Moses fled from Egypt to Midian after killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. Though Moses acted out of a sense of justice for his oppressed people, his action was impulsive and resulted in fear for his life when Pharaoh sought to kill him.
Exodus 2:11–12 says:
“Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.”
When the matter became known, Moses realized his life was in danger:
“When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill 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’ flight to Midian was not a failure of God’s plan but part of it. In Midian, Moses would spend forty years in obscurity as a shepherd, learning humility and patience before leading Israel. Acts 7:29–30 confirms this period of preparation.
This event teaches that zeal without God’s timing leads to trouble. Moses’ desire to deliver his people was right, but his method was wrong. God would later send Moses back to Egypt, not as a fugitive relying on his own strength, but as a chosen leader empowered by the Lord. It reminds us to wait on God’s direction and trust His timing for His purposes.
