The Fugitive Prince: Moses in Midian
The story of Moses is one of the most profound narratives of transformation and divine preparation in all of Scripture. We often envision Moses as the mighty deliverer, standing before Pharaoh, or receiving the Law on Mount Sinai. Yet, before he became the leader of millions, Moses was a fugitive, a prince on the run, spending forty years in the desolate land of Midian. This period, often overlooked, was not an interruption but an essential crucible in God's plan, shaping a proud Egyptian prince into the humble shepherd God would use to liberate His people.
From Palace to Pasture: The Catalyst for Flight
Moses' early life was one of privilege and power. Raised in Pharaoh's court, he was "learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds," as Stephen recounts in Acts 7:22. However, his heart beat with the rhythm of his enslaved brethren. At the age of forty, a pivotal moment occurred:
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. And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
This act, born of righteous indignation but executed outside of God's timing, exposed Moses' identity and jeopardized his safety. The very next day, his attempt to mediate a dispute between two Hebrews revealed that his secret was out. Pharaoh, hearing of the incident, sought to kill him. Suddenly, the prince of Egypt became a hunted man, forced to flee for his life. His journey led him southeast, across the Sinai Peninsula, into the land of Midian.
Midian's Embrace: A New Beginning in Obscurity
Moses' arrival in Midian was not without divine orchestration. Weary and alone, he sat by a well, a common gathering place in the ancient Near East. Here, he encountered the seven daughters of Reuel (also known as Jethro), the priest of Midian, who were being harassed by other shepherds. Moses, true to his character, intervened, defending the women and even drawing water for their flock.
Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day? And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock. And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread. And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.
This seemingly chance encounter led to a profound shift in Moses' life. He married Zipporah, Reuel's daughter, and settled into the quiet, unassuming life of a shepherd. The bustling court of Pharaoh was replaced by the solitude of the desert. The royal robes were exchanged for shepherd's garb. The mighty prince became a humble herdsman, tending sheep in a foreign land. This was God's university, a curriculum designed not by man, but by the divine hand.
Forty Years of Wilderness Training: The Divine Classroom
The Bible tells us that Moses spent forty years in Midian (Acts 7:30). Forty years! Imagine the transformation. From the peak of human power and knowledge to the depths of obscurity and manual labor. This was not a period of stagnation, but a time of intense, albeit silent, preparation.
What did Moses learn in Midian? Far more than he could have learned in Pharaoh's universities:
- Humility: The palace taught him power; the pasture taught him dependence. He learned that true leadership comes not from worldly might but from submission to God. He was stripped of self-reliance and forced to rely on divine provision.
- Patience: Leading sheep across arid lands requires immense patience. This grueling, monotonous work trained him for the even greater patience required to lead a stubborn and murmuring nation for forty years in the same wilderness.
- Knowledge of the Land: He became intimately familiar with the desert terrain, its resources, its dangers, and its paths. This firsthand knowledge would be invaluable when he later led the Israelites through the very same wilderness.
- Intimacy with God: Removed from the distractions of Egyptian life, Moses had ample time for reflection, prayer, and quiet communion with God. It was in this solitude that his spiritual senses were sharpened, preparing him for the direct, face-to-face encounters he would later have with the Almighty.
God's timing is rarely our timing. Moses, in his youthful zeal, believed he was ready to deliver his people at forty. God knew he needed another forty years of stripping away the world's wisdom and instilling divine wisdom. The wilderness was not a punishment, but a profound act of grace, shaping him into the vessel God could truly use.
The Burning Bush: God's Unveiling and Moses' Call
The climax of Moses' Midian experience came in the most unexpected way, in the most ordinary of places – while tending his father-in-law's flock near Horeb, the mountain of God.
Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
This was no ordinary fire. It was the presence of God Himself, revealing His holiness and His eternal nature. It was here that God spoke directly to Moses, commissioning him for the monumental task of delivering Israel from bondage. The fugitive prince, who had fled in fear and disgrace, was now called by the King of the universe to confront the most powerful empire on earth. Moses, no longer the self-assured prince, responded with humility and even reluctance, citing his unworthiness and lack of eloquence. But God, who had meticulously prepared him for forty years, addressed every objection, promising His presence and power.
Lessons from the Wilderness Wanderer for Us
Moses' time in Midian offers profound lessons for every believer:
- God Uses Our "Wilderness" Seasons: We all experience periods of waiting, obscurity, or difficulty – our own "Midian" moments. These are not wasted times but often God's most fertile ground for growth. He uses these seasons to strip away our pride, teach us dependence, and prepare us for His purposes.
- Humility Precedes Usefulness: Moses had to unlearn his reliance on earthly power and embrace humility before God could truly use him. God often takes us to the "backside of the desert" to teach us that His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
- God's Timing is Perfect: Moses thought he was ready at forty, but God knew he needed eighty. We must trust God's perfect timing, even when it feels like delay. His delays are not denials, but divine preparations.
- God Never Forgets His People: While Moses was in Midian, God was still hearing the cries of His people in Egypt (Exodus 2:23-25). Even in our seemingly forgotten seasons, God is actively working behind the scenes, remembering His promises and moving according to His sovereign plan.
Conclusion: From Fugitive to Deliverer
Moses' forty years in Midian transformed him from a self-sufficient prince into a God-dependent shepherd. The desert, which once represented his exile and failure, became his classroom and his sanctuary. It was there that he learned to lead, not by human might, but by divine guidance. It was there that he encountered the living God and was commissioned for the greatest task of his life.
Perhaps you find yourself in a "Midian" season right now – a period of waiting, uncertainty, or obscurity. Take heart from Moses' story. God is at work, even when you cannot see His hand. He is shaping you, equipping you, and preparing you for the divine purpose He has for your life. Trust the process, embrace the lessons, and know that the God who met Moses at the burning bush in the wilderness is the same God who walks with you today, transforming your trials into triumphs for His glory.