Being Disturbed

Scripture – Exodus 2:11-14: 11One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. 12Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?” 14The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.”

Reflection: First of all, there’s quite a jump form verse 10 to verse 11. We have no idea what Moses’ upbringing was like. What I do see is that he had knowledge of and appreciation for his Hebrew heritage. Somehow that was kept alive for him. He also enjoyed some sort of privileged status. That is, he wasn’t required to do the work the other Hebrews were doing.

I find this murder scene a bit troubling. I guess what bothers me is that I’m not bothered by it. It’s so easy to slide over it and chalk it up to a different time and culture. Yet the fact is, this Egyptian didn’t come home that day. What was that like for his family and friends? Like so many today, I’ve been de-sensitized to violence. I read about all kinds of crimes and murders and deaths. Yet it rarely sinks in with any impact.

For the rest of this week, I’ll be intentional. When I come across these stories I’ll say a prayer for those involved. More than that, I’ll let myself be disturbed. I’ll let myself care. I’m not sure what good that will do. I just know I’ve got to stop skimming over those stories as though they don’t involve real people. So I will.