14 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.” ~ Exodus 2:14
When Moses attempted to help and guide his fellow Hebrews, they originally rejected him. His fellow Hebrew responded, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us?” I always just assumed it was because he grew up in the palace as a prince, instead of as a slave with them. While I do believe that was definitely factor, I think there might be a little bit more to the story.
See, they had been enslaved for almost 400 years by this point. They knew the different prophecies Jacob had given his 12 sons. They also knew that Moses wasn’t from the tribe of Judah, but from the tribe of Levi. See, they were looking for a savior, a redeemer to come in and rescue them. To come in and deliver them from this slavery, and here comes this palace brat from the tribe of Levi, who had just killed an Egyptian now trying to lead them.
This Hebrew knew Moses had killed the Egyptian. He knew he had grown up in the palace as grandson of Pharaoh. And he knew the prophecy of Levi. Levi was prophesied that “cursed be their anger… and their wrath… I will divide them in Jacob and scattered them in Israel.” Judah however was prophesied that “the scepter would never depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet…” I fully believe they expected their deliverer from their current slavery to be from the tribe of Judah, not a Levite who had just killed a man out of anger, just as his ancestors had done.
Sometimes people will throw your past in your face. They will tell you that you don’t fit the bill. That you’re not what they believe your call should be. That you will never live up to your call. I’m sure this later factored into the Moses’ decline to the LORD when God officially called him. He remembered this words. He remembered his past. And he allowed his own insecurities to influence him.
We all have a past. We all have insecurities. We all aren’t worthy of the LORD’s call, but that’s the beauty of it. We aren’t worthy, yet the LORD still chooses us and He rises us up to meet the occasion. Your call may feel bigger than you are, but your God will stand by you forever. And when He is for you, no one can be against you. And He will do through you what you cannot.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Let God Rise You.