Exodus 2:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Had God not permitted him to experience fear in Pharaoh's presence, would the people not have seen him as divine? A similar occurrence took place with Paul and Barnabas at Lystra, where the locals mistook them for gods and they responded by tearing their garments and entering the crowd, proclaiming loudly, "Men, why do you do this? We are also men with human natures" (Acts 14:14-15). Likewise, after Peter healed a man who had been lame from birth, the astonished crowd was met with his words, "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this, or why do you gaze at us as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk" (Acts 3:12)?

This situation presents no contradiction; rather, the context of Moses' efforts indicates that he had two distinct departures from Egypt. The initial flight was motivated by the real threat of danger following the fatal act he had committed. Pharaoh, incensed by this event, would have sought to execute Moses had he found him. Moses acknowledges this in the book of Exodus: But Moses was afraid, and departed from Pharaoh's presence. This reflects the immediate peril he faced, fearing for his life, which prompted his escape from the fierce oppressor who had long intended to kill him, influenced by the advice of Egyptian priests. He fled Egypt in secret, navigating through a desolate and challenging route, lacking sustenance but enduring it with patience and resilience.

The second departure from Egypt occurred during the Israelites' exodus. In this instance, chosen by God for the deliverance of His people, Moses faced Pharaoh without trepidation, despite the fury directed at him. He boldly confronted Pharaoh multiple times, denouncing his obstinacy, arrogance, and disobedience to the Almighty who reigns over all. Strengthened in his unwavering faith in God, Moses surrendered his afflictions to Divine Providence and disregarded the king's wrath. Paul affirms this steadfastness through his assertion: By faith you left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king.

Thus, Moses left Pharaoh’s presence and settled in Midian. The primary reason for Moses’ abrupt departure from Egypt was the hostility he faced from the Hebrews. He recognized their unwillingness to embrace his leadership and the active opposition they harbored, making it evident that he could not rescue them against their wishes. Additionally, he was deeply afraid for his own safety due to the king’s wrath. However, this fear was not born of cowardice, as exemplified by the words of the Apostle Paul, ‘By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he was steadfast, as though he saw the Invisible One’ (Heb. 11:27). Moses had unwavering faith in God’s promise for the Hebrews’ return to Canaan and believed he was divinely appointed to fulfill that promise. He did not let the king's anger deter him; he trusted that God would orchestrate the deliverance of His people regardless of the immediate threat to his life.

Moses' situation, which drove him away from Egypt, illustrates God’s unique providence. The act of killing the Egyptian had put Moses in a precarious position, intensifying Pharaoh's hostility while failing to win him any support among the Hebrews. Moses had no choice but to flee Egypt. This was undoubtedly painful for a man deeply committed to the welfare of his people, one who valued his noble position not at all. Yet fulfilling God's plan often requires self-sacrifice. Had Moses swiftly gained the allegiance of the Hebrews, it might have pleased him, but it would also have posed a danger to his spiritual integrity. He loved his fellow countrymen and desired their welfare, ready to make sacrifices, but their response was one of resentment rather than support. Thus, he had to demonstrate that his love for the Hebrews was truly selfless, and it was vital that the one chosen to lead their salvation acted out of pure devotion to God and His chosen people, preventing any claim that the deliverance was purely a human endeavor.

As he separated from the people, Moses had the opportunity to show that his love for them endured despite their rejection; he longed for them in his solitude. Certainly, he took this moment seriously, growing in his capacity to care for his fellow Israelites, even expressing a willingness to relinquish his own salvation for their sake, as revealed later (Exodus 32:32). The chosen instrument for Israel’s salvation had to embody both profound humility and selfless love for God, ensuring that any success would be attributed solely to God and not to human effort. Although Moses was educated in the wisdom of Egypt, the circumstances he faced required him to reject reliance on his own understanding. He was compelled to abandon the company of educated elites and dwell among a more pastoral and simple people, learning to embrace their way of life.

In such humble surroundings, Moses shed any reliance on his worldly wisdom. When God called him from Sinai to lead the Hebrews to freedom, he initially declined the honor, instead asking for someone more worthy to take up the task. This awareness of his own unworthiness was essential for him to serve effectively as God’s instrument for the Hebrew people, as it was important for both Moses and the Israelites to realize that their deliverance was entirely a work of the Lord and not of human agency.

Moses settled in the land of Midian, where the Midianites—the descendants of Abraham's fourth son by his second wife—resided. Some Midianites lived southeast of the Dead Sea, worshipping idols alongside the Moabites and opposing the Hebrews. However, another portion of the Midianite tribe, residing in the mountainous regions of the Sinai Peninsula, held onto the faith of their ancestor Abraham and lived a pastoral existence. Among the faithful Midianites, Moses made his home.

After arriving in Midian, Moses paused at a well, a typical resting spot for travelers in that region. Although it is unclear whether he intended to continue onward or to remain there, it seems more likely he chose to settle permanently, as the inhabitants shared both his lineage and religious beliefs.

Some scholars interpret this to mean that Moses held such a strong position in the court of the Pharaoh's daughter that he could not be captured outright, necessitating a covert plan from Pharaoh to eliminate him. Given the future policies of Pharaohs towards the children of Israel, Pharaoh would likely not forget Moses's crime. The territory inhabited by the descendants of Hittite from Abraham was never explicitly delineated. Historical records from Josephus indicate that the Midianites were a trading people, leading a nomadic existence in the region stretching from the Jordan River to the Red Sea, with probable established settlements on the Sinai peninsula. There is debate among scholars regarding where Moses fled; was it to the Sinai peninsula or to the eastern shore of the Gulf of Elanit (Aqaba), where the city of Madian is known to have existed? Tradition identifies this city of Madian as the destination of Moses's flight, a claim bolstered by the fact that the Egyptians controlled much of the Sinai peninsula, exploiting its valuable copper mines. However, considering the reference to Horeb in the Sinai peninsula, where Moses tended his flock, we might conclude that the Midianites had a settlement at the southern tip of the peninsula, near the current location of Ras Muhammad, which features two excellent bays, beneficial for trade along the Red Sea and for access to the eastern shore of Aqaba. This region near Sherm contains palm groves and remnants of ancient settlements, and some early historians, as noted by Knobel, referred to a tribe of Marianites in these locations. It is also common in the transcription of Semitic names for the letter d to change to r, owing to their phonetic similarities in Hebrew.