在曠野井旁的孤獨漢
出埃及記二章11至17節
11後來，摩西長大，他出去到他弟兄那裡，看他們的重擔，見一個埃及人打希伯來人的一個弟兄。
12他左右觀看，見沒有人，就把埃及人打死了，藏在沙土裡。
13第二天他出去，見有兩個希伯來人爭鬥，就對那欺負人的說：「你為甚麼打你同族的人呢？」
14那人說：「誰立你作我們的首領和審判官呢？難道你要殺我，像殺那埃及人麼？」摩西便懼怕，說：「這事必是被人知道了。」
15法老聽見這事，就想殺摩西，但摩西躲避法老，逃往米甸地居住。
16一日，他在井旁坐下。米甸的祭司有七個女兒；他們來打水，打滿了槽，要飲父親的群羊。
17有牧羊的人來，把他們趕走了，摩西卻起來幫助他們，又飲了他們的群羊。
信息分享
然而，他一開始便試圖用自己的方法來解決問題，終於釀成災難性的後果！
如今來到這個地步，他還可以做甚麼呢？他知道神要拯救祂的百姓，而他也將要有份參與這個行動。但神的時間還未到；在這期間，摩西該如何渡過？
他可以選擇回到皇宮，可是，法老卻對他充滿怒氣。他可以回到同胞中間，然而，他們卻似乎對他心存抗拒。他惟一的選擇，就是離開自己的國家，到另一處地方生活，靜靜等候神的行動，或呼召他參與祂的計劃。
你可以想像他在烈日當空，坐在西乃曠野的一個井旁，百無聊賴地等著和推算著下一步要怎樣做，或該往何處去的樣子嗎？就在這一刻，神以祂的恩典與慈愛呼召他；故事的發展，本章的經文已為我們一一細述。神後來確實大大地使用摩西為祂工作。
你有否嚐過有些失敗，是至今仍無法忘懷的？你是否每次開展工作，都總是碰到失敗？你是否確定那是神的心意要你做那件事？那是神的時間嗎？請記著，你即使失敗了，神仍然會給你第二次機會。只要你願意聽從神的旨意，祂就會把你從失敗中扶立起來，然後按照祂的心意來使用你。最後，請你再想想這個在曠野井旁的孤獨漢，神怎樣以祂的恩慈來眷顧他。
A LONELY MAN BY A DESERT WELL
Exodus 2: 11 - 17
11 Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren.
12 So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, “Why are you striking your companion?”
14 Then he said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?”
So Moses feared and said, “Surely this thing is known!”
15 When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.
16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. And they came and drew water, and they filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
17 Then the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
Message
But one of his first actions was to take things into his own hands and the results were disastrous!
What could he do now? He knew God would deliver his people and that he himself would be involved in it. But it was not yet God's time and what should Moses do in the meantime?
He might be able to return to the palace, but Pharaoh was angry with him. He could not go to his own people. They seemed to have rejected him. His only way was to leave the country and wait for God to act or to call him to share in that action.
Can you imagine him in the hot desert of Sinai, sitting by a well, waiting and wondering what to do next or where to go? God beautifully and lovingly cared for him and you can read the rest of the story in this chapter. God later used Moses in a wonderful way.
Has there been some failure in your life which you can't forget? Does it seem that every time you try something it doesn't work out for you? Are you sure it is God's way just now? Is it his will for you? Is it his time? If you have failed, remember, our God is the God of the second chance. He can take you up and use you if you will let him do it in his own way. Think again of the lonely man at the desert well and how God lovingly watched over him.