December 15, 2020
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in some Exodus? Here’s today’s reading:
Exodus 5 (NIV)
Bricks Without Straw
1Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’ ”........Continue Reading
Moses doubts God when things get worse for the Israelites even though God told him it would not be easy! But that is how we all are…God never promised us an easy path but does promise He will be there for us through it all and yet we doubt His plan when things get tough.
This passage reminds me that more often than not, the path to freedom/deliverance/victory is rocky and full of challenges. I should not be discouraged when I go through rough times.
Exodus 5
Moses got nowhere so he prayed and asked God why he even bothered to send him to Pharaoh – especially since things were made worse for the Israelites. How often do I question God’s plan or become discouraged when I don’t see expected results after following His leading? Did I get it wrong? Say/do it wrong? If Moses can ask God, “why?”, then I take comfort in knowing that trials come to all believers and that God must have a purpose that we may not see.
All good comments above in evaluating what we take from this chapter! It also struck me that Pharaoh expresses the opinion of every nonbeliever, “Who is the Lord that I should obey Him?” Well God has certainly manifested Himself to everyone to the point that Romans 1 tells us we are without excuse if we don’t believe. Pharaoh will not be saying that in the end because God clearly reveals Himself through the plagues. Hopefully those who don’t believe won’t require things like that to see God, and yet the Bible makes clear that many of them will and still won’t believe.
And Pharaoh then acts like the despotic ruler that he is. You cause me trouble, well I will cause you trouble. I will call things the way I see things and you will bear the consequences. We shouldn’t be surprised when prideful people act in this way. But God remains our refuge and hope. Those like Pharaoh don’t know who they are dealing with when God confronts them…but they will! We know Him and should rest in Him and find His provisions when people make things difficult just because they can.
Exodus 5
Reminds me of something a church leaders said to us years ago, “don’t doubt in the dark the decision made in the light.” When we are confident of God’s direction and move forward in obedience, we should stay on the path and not wander off. Easier said than done. So many times my faith has been challenged when I did the right thing, and things weren’t immediately working out.
Exodus 5