Unbelief--Exodus 5-7

 

We all have a choice to believe what God says or trust only what we can see and understand on our own.  So what has God told them?

• He told Moses that Pharoah would't let them go right away.
• He told the Israelites that God had heard their cries and would deliver them.
• He told Pharoah (through Moses) to let the people go.  He even provided miracles to prove that it was God Himself that was ordering their release. 

How did that line up with what they could see and understand?

• Moses saw his failing speech and blamed himself for his failed mission.
• The Israelites saw an even heavier workload and blamed Moses.
• Pharoah saw a lazy workforce and "miracles" his own experts could easily copy.  (Nevermind that the "experts" only added to the misery of the land each time they copy God's miracles.  Moses's rod becomes a snake and they bring more snakes?  Aaron turns the nile to blood and they turn more water to blood?  How does this help?)

What did God do?

• He reminded Moses to use Aaron as his spokesperson along with reminding him that this was far from over and Pharoah wasn't going to come around any time soon.
• He sent Moses to speak to the people again, even if it was small consolation for their pain.
• He sent Pharoah more messages and began systematically attacking the gods that Pharoah relied on for power and protection (starting with Hapi, the Egyptian god of the Nile).  Ironically, the previous Pharoah had ordered all the Hebrew boy children to be thrown in the Nile.  This first plague dramatically demonstrates to Pharoah the blood on his family's hands. 

It's all a matter of perspective.  Don't get me wrong...hindsight is 20/20 and we weren't there in their shoes.  Moses had been told what would happen, but not everything that would happen.  We forget that when you have to get free from an oppressor, the first few tugs will only bring a tighter grip.  Things are going to get worse before they get better.  When nothing short of an intervention from God is needed, then it's time to rejoice.  He has set things up so that He can get the glory and His rescue is at hand.  It's not time to wail; it's time to worship.

I love it when a plan comes together. 

When was the last time you heard from God and had to choose whether to believe Him or believe your circumstances?  How do you keep your focus on what He says rather than what you see?