Moses remained at court until he was forty years of age. His thoughts often turned upon the abject condition of his people, and he visited his brethren in their servitude, and encouraged them with the assurance that God would work for their deliverance. Often, stung to resentment by the sight of injustice and oppression, he burned to avenge their wrongs. One day, while thus abroad, seeing an Egyptian smiting an Israelite, he sprang forward and slew the Egyptian. Except the Israelite, there had been no witness to the deed, and Moses immediately buried the body in the sand. He had now shown himself ready to maintain the cause of his people, and he hoped to see them rise to recover their liberty. "He supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them; but they understood not." Acts 7:25. They were not yet prepared for freedom. On the following day Moses saw two Hebrews striving together, 247 one of them evidently at fault. Moses reproved the offender, who at once retaliated upon the reprover, denying his right to interfere, and basely accusing him of crime: "Who made thee a prince and a judge over us?" he said. "Intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian?"

Moses blev ved hoffet, til han var 40 år. Hans tanker gik ofte til hans folks usle kår, og han besøgte sine brødre i deres trældom og opmuntrede dem med forsikringen om, at Gud ville sørge for deres befrielse. Ofte fyldtes han af harme ved synet af den uretfærdighed og undertrykkelse, de var udsat for, og han brændte efter af hævne denne uret. En dag da han var ude på et sådant besøg og så en ægypter dræbe en israelit, sprang han til og slog ægypteren ihjel. Der var ikke andre vidner end israelitten, og Moses begravede straks liget i sandet. Nu havde han vist, at han var rede til at forsvare sit folks ret, og han håbede, at de ville rejse sig for at genvinde deres frihed. "Nu mente han, at hans brødre ville forstå, at Gud ved hans hånd ville give dem frelse, men det forstod de ikke." ApG. 7, 25. De var endnu ikke modne til at få deres frihed. Den næste dag så Moses to hebræere strides. Den ene havde åbenbart uret, og Moses irettesatte ham, men han svarede straks igen, benægtede Moses' ret til at blande sig i det og beskyldte ham for at have begået en forbrydelse: "Hvem har sat dig til herre og dommer over os? Vil du måske slå mig ihjel, som du slog ægypteren ihjel?"