Shouldn’t following God be easy? So we think sometimes.
But God oftentimes has other plans. Exodus chapter five could be summarized with the quip: “Sometimes things get worse before they get
better!”
God’s people have been enslaved in Egypt and they are crying
out to God for deliverance (Exodus 2.23-25). God is gracious and announces his sovereign intentions to
save his people through Moses. As
Moses comes to the people in Exodus chapter four he states God’s design. Exodus 4.31 states the people’s
response:
So the people believed; and when
they heard that the Lord was concerned about the sons of Israel and that he had
seen their affliction, then they bowed low and worshipped.
The people’s belief quickly turns sour as they face
hardship. In response to Moses’
initial confrontation with Pharaoh the people of Israel face even harsher
conditions in terms of having to make bricks without straw. When the people learn of this and that
is a result of Moses’ interference they quickly turn on Moses: “May
the Lord look upon you and judge you, for you have made us odious in Pharaoh’s
sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill
us” (Exodus 5.22). Even Moses prays a pitiful
prayer: “O Lord, why have you brought harm to this people? Why did you ever send me?” (Exodus 5.23).
Don’t we do the same thing? God has given us precious promises. Consider this famous passage from
Romans 8.28:
And we know that God causes all
things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called
according to his purpose.
This is easy to believe when everything is good well. But when life begins to get hard we
quickly forget the promises of our kind King. The Lord is looking for us to trust him—to take him at his
word—even when life is hard. Life may get hard and unbearable at times. Look to the promises of God in
faith. He has not changed—he is
still for you and loves you in Christ Jesus his Son!
