WEDNESDAY
When we left off yesterday, things aren’t going well for Moses and the Israelites. Pharaoh responded to God’s demand that he let his people go with defiance and harsh oppression. On top of it all, the people of Israel are no longer with Moses. Let’s read what happens next.
Exodus 5:22-23 22 Moses returned to Yahweh and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? 23 Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.”
When Moses is in a tough spot, he returns to God. This is the pattern that we will see throughout the book of Exodus. In almost every situation, Moses consults with the Lord. This is one of the greatest comforts of life that we often miss. We so often problem solve on our own without consulting God in his presence.
Taking this problem to God was Moses’ best decision in this moment, but I’m not sure how much he realized it at this point. He goes to God to complain. He seems to be giving God a piece of his mind and letting him hear it. “Why, Lord…”. This is a phrase I’m willing to guess we’ve all asked on more than one occasion. Like Moses, when we ask it, we usually aren’t genuinely curious. It’s more of an accusation.
Why did my loved one die?
Why do I have this illness?
Why is my child running from you?
Why can’t I seem to make ends meet?
Why, Lord?
Moses accuses God of bringing trouble on this people. The word for trouble here is the same Hebrew word for evil. It has a wide semantic range like our word bad, so trouble is a fine translation. The ESV translates this word as evil. So Moses may very well be accusing God of bringing evil on his people. He accuses God as the one responsible for bringing this bad situation upon the people. If he had never sent Moses, the people wouldn’t have this additional labor and oppression being imposed upon them. This is a raw conversation with God!
He also accuses God of not just bringing trouble on the Israelites but also of failing to accomplish his purpose entirely. God hasn’t rescued his people at all.
These are bold words to the God who holds life and death in his hands. The God who has the power to create and destroy. The God who has life in himself. The God who is contingent on nothing and no one. These characteristics of God have already been revealed to Moses. Surprisingly, God’s response is patient, yet again, with Moses. We will look at God’s response tomorrow, but for today we see two important truths:
- In your trouble run to God.
- It’s okay to be real with God.
Pray first. We so easily forget this in our every day life experience. Often times God will reveal an answer to your dilemma. He may call you to wait and see. He may just calm your anxiety to walk through the trouble. Whatever he does, praying puts your attention on God. When our attention is on God, the problems we face fall into their proper place. Although they may be major problems and painful situations without an immediate solution, when we pray we remember that God is with us and that is enough.
Often we struggle to genuinely pour out our hearts to God. We feel like we can only say canned prayers that don’t really mean anything to us. Scripture is full of real prayers in the midst of suffering. Go ahead and cry out to God. He can handle it.
Reflection
What is burdening your soul today? Run to God’s presence and pour out your heart to him.