Exodus 5-6
But the Lord replied to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: because of a strong hand he will let them go, and because of a strong hand he will drive them from his land."
Exodus 6:1
Required Reading
Devotional
Have you ever tried to help someone only to make things worse?
Maybe you tried to cut or style their hair and you butchered it.
Maybe you tried to repair their brakes, only to break some other parts along the way.
Maybe you tried to say something nice only to offend the person instead.
Well think about how you would feel if GOD was the one who told you what to say or do and it still made things worse. That's what Moses experienced.
I can truly understand how Moses felt. After all of his back and forth with God in chapters 3 and 4, I imagine he is thinking, "You brought me out here for this? Just to get rejected by both Pharaoh and the Israelites? I could have stayed home."
And maybe you've been there before. Where you feel God has clearly given you an instruction and things got worse rather than better.
Perhaps you delivered a message you believed came straight from God only for it to be used against you.
Perhaps you heard God tell you to ask someone on a date only to get rejected and insulted.
Or perhaps you gave a generous donation by faith just to struggle to pay your bills.
Here's the thing. Everything God does is for a reason, and that includes the times where it seems like everything has gone wrong. In Moses' case, God reveals the reason in Chapter 6.
God allowed Moses to be rejected to ultimately show that it is only GOD who delivered the people from Pharaoh. God knew that if Moses simply petitioned Pharaoh and he let them go, then Pharaoh would have been seen as benevolent or Moses would have been seen as courageous. Instead, because Pharaoh will be forced into submission by the King of Kings, it will be undeniable that God is the one who delivered the people.
Maybe the situations in your life that seem to only get worse when you obey God is simply an opportunity for the power of God to be made known. It's a chance for Him to show himself mighty, to a point where you can say there was no one but God that worked it out for you. Or as the preacher would say, perhaps "your set back is a set up for your comeback."
Trust that God is up to something.
Maybe you tried to cut or style their hair and you butchered it.
Maybe you tried to repair their brakes, only to break some other parts along the way.
Maybe you tried to say something nice only to offend the person instead.
Well think about how you would feel if GOD was the one who told you what to say or do and it still made things worse. That's what Moses experienced.
So Moses went back to the Lord and asked, “Lord, why have you caused trouble for this people? And why did you ever send me? Ever since I went in to Pharaoh to speak in your name he has caused trouble for this people, and you haven’t rescued your people at all.” Exodus 5:22-23
I can truly understand how Moses felt. After all of his back and forth with God in chapters 3 and 4, I imagine he is thinking, "You brought me out here for this? Just to get rejected by both Pharaoh and the Israelites? I could have stayed home."
And maybe you've been there before. Where you feel God has clearly given you an instruction and things got worse rather than better.
Perhaps you delivered a message you believed came straight from God only for it to be used against you.
Perhaps you heard God tell you to ask someone on a date only to get rejected and insulted.
Or perhaps you gave a generous donation by faith just to struggle to pay your bills.
Here's the thing. Everything God does is for a reason, and that includes the times where it seems like everything has gone wrong. In Moses' case, God reveals the reason in Chapter 6.
But the Lord replied to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: because of a strong hand he will let them go, and because of a strong hand he will drive them from his land.” Exodus 6:1
God allowed Moses to be rejected to ultimately show that it is only GOD who delivered the people from Pharaoh. God knew that if Moses simply petitioned Pharaoh and he let them go, then Pharaoh would have been seen as benevolent or Moses would have been seen as courageous. Instead, because Pharaoh will be forced into submission by the King of Kings, it will be undeniable that God is the one who delivered the people.
Maybe the situations in your life that seem to only get worse when you obey God is simply an opportunity for the power of God to be made known. It's a chance for Him to show himself mighty, to a point where you can say there was no one but God that worked it out for you. Or as the preacher would say, perhaps "your set back is a set up for your comeback."
Trust that God is up to something.
Reflection Questions
- Moses felt frustrated when his obedience to God seemed to worsen the Israelites' situation. Have you ever experienced something similar in your faith journey? Describe that experience.
- Why do you think God sometimes allows situations to get worse before they get better?
- The devotional mentions that God's actions in Moses' story were to demonstrate His power. Can you think of other biblical examples where God worked in unexpected ways to reveal His glory?
- How does knowing that God has a greater purpose help us persevere through challenging times?
- In what areas of your life right now do you need to trust God's plan, even when things seem to be getting worse?
Practical Application
- Journal about a current challenging situation in your life. Reflect on how God might be working behind the scenes.
- Practice patience this week when faced with setbacks. Instead of immediately reacting, pause and pray for God's perspective.
- Share your faith journey with someone, including times when obedience was difficult but ultimately led to growth or blessing.
- Memorize Exodus 6:1 as a reminder of God's power and ultimate control over your circumstances.
Closing Prayer: Lord, help us trust Your plan even when we don't understand it. Give us the strength to obey You, especially when it's difficult. Help us see our setbacks as opportunities for You to reveal Your power in our lives. Amen.
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Exodus 5-11
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