rewarded for its actions, positioned between conflicting factions—whoever one allies with becomes the victor over the foe. Consider the contrasts: idolatry versus true devotion, wickedness against purity, injustice opposed to righteousness, pride versus humility, and every other opposition represents the battle between the Egyptian and the Hebrew.

Hence, through Moses's example, we are taught to align ourselves with virtues, fostering a sense of sympathy, and to vanquish those who rise against righteousness. For the triumph of godliness indeed involves the death and eradication of idolatry; likewise, injustice is slain through righteousness, and humility overcomes pride.

He understood that the comforts found in the pagan court were temporary and would ultimately lead to everlasting torment. Embracing suffering and lowly status with humility, he saw them as the surest path to eternal joy and willingly forsook the riches of Egypt. Material wealth is truly valuable only when we forsake it to attain everlasting treasures. It is no surprise that degradation and poverty appear daunting when considered in isolation or through the lens of human judgment. However, Moses discovered true value in these circumstances by looking heavenward, and we too are called to assess and appreciate such trials by gazing upon Jesus Christ in His humility and poverty. St. Paul draws a parallel between the humbling experience of Christ and the choice Moses made to endure humiliation, indicating that Moses was a precursor to Jesus Christ, the Creator of the New Covenant. What Moses did—departing from the royal splendor to guide and share in the plight of his fellow Israelites—foreshadows the actions of the Son of God, who left His Father’s glory to redeem us through suffering. Additionally, St. Paul suggests that the revered Patriarchs and Prophets of the Old Testament were made aware through divine revelation of the mystery of the Incarnation of God’s Son. Just as God now grants justification only to those who believe in His Son, who came to earth and places their trust in Him, so too, salvation and justification were offered to those who looked forward in faith to the coming of His Son. God calls us to partake in the suffering and humiliation of Jesus Christ; this demand has been placed upon the righteous throughout history. Genuine piety has always been intertwined with faith in the Redeemer, who stands against human desires, provides healing for the afflictions caused by sin, intercedes for a fallen humanity, and is fully capable of meeting our deepest needs.

The privilege and opulence of being the daughter of Pharaoh's son weighed heavily on him, especially as he witnessed the oppression of his people in the royal environment. Although he was aware of the severe suffering of his brethren, he had previously found it difficult, due to his position, to express solidarity with them. However, as the persecution of the Israelites continued without pause, Moses could no longer bear to remain an observer. Thus, it was in his heart, as Stephen noted, to visit his people because he wanted to demonstrate that he cared for their plight, ready to take action to alleviate their distress, and willing to share in their suffering should his efforts fail. The Apostle Paul captures Moses' spiritual state during this period: 'By faith Moses, when he came of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin; for he regarded the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.' The essence of Paul's message is that by choosing unity with the Hebrews, who were despised by the Egyptians, Moses broke away from the Egyptian court, renouncing its privileges and losing the title of son to the king’s daughter. His unwavering faith in God’s promises regarding the future of the Hebrew nation and his yearning to be part of that purpose were so profound that he favored the company of his humble people over the splendor of the Egyptian court. Moses understood that to assist his brethren, he would need to endure their hardships, yet he preferred to suffer alongside God's people rather than lead a life of idleness and sinful indulgence in the palace. He anticipated that his alliance with the Israelites would invite scorn and derision from the Egyptians; however, he deemed this disgrace to be more valuable than all the treasures of Egypt, as it meant sharing in the sufferings of Christ the Savior, who endured scorn from the unbelievers and promised glory to those who shared in His humility and sufferings. Thus, the Apostle's words illustrate that Moses' compassion and willingness to endure trials with his people stemmed not from mere affection but from the sovereign working of God's grace, preparing him for a significant mission. When he observed their plight, he witnessed an Egyptian striking one of his Hebrew brothers. This encounter, a sadly common sight, was already known to Moses; he was aware that the Israelites endured not only exhausting labor but also cruel beatings that forced them into relentless toil. Nevertheless, witnessing the brutality firsthand left a profound impact on him, propelled by the sentiment that had driven him to seek out his kin.

By faith, the Apostle declares (Hebrews 11:24) that when Moses reached maturity, he chose not to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter (25), preferring instead to endure hardship with the people of God rather than indulge in fleeting, sinful pleasures. This passage indicates that the Egyptian princess either refrained from hiding his heritage from her noble son or later disclosed to him the truth of his lineage. In his youthful innocence, a sense of sorrow for his brothers and an awareness of shame arose within him for not only having avoided their sufferings but also belonging to their oppressors. Otto Gerlach points out that the Hebrew term for ‘strike’ in this context is identical to that found in the subsequent verse 12 concerning the slaying of the Egyptian. Thus, the Egyptian inflicted lethal violence upon the Hebrew. In general, physical punishment in Egypt, evident even in education and among governmental agents as depicted in monuments, was frequently applied with brutal severity.