Moses Flees to Midian

¹¹ One day after Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and saw their forced labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people.^(A)

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. ²⁶ He considered abuse suffered for the Christ^[a] to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward.

¹¹ Therefore they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor. They built supply cities, Pithom and Rameses, for Pharaoh.^(A)

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.^(A)

²² So Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in his words and deeds.^(A)

²³ “When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his kinfolk, the Israelites.^{(B) 24} When he saw one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian.

⁷ Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings,^(A)

¹⁴ And the Israelite supervisors whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them were beaten and were asked, “Why did you not finish the required quantity of bricks yesterday and today, as you did before?”^(A)

⁹ Let heavier work be laid on them; then they will pay attention to^[a] it and not to deceptive words.”