The Exodus Journey: Day Five

Read Chapter 5

In chapter 4, when Moses finally submitted to God, he met with his brother Aaron, there at the Mountain of God (Horeb), then chapter 5:1 tells us, And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”

But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD [who is Yahweh, the personal God of Israel] that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD [I don’t know Yahweh, the personal God of Israel] and besides, I will not let Israel go” (verse 2).

Their reply was “The God [Elohiym, the Supreme God] of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God [to Yahweh, our personal God, who is the Supreme God of all of creation], otherwise He will fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword” (verse 3).

But, Pharaoh was not impressed…

Did they think he would be? Well, yeah!” Wouldn’t we expect so, too? Don’t we expect all our unbelieving friends to be impressed when we tell them that God has called us to do such and such? Of course we do! Don’t we also think that because God has directed us to do something that it should be easy? Yes, we do… But, is it always easy… – uh – no… In fact, much like with the Israelites, things just get harder. (Ask me about deciding to teach the Book of Revelation! Yikes!)

From the time that I was a child, I remember hearing the story of the Israelites having to gather their own straw to make bricks, but I never thought about how it related to my life until now. But now I can see – it greatly relates!

The more convinced we are that we must follow God’s call, the harder life becomes – because we can never go back to our old ways. And, not only does it affect us – but it affects everyone around us, as well. And they may not understand…

God’s call to Moses, and subsequently, Aaron, affected their lives from that point on – forever. But not only were they affected, and their families affected, but all of Israel was affected, and the Israelites certainly did not understand.

Again, Moses cried out with another question, “O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all” (verses 22-23).

And God’s answer… well… that comes tomorrow.

 

Prayer:

Father, an old hymn says, “When I do the best I can, and my friends misunderstand, Thou who knowest all about me – stand by me…” How many times have I sung that song, even through tears? Only You know. When we are convinced, Lord, that we have heard Your call, and we know we must respond, remind us to pray for those who did not hear the call, but whose lives will be nonetheless affected by our call. And help us to be faithful.

In Jesus’ Name – Amen.