Persevering in Faith
Exodus 5:22: "Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, 'Oh Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all."
While the Israelites embraced Moses, Aaron, and the word of God through them, Pharaoh did not. Though Pharaoh felt threatened by the multitudes of Israel, he was also reliant upon them for slave labor. Once again, a Pharaoh attempted to assert himself above the Lord. He denied Moses’ and Aaron's request to let the people go to worship the Lord. Instead of granting the request of the Lord, the Pharaoh laid an even heavier burden upon the people. They now had to gather straw to make the bricks in addition to completing all the work previously assigned to them. The intervention of Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh made the Israelites’ lives even more burdensome.
Hope quickly turned to despair. The Israelites cried out to their taskmasters. No reprieve was given as Pharaoh’s heart was hardened against the Hebrews and against their God who would ask for them to leave their work to worship him. Therefore, their attitudes towards Moses and Aaron also turned sour; the men they thought were there to help had actually done nothing but cause further harm.
Moses cried out to the Lord. He, too, doubted the plans of the Lord. Why would greater affliction come with the promise of deliverance? Once again, Moses doubted himself and doubted his calling. What Moses and the nation of Israel did not understand was that God keeps his promises. God had a great plan of deliverance, and God would work that plan of deliverance in his way and his time. It would continue to get harder, but the plan of the Lord would prevail!
Reflection:
Do you begin to doubt the Lord when things get tough – his goodness, his plans, and his timing? How have you learned to persevere in faith?
While the Israelites embraced Moses, Aaron, and the word of God through them, Pharaoh did not. Though Pharaoh felt threatened by the multitudes of Israel, he was also reliant upon them for slave labor. Once again, a Pharaoh attempted to assert himself above the Lord. He denied Moses’ and Aaron's request to let the people go to worship the Lord. Instead of granting the request of the Lord, the Pharaoh laid an even heavier burden upon the people. They now had to gather straw to make the bricks in addition to completing all the work previously assigned to them. The intervention of Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh made the Israelites’ lives even more burdensome.
Hope quickly turned to despair. The Israelites cried out to their taskmasters. No reprieve was given as Pharaoh’s heart was hardened against the Hebrews and against their God who would ask for them to leave their work to worship him. Therefore, their attitudes towards Moses and Aaron also turned sour; the men they thought were there to help had actually done nothing but cause further harm.
Moses cried out to the Lord. He, too, doubted the plans of the Lord. Why would greater affliction come with the promise of deliverance? Once again, Moses doubted himself and doubted his calling. What Moses and the nation of Israel did not understand was that God keeps his promises. God had a great plan of deliverance, and God would work that plan of deliverance in his way and his time. It would continue to get harder, but the plan of the Lord would prevail!
Reflection:
Do you begin to doubt the Lord when things get tough – his goodness, his plans, and his timing? How have you learned to persevere in faith?
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