Part 3: Moses in Midian – The School of the Wilderness

Main Scriptures: Exodus 2:15–25; Exodus 3:1.

Supporting Scriptures: Acts 7:29–30; Hebrews 11:24–27.

Theme: God’s preparation through difficult seasons, humility, patience, service and spiritual development.

Key Verse:

“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.” — Exodus 3:1 (KJV).

1. Introduction

The life of Moses is a remarkable illustration of how God prepares people for divine assignments through different seasons of life. In Part 1, we examined the circumstances surrounding his birth and how God preserved him from Pharaoh’s murderous decree. In Part 2, we studied his upbringing in Pharaoh’s palace, his education, his discovery of his Hebrew identity and his decision to identify with the suffering Israelites.

In this third study, we move into another important chapter of Moses’ life: his experience in the land of Midian.

After killing an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave, Moses discovered that his actions had become known. When Pharaoh sought to kill him, Moses fled from Egypt and travelled to Midian.

This was a dramatic change in his circumstances. He moved from the royal palace, where he had enjoyed privilege, influence and education, to the wilderness, where he would live as a stranger and shepherd.

For approximately forty years, Moses lived in Midian. During this period, he married, raised a family and worked as a shepherd for his father-in-law, Jethro.

What appeared to be a period of obscurity became an important season of preparation. The man who had once lived in the palace was now learning to care for sheep in the wilderness. The man who had attempted to deliver an Israelite through his own strength was being prepared to lead an entire nation through God’s power.

This study will examine the significance of Moses’ wilderness experience and the spiritual lessons Christians can learn from this important period of his life.

2. Moses Flees Egypt and Arrives in Midian

Read: Exodus 2:14–15

After Moses killed the Egyptian, the incident became known. When Pharaoh heard about it, he sought to kill Moses.

Consequently, Moses fled from Egypt and settled in the land of Midian.

Exodus 2:15 records:

“Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian…”

Moses had experienced a complete change in his circumstances.

In Egypt, he had enjoyed the privileges of royalty. In Midian, he was a fugitive who had to establish a new life in a foreign land.

He was no longer surrounded by royal servants, Egyptian teachers and palace officials. He was now in an unfamiliar environment where he had to depend on his own efforts.

This experience teaches us that life can change unexpectedly.

Sometimes, people experience the loss of positions, opportunities, relationships or privileges. Such experiences can be painful and confusing, especially when the future appears uncertain.

However, Moses’ story reminds us that a change in circumstances does not necessarily mean that God’s purpose has ended.

His journey to Midian became the beginning of another important chapter in his preparation.

Spiritual lessons:

1. Life can change unexpectedly, and we must learn to trust God through transitions.
2. Our mistakes may have consequences, but they do not necessarily determine the rest of our lives.
3. God can use unfamiliar environments to develop new qualities in us.
4. A season of obscurity does not mean that God has forgotten us.
5. We should remain faithful even when our circumstances are different from what we expected.

Personal reflection: How do you respond when life takes an unexpected turn and you find yourself in a situation you never planned for?

3. Moses Helps the Daughters of Reuel at the Well

Read: Exodus 2:16–17

When Moses arrived in Midian, he sat down beside a well. A priest of Midian named Reuel had seven daughters who came to draw water for their father’s flock.

After drawing water, they filled the troughs to water the sheep.However, some shepherds came and drove them away. Moses witnessed what was happening and intervened.

Exodus 2:17 says:

“And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.”

This incident reveals something important about Moses’ character.

Although he was a stranger in Midian, he did not ignore the injustice being committed against the women.

He stood up, defended them and helped them water their father’s flock. Remember that Moses had previously shown concern for the suffering of the Israelites in Egypt. Now, in a different country, he was again demonstrating concern for people who were being treated unfairly.

His environment had changed, but his concern for justice remained.

This event also demonstrates that Moses was willing to serve others even when he had no position of authority.

He did not wait to become a recognised leader before helping people.

Spiritual lessons:

A true servant of God demonstrates kindness wherever he or she is.

