In Exodus Chapter Five, Moses and his brother, Aaron, go to the Pharaoh and ask him to let the Israelites have some time off to go into the wilderness to worship the Lord. Pharaoh doesn’t take to this request very well, why in the world would he let the slaves off work to party?
In fact, he gets so upset over the suggestion, that he doubles their work load. They not only have to make the bricks, but they have to go out and gather the straw for the bricks, as well. And to make it even worse, they have to fill the same quotas, in the same time frames.
This is not an easy task, to say the least.
And now the Israelites are not happy either. Moses came to them bringing them news of God’s heart towards them, his compassion for them, his desire to free them and they are so touched that God hadn’t forgotten them. And then, instead of things changing for the good, they get worse. Lots worse.
And they complain to Moses and he in turn complains to God.
Boy can I relate! I remember how excited I was when I began working at the church. I not only didn’t have to drive 7 or 8 hours a day any longer for my courier job, but I was doing what I’d dreamed of for many years, serving the Lord full time! I was so touched, God hadn’t forgotten me.
And then my first day on my new job I had an altercation with a team member. I said something I shouldn’t have, it was taken the wrong way, and my wonderful new life took on a whole other dimension. Was not pretty. I remember saying, “God, what’s going on here?”
Sometimes life gets worse, before it gets better. Don’t give up, remember, God’s got the victory!
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. “For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. (Isaiah 43:2-3)
Lessons from Life 