Mysty PfefferWeek 4 Exodus God of Deliverance
The Patience of God
Proverbs 16:32 says, “Patience is better than power and controlling one’s temper than capturing a city” (HCSB). When I read this week’s passage of Exodus 5:1-6:27, I realize the patience of God is long-lasting. He knows the wicked heart of Pharaoh will not bend to His will. But He also knows the hearts of the Egyptian and Israelite people need a thorough cleansing from idolatry.
Therefore, stubbornness and holding onto ingrained ideas is no surprise to God…, and He controls his temper.
As we will see in later chapters, people of both cultures are open to following the One true God. However, convincing people to die to self is something God knows is done layer by layer and trial by trial. The Egyptians who turn to Him do so in awe of His mighty hand, while the Israelites see the fulfilled promise of their heritage.
Although Israel is eager to be rid of their bondage, the process of tearing down the cultural influence ingrained in them is going to be painful. Would you please read Exodus chapter five to see how this process begins to take place?
Moses approaches the proud Pharaoh as he begins the bargaining with, “Thus says the LORD, let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness (vs1). Pharaoh responds, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I don’t know the LORD.”
When Things Don’t Go as planned
Pharaoh accuses Moses and Aaron of distracting the slaves from their work. So, he makes the arduous task of the brick makers even harder. They must begin to gather their own straw to make the bricks and continue the same quotas. Call me stretching the concept a little bit here, but do we not see this same principle infiltrating our own economic state?
After all, the average workweek now is fifty-sixty hours with half the workforce and resources. However, the same amount of work and outcomes are expected. The underlying evil behind this is Satan. He resists God and every attempt to put Him first and puts more tasks on people to distract them from seeking Him. Pharaoh’s refuses to allow his grip on Israel’s loyalty to be tested. We see, instead, any attempt to alter their dedication crushed. He scatters them so they cannot talk about worshiping the One true God.
Israel cries out from their increased burdens, and their Hebrew foremen (taskmasters) are beaten when the quotas are not met. A situation making everyone mad at everyone else! The foremen blame Moses and Aaron, as Moses approaches God to say, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you send me? (vs22)
When things get hard and don’t go the way we plan, we blame others and God too, don’t we?
God Moves Outside of Comfort
Please don’t miss this interaction, especially in our time of ease and comfort. We turn on our faucets in the morning and bathe with clean water. The clean water fills our showers for bathing, pots for cooking, and our glasses for drinking, sometimes without a thought to thank God above for providing us with such blessings. The lights come on at the touch of a switch. There is no gathering wood for a fire, finding kindling, and keeping it stoked to light candles at night. Physically, for most of us, life, in general, is ten times easier than previous generations. Therefore, we tend to mistake inconvenience for a trial.
But what if God begins to show us what he can do through discomfort, just as he begins to show Israel?
He says to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand, he will send them out” (6:1a). In chapter six, God reminds Moses of the promise and the covenant made with Abraham. We are also given the genealogy of Moses and Aaron. His response to, “Why did you send me?” is answered clearly by God.
We may question, why me, God? Do you really want to send me to these people suffering from physical discomfort? Or share the gospel with people digging deep into their stubborn idolatry? The answer is YES! He sure does. And we are to do it with patience while also controlling our temper. God gives us the perfect example, doesn’t he? He lets history unfold in a manner that will create lasting change rather than swooping in and making an exit from slavery as easy as turning on a switch.
The one sure way to endear the people’s hearts to follow Him and let go of their idolatry.
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