Oct. 7, 2013
Exodus 5-Part 1
And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. Exodus 5:1
LET IT GLOW
Am I at fault? Is it my fault this didn't turn out right? So often I blame others instead of inwardly searching for the answer. It's easier that way, don't you think, to play the blame game? I tend to not take the responsibility for something failing. I am sorry, or I was wrong are not easy words to say for any of us. It being my fault is not under consideration. Or am I the only one? The Hebrews did. Shall we see when?
Seven times in these chapters, God says to Pharaoh, through His servants Moses and Aaron, "Let My people go!" We read it in Exodus 5:1, 7:16, 8:1, 8:20, 9:1, 9:13, 10:3. This command revealed that Israel was in bondage, but God wanted them to be free so they could serve Him. This is the condition of every lost sinner. They are enslaved to the world, the flesh, and the devil (Eph. 2:1).
Of course, Moses knew that Pharaoh would not let the Hebrews leave right away. God had told him earlier that this would happen. He even knew that the first-born son of Pharaoh would die and God would perform many wonders for all to see that He is Elohim, Supreme God.
Moses repeated the demand by identifying Jehovah more commonly as The God of the Hebrews.
The Egyptians viewed Pharaoh as a god himself, and not merely a representative of the gods.
Pharaoh admitted to not knowing the God of the Hebrews. Maybe he figured God was just another one of the gods of the land.
Who is God to you? Is He a faraway God who lives in the heavens or a God who walks closer than a brother to you?
LET IT GROW
Charles Swindoll, in his Bible study guide, Moses, God's Man For a Crisis, says:
In this section of the narrative, a cycle of events is repeated three times. Each cycle is composed of an announcement, some reactions, expressed anger, and unjust blame.
Cycle One: Moses and Aaron announce to Pharaoh the demand of God, put in a form of a request (verse 3). Pharaoh refused, due to his labor force being lost. So his blame increased the work load of the Hebrews.
Cycle Two: Taskmasters and foremen carried out the new command, announced it to the Hebrew workers, who obediently responded. They couldn't keep up the same pace and gather straw, so the Egyptian taskmasters beat the Hebrew foremen, who blamed them for their peoples' failure (verse 14).
Cycle Three: The Hebrew foremen appealed to Pharaoh, but were accused of being lazy, then commanded them to return to work with out any changes. Then the foremen blamed Moses and Aaron for the difficult situation.
Isn't that the way it goes so often? People react with anger and blame others if a project failed or a situation turned south. The Hebrews could not see that this was God's way of strengthening them in preparation for the long journey through the wilderness.
Can we see God's hand on our life when things don't go our way? Do we blame others instead of surrendering to God?
LET IT GO
So I am not a slave to anything, let go of the thing that has me in bondage, a slave to it.
Inwardly search my heart and ask God to also.
Don't get angry and blame others for what is my responsibility.
Seek forgiveness.
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