By Faith Moses Left Egypt

Moses Kills the Egyptian

Moses is one of the great characters in the Bible. His example of faith is pointed out to us in Hebrews 11 – the chapter of faith. The Hebrew writer mentioned a few things that Moses did to please God – he “refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,” “kept the Passover,” and “passed through the Red Sea” (Hebrews 11:24, 28, 29). These are plainly understood from the history given in the book of Exodus.

However, one of the events mentioned has more questions surrounding it: “By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is unseen” (Hebrews 11:27). What event was the Hebrew writer referring to when he wrote this? Was he talking about the exodus when Moses led the people out of the land of Egypt? Or was he talking about Moses’ departure from Egypt to the land of Midian after killing the Egyptian he saw mistreating one of his Hebrew brethren (Exodus 2:11-15)?

Both of these ideas have been suggested in different commentaries, though the former does seem to be the more common view. The problem with the latter view that this referred to Moses’ departure to Midian is that it said he left “not fearing the wrath of the king” (Hebrews 11:27). Yet when Moses discovered that others knew about him killing the Egyptian, he “was afraid” (Exodus 2:14). Then it said, “When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian” (Exodus 2:15). This does not sound like he left “not fearing the wrath of the king,” but rather he left because he feared the wrath of the king.

However, the more common view that the verse refers to the exodus is not without problems. If it is the exodus, then the Hebrew writer has the events in Moses’ life out of order. The next verse mentioned the Passover, which came before Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. If this was referring to the exodus, it is odd that the events are not in order. Up to this point, the Hebrew writer has listed the examples of the faithful in chronological order – Abel (Genesis 4); Enoch (Genesis 5); Noah (Genesis 6-7); Abraham being called to leave his country (Genesis 12); the promise of Isaac (Genesis 15, 18, 21); the command to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22); then the faith of Isaac (Genesis 27), Jacob (Genesis 48), and Joseph (Genesis 50); followed by Moses’ birth (Exodus 2:1-10), maturity (Exodus 2:11), this event, then the Passover (Exodus 12) and the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14). It is strange that at this point the events would suddenly be out of order. It would make sense that the event in verse 27 happened sometime after Moses had grown up, yet before the observance of the Passover.

There is a third interpretation that I believe fits better with the context and does not have the problems the first two interpretations have. The Hebrew writer said, “By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king.” The King James Version has the word forsook instead of left. The word means to forsake or abandon. When did Moses forsake or abandon Egypt? It was when he made the decision that he would not be “called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” (Hebrews 11:24). This was referring to his change of mindset, attitude, and allegiance – not necessarily his physical location.

Moses chose to “endure ill-treatment with the people of God” (Hebrews 11:25). He decided to be numbered with the children of Israel rather than the people of Egypt. He made this decision without “fearing the wrath of the king.” The account in Exodus tells us how Moses, when he had grown up, “went out to his brethren and looked on their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren…he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand” (Exodus 2:11-12). Moses killed this Egyptian after He made the decision to leave or abandon Egypt. He abandoned Egypt by refusing to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, forsaking the privileges of being an Egyptian, and choosing to be counted with his Hebrew brethren.

Stephen’s words in Acts 7 support this idea. In giving his defense before the Jewish counsel, Stephen briefly went through the history of their people. After telling of Moses striking down the Egyptian, he said, “And he [Moses] supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand” (Acts 7:25). When Moses killed the Egyptian, he already knew of God’s intention to deliver the Israelites out of the land of Egypt. He made the decision that he wanted to be part of God’s plan. So he forsook Egypt. This was before he fled to Midian and long before he led the people out of the land.

Moses weighed his options. When he did, he chose “to endure ill-treatment with the people of God [rather] than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward” (Hebrews 11:25-26). It took a strong faith in God’s promises for Moses to abandon Egypt and suffer with Israel, but he was willing to do it because he was confident in God. May we have the same faith today.


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