The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 5:6-8,
"That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people (the Israelites): 'You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don't reduce the quota.'"
Here is the outcome of Moses' first attempt at doing what God commanded him. Moses and his brother, Aaron, approached Pharaoh and asked that the Israelites be allowed to hold a festival to the Lord in the wilderness for three days. It did not go well for Israel, as Pharaoh refused and lashed out at them. However, this is what God told Moses to do. Now the conditions for the Israelites have worsened.
I wonder what kinds of thoughts went through Moses' mind at the time. Did he think, "I'm doing what God asked of me.... maybe I misunderstood?" Or, "God told me to do my part, but since Pharaoh isn't doing his, maybe God should have influenced Pharaoh to a greater degree to make it happen (as in, 'I'm doing my part, why isn't God doing his)'?" Or, even worse, "Maybe this God-thing isn't working out... I have it all wrong."
Did Moses question God's ability to ensure his plans worked out? That he had the power to make things happen? Or, did Moses questioned whether God really meant what he had told Moses to do?
You recall that when God gave his instructions to Moses, he told Moses he was going to harden Pharaoh's heart. God was going to ensure there would be resistance from Pharaoh, so I'm sure we can assume we know what the answers to these potential questions of Moses would be. Moses was a man of faith.
However, I'm not sure the same could be said, at this point, for the Israelites as a nation. Moses would have to face the Israelites, following Pharaoh's further demands, with the conviction of his own faith in God, a faith not necessarily shared by the nation of Israel as a whole. It won't be long before they are freed from Egypt, only to refuse to enter into the land God promised them due to their fear of the current residents. They lacked faith that God had the power to do what he promised.
Faith is always the underlying component, the important element of the accounts we read of in Scripture. In reflecting on Abraham's activities in Scripture, Paul said, "He [Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.'" Romans 4:20-22 (quoting Genesis 15:6).
How about me? Do I ever question God? Do I ever question what he has asked me to do? Am I facing those things God has asked of me, challenged me with, reflecting the kind of faith Abraham and Moses had when they faced even more difficult challenges?
Something for me to think about today.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people (the Israelites): 'You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don't reduce the quota.'"
Here is the outcome of Moses' first attempt at doing what God commanded him. Moses and his brother, Aaron, approached Pharaoh and asked that the Israelites be allowed to hold a festival to the Lord in the wilderness for three days. It did not go well for Israel, as Pharaoh refused and lashed out at them. However, this is what God told Moses to do. Now the conditions for the Israelites have worsened.
I wonder what kinds of thoughts went through Moses' mind at the time. Did he think, "I'm doing what God asked of me.... maybe I misunderstood?" Or, "God told me to do my part, but since Pharaoh isn't doing his, maybe God should have influenced Pharaoh to a greater degree to make it happen (as in, 'I'm doing my part, why isn't God doing his)'?" Or, even worse, "Maybe this God-thing isn't working out... I have it all wrong."
Did Moses question God's ability to ensure his plans worked out? That he had the power to make things happen? Or, did Moses questioned whether God really meant what he had told Moses to do?
You recall that when God gave his instructions to Moses, he told Moses he was going to harden Pharaoh's heart. God was going to ensure there would be resistance from Pharaoh, so I'm sure we can assume we know what the answers to these potential questions of Moses would be. Moses was a man of faith.
However, I'm not sure the same could be said, at this point, for the Israelites as a nation. Moses would have to face the Israelites, following Pharaoh's further demands, with the conviction of his own faith in God, a faith not necessarily shared by the nation of Israel as a whole. It won't be long before they are freed from Egypt, only to refuse to enter into the land God promised them due to their fear of the current residents. They lacked faith that God had the power to do what he promised.
Faith is always the underlying component, the important element of the accounts we read of in Scripture. In reflecting on Abraham's activities in Scripture, Paul said, "He [Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.'" Romans 4:20-22 (quoting Genesis 15:6).
How about me? Do I ever question God? Do I ever question what he has asked me to do? Am I facing those things God has asked of me, challenged me with, reflecting the kind of faith Abraham and Moses had when they faced even more difficult challenges?
Something for me to think about today.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment