What Does Exodus 2:12-15 Mean?
Exodus 2:12-15 describes how Moses, after growing up in Pharaoh's household, went out to his people and saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew. He killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand, thinking no one saw. But the next day, when he tried to stop two Hebrews from fighting, one challenged him, revealing that his act was known. Fearing for his life, Moses fled to Midian, where he sat by a well - a moment of loneliness and turning point in his journey.
Exodus 2:12-15
He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, "Why do you strike your companion?" He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.
Key Facts
Book
Author
Moses
Genre
Narrative
Date
Approximately 1446 BC
Key Themes
Key Takeaways
- Moses acted in secret, but God saw everything.
- Failure doesn't disqualify; God uses broken beginnings.
- True leadership comes through divine calling, not human effort.
Moses' First Act of Defiance and Its Consequences
After growing up in Pharaoh’s palace, Moses chooses to identify with the oppressed Hebrews, setting the stage for his impulsive act against injustice.
He sees an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave - a daily horror under Pharaoh’s brutal rule - and takes matters into his own hands by killing the man and hiding the body in the sand. This was more than a personal act of anger. It demonstrated Moses’ deep connection to his people, even though he had been raised as an Egyptian prince. But the next day, when he tries to stop a fight between two Hebrews, one of them exposes his secret, asking, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?”
That question reveals how quickly word spread, shattering Moses’ hope that his act was hidden, and forcing him to flee for his life - launching his journey into the wilderness of Midian.
Moses' Failed Leadership and the Shame of Exposure
This moment marks the collapse of Moses’ attempt to lead by force and secrecy, revealing how human efforts fall short when disconnected from God’s timing and method.
The challenge from the Hebrew man - 'Who made you a prince and a judge over us? - isn’t merely defiance. It reflects a deep cultural expectation that leadership must be earned or appointed, not self‑assumed. In that world, honor came through recognition by others, and shame followed exposure, which is exactly what happens when Moses’ secret act is brought to light.
When Moses tried to be a deliverer on his own terms, he was met not with gratitude but with accusation - and that changed everything.
Moses’ flight to Midian strips him of status, power, and identity. He goes from palace prince to fugitive shepherd, sitting alone by a well - a symbol of emptiness and waiting. Yet this failure becomes the path God uses. Though Moses’ actions were flawed, God does not abandon him. Instead, in the quiet of exile, God prepares the man who will one day lead His people out of slavery - not by violence, but by divine calling.
Acting in Fear vs. Faith: A Lesson from Moses' Flight
Moses’ decision to flee shows what happens when we act in fear instead of waiting on God’s timing, even when our hearts are pointed in the right direction.
He meant to help his people, but he did it secretly and in his own strength - then ran when exposed, showing that human courage alone isn’t enough. God was not absent. He was preparing Moses for a later call, not through violence but through a burning bush and a promise.
This moment reminds us that God doesn’t reject our failures but uses them to shape us. Like Moses, we may try to fix things our way, but real change comes from stepping forward in faith when God speaks, as He says in Jeremiah 29:11: 'For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.'
Moses’ Exile as a Pattern of Rejection and Future Deliverance
Moses’ flight to Midian mirrors a deeper biblical pattern: God’s chosen deliverers are often rejected by their people before being raised to save them.
This foreshadows Christ, who came to His own people, but 'His own did not receive Him' (John 1:11), and like Moses, Jesus fled to safety in Egypt as a child (Matthew 2:14) before later leading a new exodus - not through the Red Sea, but through His death and resurrection.
Like Moses, Jesus was rejected by His own before being raised to lead a greater exodus - not from Egypt, but from sin and death.
Moses’ time in Midian, though born of failure, prepared him for God’s call - Christ’s rejection led to His ultimate exaltation, showing that God brings redemption through seeming defeat.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
I once tried to fix a conflict between two friends by stepping in forcefully, thinking I was helping. But I did it without listening, without patience, and behind the scenes - like Moses striking the Egyptian in secret. When my actions backfired and I was called out, I felt exposed and ashamed, as Moses did. That moment of failure sent me into my own kind of exile - pulling back, avoiding hard conversations, afraid to lead or speak up. But looking back, God wasn’t done with me. He used that failure to teach me that real change doesn’t come from quick fixes or hidden efforts, but from trusting His timing and relying on His strength, not my own.
Personal Reflection
- Where in my life am I trying to 'fix' something on my own, without seeking God’s guidance or timing?
- When have I acted out of a sense of duty or passion, but with pride or secrecy - only to face shame when it was exposed?
- How can I embrace my failures not as dead ends, but as places where God is preparing me for something greater?
A Challenge For You
This week, identify one situation where you’ve been trying to control or fix things in your own strength. Pause, confess that to God, and instead of acting, spend time in prayer asking for His wisdom and timing. Then, share that struggle with a trusted friend - no more hiding.
A Prayer of Response
God, I admit I often try to do the right thing in the wrong way - rushing ahead, acting in fear, or hiding my efforts. Forgive me for relying on my strength instead of waiting on You. Thank You that even when I fail, You don’t abandon me. You see me, You know me, and You’re still shaping me. Help me trust Your timing and walk in Your way, not mine.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Exodus 2:11
Sets the stage by showing Moses identifying with Hebrews, leading directly to his confrontation with the Egyptian.
Exodus 2:16
Continues the narrative in Midian, showing Moses’ transition from fugitive to protector, setting up his new life.
Connections Across Scripture
Acts 7:23-25
Luke’s account in Acts echoes Moses’ failed attempt, emphasizing that salvation comes through God’s appointed time, not human force.
Hebrews 11:24-26
The author highlights Moses’ faith decision to reject Egypt, linking his moral choice to eternal reward.
John 1:11
Jesus, like Moses, was rejected by His own, creating a theological parallel between prophetic rejection and redemptive mission.