1. Leadership begins with service, not position.
2. We must not ignore injustice simply because it does not directly affect us.
3. Godly character should remain consistent regardless of our environment.
4. Helping others can open doors to unexpected opportunities.

Important lesson: Never underestimate the importance of small acts of kindness. What Moses did at the well became an important turning point in his life.

4. Moses Is Welcomed into the Household of Reuel

Read: Exodus 2:18–20

When the daughters returned home, their father Reuel asked why they had returned so early that day.

They explained that an Egyptian man had delivered them from the shepherds and had even helped them water the flock. Their father wanted to know why they had left Moses behind instead of inviting him to share a meal.

He instructed them to go and bring Moses into their home. This encounter introduced Moses to the family of Reuel.

The kindness Moses had shown at the well resulted in a new relationship and an opportunity for hospitality. We also see the importance of generosity in Reuel’s response. Rather than treating Moses as an unwanted stranger, he welcomed him into his household.

Spiritual lessons:

1. Kindness can create opportunities for meaningful relationships.
2. We should practise hospitality towards strangers.
3. God can use ordinary encounters to change the direction of our lives.
4. We must be willing to receive help from others when necessary.

Supporting Scripture: Hebrews 13:2 encourages believers not to forget hospitality towards strangers.

Moses’ experience demonstrates that God can use people we meet unexpectedly to provide encouragement, friendship and support during difficult seasons.

5. Moses Marries Zipporah

Read: Exodus 2:21–22

Moses agreed to stay with Reuel, who gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses as a wife. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in Moses’ personal life.

He had left behind his former life in Egypt and was now establishing a family in Midian. His marriage brought new responsibilities.

He was no longer concerned only with his own survival. He now had a wife and would eventually become a father.

Marriage requires commitment, patience, understanding and responsibility. These are qualities that are also important in leadership.

Moses’ family life became part of his development as a person.

The Bible does not provide extensive details about their marriage during this period, but it does reveal that Zipporah became an important part of his life.

Spiritual lessons:

1. Marriage introduces responsibilities that require maturity.
2. Family life is an important area of spiritual development.
3. God is concerned with our personal lives as well as our public responsibilities.
4. We must learn to balance family responsibilities with other assignments.
5. A person’s development involves relationships, responsibility and service.

Application: Those who desire to serve God effectively must also learn to demonstrate faithfulness and responsibility within their families.

6. The Birth of Gershom: Moses Remembers His Experience as a Stranger

Read: Exodus 2:22

Zipporah gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom. Exodus 2:22 explains the meaning behind the name:

“For he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.”

The name Gershom reflected Moses’ experience of living away from his homeland.

He had been raised in Egypt, but he was a Hebrew by birth. Now he was living in Midian, far from the people and circumstances of his earlier life.

His name reflected his feelings of displacement and his experience as a stranger.

This detail gives us insight into Moses’ personal journey. He had moved from the security of the Egyptian palace to the unfamiliar environment of Midian. His identity and sense of belonging had been challenged by the dramatic changes in his life.

Yet he continued to build a family and carry out his responsibilities.

Spiritual lessons:

1. God understands the experiences of people who feel displaced or isolated.
2. Difficult experiences can shape our understanding of life.
3. We should learn to remain faithful even when we feel like strangers.
4. Our circumstances may change, but God remains faithful.

Supporting Scripture: Hebrews 13:14 reminds believers that this present world is not their permanent home.

7. Moses Becomes a Shepherd in Midian

Read: Exodus 3:1

One of the most significant developments in Moses’ life during his time in Midian was his work as a shepherd.

Exodus 3:1 states:

“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian…”

Moses, who had once lived in the royal palace, was now responsible for tending sheep.

This was a significant change in occupation and lifestyle. In Egypt, Moses had been exposed to the structures of royal leadership. In Midian, he was learning the practical responsibilities of caring for living creatures.

Shepherding required patience, attention, endurance and responsibility.

