Did someone get married?
Exodus hidden layers part 2
Living in between two different cultures or two different states. Have you ever had this moment happen to you? You go back home for the holidays and people who knew you say that your accent is not as strong as it used to be. And you return to your city and people there can tell that you grew up somewhere else. It’s not a bad thing. And the whole idea is not even about accents because accents are beautiful. But what I’m really trying to stir in your hearts is that, to a certain degree, many of us have hyphenated cultural identities, shaped in multiple places. If you moved states when you were younger, or maybe countries, you don’t neatly fit into any boxes. And just like you and me, Moses is no exception. Moses was Egyptian by upbringing, but an Israelite by birth. And when he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, he stepped in and he didn’t just beat the Egyptian. He killed him. Later, he saw two Hebrews fighting and asked, “Why are you striking your companion?” And the offender replied, “Are you going to kill me like you killed the Egyptian?” Pharaoh finds out. Moses gets afraid and goes on the run, becoming a fugitive. And that’s where the story takes an interesting turn. Moses ends up at a well. He draws water for the flock of his soon to be father in law Jethro. And something begins to shift. He is brought in, he stays, and he gets married. Later, God meets him. Almost like an unveiling, where God reveals Himself as the God of his fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And when God says, “I AM WHO I AM,” it becomes tied to Moses learning his personal identity too. Earlier this year, we talked about Noah, how his sons were listed all together. There was a pattern there. Before that, you would see a so and so lived this many years, had a firstborn, and then lived this many years of their life. And we had been learning at church that Jesus is the new and better Moses. But how does it really fit together? Well, Moses has a personal exodus, a breaking away from everything he once knew. And in Midian, it starts at a well, in a place that did not feel like home. In some ways really a parallel that goes even further (echo) as Jesus pulls the narrative forward. And I got so excited the moment I saw it. Because the moment I read about the well... I was like where did we hear about this before!? So, I couldn't help but see Jesus's story: Moses is at the well → he gets the flocks (physical water) → identity is being formed → and he gets married (bride/covenant) Jesus is at the well → he offers water the Samaria woman (living water) → identity is revealed → and spiritual bride (covenant family) There's something so cool at play here. Moses had to go through this journey and the well is that in-between space of transition. After theses encounters at wells, people often get married and get a new identity as children of God. And the biblical stories echo each other in interesting ways. So when we feel something is familiar, often it's by design and an invitation to pause and {dig} deeper.
Heart Call:
Part one was really about seeing the role that women play in the story—I learned that a couple years ago. But this right here, this is something I learned this year.
And honestly, this echo is just so exciting… because it reveals that the entire biblical story is already pointing to Jesus.
And when you start to notice that, everything changes.
When we go back to the Old Testament, there’s so much beauty waiting for us there. So I hope you enjoyed this part
Moses’ Identity + Early Conflict
Exodus 2:11–12
→ Moses sees an Egyptian beating a Hebrew and kills him.
Exodus 2:13–14
→ Two Hebrews are fighting; one says, “Are you going to kill me like you killed the Egyptian?”
Exodus 2:15
→ Pharaoh finds out; Moses runs away and becomes a fugitive.
Moses at the Well + Marriage
Exodus 2:16–21
→ Moses helps at the well, waters the flock, is welcomed into Jethro’s house, and later marries Zipporah.
Moses’ “Personal Exodus” + Encounter with God
Exodus 3:1–6
→ God appears to Moses and identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.Exodus 3:14
→ God reveals His name; this is the identity moment tying to Moses.
Jesus (The “New Moses” Thread)
John 4:5–26
→ Jesus meets the woman at the well, offers “living water,” reveals aspects of His identity, and invites her into the larger story.Matthew 5:17 (I didn’t come to abolish the law…)
→ Jesus is a “new Moses” (fulfilling and completing what Moses pointed to).
How [did] God form your identity through seasons of displacement /seasons of change and encounter?
How [is] God form your identity through seasons of displacement /seasons of change and encounter?
Photo Credits: Tony Lewis MANZI.