“When Moses heard that, he fled the country and lived as a foreigner in the land of Midian. There his two sons were born.”
Acts 7:29 (NLT)
Moses runs because his failure is exposed, and suddenly the palace that felt safe turns into a threat. He flees to Midian and lives as a foreigner, an exile. But Acts 7 shows me something I can miss in Exodus: God didn’t waste those years. In the wilderness, two sons are born. Moses becomes a father, not as a footnote, but as part of God’s formation.
Exodus 3 adds another detail: Moses is shepherding Jethro’s flock when he sees the burning bush. That matters because shepherding sheep teaches you how to notice, how to protect, how to lead slowly and faithfully. Moses had all the wisdom of Egypt, but he still needed the training of a shepherd if he was going to lead God’s people through the wilderness. The calling was coming, but the character had to come first.
I wonder how many of us are in Midian right now—running, stuck, or hiding because we think we ruined something. We call it a pit or a prison and we beg God to erase it. But what if this is where he’s making you into someone who can carry what he’s promised you? What if he’s teaching you to father, to shepherd, to pay attention—so you’ll recognize the burning bush when it’s right in front of you?
God can speak in Egypt, but Moses heard him in the wilderness. The bush was always burning, but Moses drew near because he had learned how to see. So today, what are you running from? And what if the place you want to escape is the very place God is preparing you—and inviting you to come closer and listen?