A shepherd had to:

1. Lead sheep to suitable places for grazing.
2. Find water for the flock.
3. Protect the sheep from danger.
4.  Search for sheep that wandered away.
5. Guide the flock through difficult terrain.
6. Remain attentive to the needs of the animals.

These responsibilities required commitment and care.

Interestingly, the Bible frequently uses the image of a shepherd to describe leadership.

David was a shepherd before becoming king of Israel. Jesus Christ later described Himself as the Good Shepherd.

Moses’ experience as a shepherd was therefore significant in preparing him for the responsibility of leading God’s people.

The Israelites were not simply a group of individuals who needed to escape Egypt. They were a nation that needed guidance, protection, discipline and spiritual direction.

Moses would eventually need the patience and responsibility of a shepherd to lead them.

Spiritual lessons:

1. God can use ordinary work to develop extraordinary character.
2. Leadership begins with responsibility and service.
3. Patience is essential when caring for others.
4. Great responsibilities require preparation.
5. Faithfulness in small assignments prepares us for larger responsibilities.

Important reflection: Are you faithful in the responsibilities God has already placed in your hands?

8. The Wilderness as a School of Preparation

Moses’ time in Midian is often described as his wilderness preparation.

Although the Bible does not provide a detailed account of everything Moses experienced during those forty years, we can identify several important lessons from his life there.

A. Learning humility

Moses had grown up in the royal household, where he enjoyed privilege and influence. In Midian, he became a servant and shepherd. This change would have required humility.

He had to accept a new position and learn to work under the authority of another person.

God’s servants must understand that leadership is not about pride, status or self-importance.

Supporting Scripture: Philippians 2:3 encourages believers to act with humility and consider others.

B. Learning patience

Shepherding requires patience. Sheep cannot always be hurried or controlled. They require guidance, protection and consistent attention.

Moses would eventually lead a nation whose people frequently complained, argued and struggled to trust God.

His experience with sheep would have provided valuable practical lessons in patience and care.

C. Learning responsibility

Moses was entrusted with the flock of his father-in-law. He had to ensure that the animals were properly cared for.

This responsibility helped develop the qualities necessary for leadership.

D. Learning dependence on God

The wilderness was very different from the palace.

Moses had fewer material comforts and lived in a more demanding environment. Such circumstances can encourage a person to recognise the importance of depending on God rather than relying exclusively on personal resources.

E. Learning to serve

Moses had once attempted to intervene in the suffering of the Israelites through his own strength.

Now he was learning to serve faithfully in an ordinary occupation. His experience reminds us that God’s servants must be willing to serve before they lead.

9. The Significance of Moses’ Forty Years in Midian

Read: Acts 7:29–30

The New Testament provides additional information about the length of Moses’ life and his time away from Egypt.

Acts 7:30 states:

“And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.”

Stephen explains that forty years passed before Moses encountered God at the burning bush.

Moses’ life can therefore be understood in three major periods of forty years.

Period	Major experience
First 40 years	Raised and educated in Egypt
Second 40 years	Lived in Midian as a shepherd
Third 40 years	Led Israel through the wilderness

This three-part outline is a useful way of understanding the broad development of Moses’ life.

The first period involved education and exposure to leadership. The second involved wilderness preparation and family responsibilities. The third involved his public ministry as God’s appointed deliverer and leader.

The second forty years are particularly important because they demonstrate that preparation for leadership may take longer than expected.

Moses did not become Israel’s deliverer immediately after leaving Egypt. He spent many years in a relatively quiet environment before God called him to his great assignment.

Spiritual lessons:

1. God’s timing is different from human expectations.
2. Preparation may involve long periods of waiting.
3. We should not despise seasons when our responsibilities appear ordinary.
4. God can develop character over many years.
5. Faithfulness must continue even when there is no public recognition.

Application: Do not measure your progress only by visible achievements. Character development and spiritual maturity are also important forms of progress.

10. God Remembers His Covenant with Israel

Read: Exodus 2:23–25

While Moses was living in Midian, the Israelites continued to suffer under Egyptian oppression. The king of Egypt eventually died, but the Israelites’ suffering did not immediately end.

