Pretend you are not about to read a chapter of one of the most famous Bible stories. I'm inviting you to read Chapter 5 with fresh eyes. As I read through the story again, I was amused. The words and actions of each person are so telling. If you get intentional, you can look at your life and plot in these characters.
Pharaoh- The threatened leader.
Moses- The obedient yet concerned servant.
Aaron- The helper.
Hebrew servants- The majority of the population.
God- The all-knowing, all-powerful being.
Have you ever witnessed a threatened leader? I'm sure you have! Might you have one in your family or at your job? Maybe this character is in your church. At the very least, you've witnessed a threatened leader in a movie or television show. The threatened leader is motivated by fear. Everything they do directly responds to the fear of losing their power.
Do you have a Moses in your life? A person who is obedient to God but also gets confused and concerned when things don't seem to be going too well. Perhaps, in your story, you are Moses?
If you are Moses, who is your Aaron? Who is that person in your life that isn't perfect but does their best to have your back?
We are the Hebrew people/slaves/servants in this story. Believe it.
Most of our discontent with painful circumstances or unmet expectations involves timing. We view life much differently than God. He has the pleasure and the privilege to live outside of time while we don't. This truth has caused me to become angry more times than I can count, but the discrepancy between our timelines is an opportunity to grow in faith and trust Him.
Moses obeyed God even though he felt unqualified; what God asked of him was no small feat. God called Moses to deliver the Hebrew people from Egypt! Moses didn't go to school for this. He didn't study ancient texts and uncover some secret missions to carry out. He had run away from a murder he had committed and was content to live under the radar as a shepherd among the Midians.
God promised Moses that He would be with him, but Moses counted it a failure when Pharaoh increased the labor for the Hebrew people. He asked God, why did you do this to your people!? This a valid question and one I can relate to well. Here's what I noticed, though, in chapter 3, verse 12, God says, "Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain."
God's promise, in chapter 3, does not include multiple victories but one victory at the end. This means God will be with Moses throughout the entirety of the deliverance. God even told Moses precisely what would happen with Pharoah. Moses knew that Pharoah would not accept his terms immediately because God told him so in chapter 4, verses 21-23. But when the opposition took place, Moses freaked. To this, I reply, "Same."
Freaking out at the first site of opposition is my norm. You think I would have learned by now, but like Moses, I am drawn to ask God why?
Thoughtful Pause
Do you trust God even when things get scary? Spend time in prayer now and be honest with God about your insecurities.
God is trustworthy, and He’s also gracious with our insecurities. As you close this chapter today, remember all the ways that God has come through for you in His perfect timing and ask Him to help you remember those the next time things get scary.
You can use the Exodus story to help strengthen your faith. God does exactly what He promises to do every time.
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Other Resources:
You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu
Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa Luu
The Relevant Old Testament by Vanessa Luu
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