Read Exodus 5:1-23
“So Moses returned to the LORD and said, ‘Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.’”—Exodus 5:22-23
When Moses told Pharaoh to let God’s people go, Pharaoh retaliated by requiring the Israelites to gather their own straw to make bricks, while maintaining the same production quota. When the quota wasn’t met, the Israelites officers were beaten. In turn, the Israelites lashed out at Moses, “…you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us” (v21). “Moses the Deliverer” had become “Moses the Cause of Greater Misery.”
Perhaps like the Israelites, you’ve cried out to God for help and dared trust that deliverance is finally coming. Or like Moses, despite fears of inadequacy, you’ve obediently stepped out on God’s Word to do the very thing He told you to do. But your reward for trusting and obeying is things have gotten worse, not better.
Promises never seem to materialize, prayers are answered with a bad report, and bright dreams for the future seem to descend into a horrible nightmare. The very God who promised “I will not to leave nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5) and He would “supply all your need according to His riches in glory” (Philippians 4:19) seems to have turned His back on you. You wonder, “Did I really hear God right? Was this really His plan?”
Jesus talked about going through difficult times in order to get to the joy that waits on the other side. When a woman undergoes labor, she is focused on the pain of the moment. But that pain is forgotten when she delivers the child (John 16:21). Sometimes our lives become better and deliverance only comes through the labor pains of “worse before better.” Worse may come before better, but in the midst of worse, stay focused, stay on course, stay strong!
Better IS coming!
Lesson to Remember: When God allows us to travel a rough road, stay focused on the destination.
“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!”—Psalm 27:14
Thank you for helping us to remember that God hears and sees all and never forgets his promises to us. “Weeping may endure for a night, But Joy commeth in the morning”.
Amen! He is ever faithful to His promises!