Exodus 2:23–24 tells us that the people groaned because of their bondage and cried out to God.

The passage contains four important expressions concerning God’s response:

1. God heard their groaning.
2. God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
3. God looked upon the children of Israel.
4. God had respect unto them.

This passage is very significant because it connects Moses’ personal preparation with God’s larger plan for Israel.

While Moses was learning to shepherd sheep in Midian, God was not ignoring the suffering of His people in Egypt.

He remained faithful to His covenant. The word “remembered” does not suggest that God had forgotten His promises. Rather, it emphasises that He was acting in accordance with His covenant commitment.

God’s faithfulness was about to become visible through the events that would unfold in the next chapter.

Spiritual lessons:

1. God hears the cries of His people.
2. God remains faithful to His promises.
3. God’s timing may differ from our expectations.
4. Human oppression does not cancel divine promises.
5. God can be preparing an answer while people are still waiting for deliverance.

Supporting Scripture: Genesis 15:13–14 contains God’s earlier promise concerning the future of Abraham’s descendants.

11. Lessons from Moses’ Wilderness Experience for Christians Today

Moses’ time in Midian provides valuable lessons for believers, ministers, church leaders and anyone who desires to fulfil God’s purpose.

1. Do not despise small beginnings.

Moses started by tending sheep. His responsibilities appeared ordinary, but they were part of his life journey.

2. Be faithful in your present assignment.

Before Moses led a nation, he had to care for a flock. Faithfulness in small responsibilities is important.

3. Learn humility before seeking leadership.

The wilderness taught Moses to live and work under another person’s authority.

4. Do not interpret delay as rejection.

Moses spent many years in Midian, but his story was not over.

5. Develop patience with people.

Leading people requires understanding, compassion and endurance.

6. Allow difficult seasons to develop your character.

Challenges can expose weaknesses and provide opportunities for growth.

7. Trust God’s timing.

God’s plans are not determined by human impatience.

8. Remember that God hears the cries of His people.

Even when deliverance appears delayed, God remains faithful to His promises.

12. Personal Reflection and Spiritual Application

The wilderness experience of Moses challenges us to examine how we respond to seasons of waiting, isolation and apparent obscurity.

Many people desire great responsibilities, public recognition and visible success. However, fewer people appreciate the preparation, discipline and character development required to carry such responsibilities.

Moses’ life demonstrates that a person’s preparation may involve ordinary duties that appear unrelated to their future calling.

A person may be serving quietly in a church, working in an ordinary occupation, caring for a family or developing skills without receiving public recognition.

Yet such responsibilities should not be regarded as meaningless.

The important question is not simply whether we have a great assignment, but whether we are faithful in the responsibilities we already have.

Consider the following questions:

1. Am I faithful in the responsibilities God has given me?
2. Can I remain patient when progress appears slow?
3. Am I willing to serve without recognition?
4.  Have difficult experiences made me bitter or helped me become more mature?
5. Am I allowing God to develop humility and self-control in my life?
6. Do I trust God’s timing even when I cannot understand His plans?

Remember that Moses’ wilderness experience was not wasted time. It was an important part of his journey towards becoming Israel’s deliverer.

13. Bible Study Discussion Questions

These questions are suitable for individual study, family devotion, church Bible study groups and Christian leadership training.

1. Why did Moses flee from Egypt?
2. What does Moses’ arrival in Midian teach us about unexpected changes in life?
3. Why did Moses help the daughters of Reuel at the well?
4. What qualities of Moses’ character are revealed in Exodus 2:16–17?
5. What can we learn from Reuel’s hospitality towards Moses?
6. Who was Zipporah, and what role did she play in Moses’ life?
7. What was the significance of the name Gershom?
8. Why is Moses’ work as a shepherd important to understanding his future leadership?
9. What qualities can shepherding develop in a person?
10. What lessons can Christians learn from Moses’ forty years in Midian?
11. Why is humility important in Christian leadership?
12. What is the difference between being busy and being properly prepared?
13. How can believers remain faithful during seasons of waiting?
14. What does Exodus 2:23–25 teach us about God’s faithfulness?
15. In what ways can God use ordinary experiences to prepare people for extraordinary responsibilities?

14. Practical Exercises for the Week

Seven-day spiritual development plan

Day 1

Read Exodus 2:15–17. Reflect on Moses’ kindness and willingness to help strangers.

Day 2

Read Exodus 2:18–22. Reflect on family, relationships and responsibility.

Day 3

Read Exodus 3:1. Consider the importance of being faithful in ordinary work.

Day 4

Study Philippians 2:3–8 and identify areas where you need greater humility.

Day 5

Read James 1:2–4 and reflect on patience and spiritual maturity.

Day 6

Read Exodus 2:23–25 and pray about an area in which you are waiting for God’s intervention.

Day 7

Write down five lessons from Moses’ wilderness experience and identify how you can apply them.

15. Prayer Points

1. Heavenly Father, thank You for the lessons from the wilderness experience of Moses.
2. Lord, give me the grace to remain faithful during seasons of waiting and uncertainty.
3. Father, develop humility, patience and self-control in my life.
4. Lord, teach me to serve faithfully, even when my efforts are not recognised by others.
5. Father, help me to see every experience as an opportunity for spiritual growth.
6. Lord, remove pride, impatience and selfish ambition from my heart.
7. Father, give me the wisdom to handle the responsibilities You have entrusted to me.
8. Lord, strengthen my faith when my prayers appear unanswered.
9. Father, help me to trust Your timing and remain obedient to Your instructions.
10. Lord, prepare me spiritually, emotionally and mentally for every assignment You have for my life.

16. Memory Verse

Exodus 3:1 (KJV)

“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.”

Memory challenge: Memorise this verse and explain why Moses’ ordinary work as a shepherd was significant in the preparation for his future ministry.

17. Additional Scriptures for Further Study

For a deeper understanding of Moses’ wilderness experience, study the following passages:

Scripture	Study focus
Exodus 2:15–17	Moses arrives in Midian.
Exodus 2:18–20	Moses meets Reuel’s family.
Exodus 2:21–22	Moses marries Zipporah and becomes a father.
Exodus 2:23–25	God hears Israel’s cries.
Exodus 3:1	Moses works as a shepherd.
Acts 7:29–30	Moses’ forty years in Midian.
Hebrews 11:24–27	Moses’ faith and choices.
James 1:2–4	The development of patience and maturity.
Philippians 2:3–8	Humility and service.
Psalm 23:1–6	The Lord as the Shepherd.

18. Conclusion

The wilderness experience of Moses is one of the most important stages in his preparation for leadership.

After spending his early years in Pharaoh’s palace, Moses found himself in Midian, where he began a completely different life. He became a husband, a father and a shepherd.

His experiences taught him valuable lessons about humility, patience, responsibility, kindness and service.

The man who had once attempted to deliver an Israelite through his own strength was now spending his days caring for sheep. Although the Bible does not tell us every detail of his personal development during those years, the wider account of his life shows that his time in Midian preceded his encounter with God and his appointment as Israel’s deliverer.

Meanwhile, the Israelites continued to suffer in Egypt, but God had not forgotten His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The story teaches us that God’s preparation and God’s promises are both important. While Moses was being prepared in Midian, God remained faithful to His people in Egypt.

The central message of this study is that the wilderness is not necessarily a place of abandonment; it can be a season of preparation, transformation and spiritual growth.

We must therefore learn to remain faithful, humble and obedient, regardless of where we find ourselves.

Closing Prayer

Our Father in heaven, we thank You for the life of Moses and the valuable lessons from his years in Midian. Help us not to become discouraged during seasons of waiting, isolation and uncertainty. Teach us to remain faithful in the little things, to serve others with humility and to develop the patience and wisdom required for our responsibilities. May we never despise the process through which You are preparing us. Help us to trust Your timing and remain obedient to Your will. Prepare us for the purposes You have ordained for our lives. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.