Today’s Reading: Exodus 5-6, Psalm 42
HAVE YOU EVER ACCUSED GOD OF DOING NOTHING?
Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? Ever since I came to Pharoah as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!” – Exodus 5:22-23
So let me ask again — Have you ever been so bold as to accuse God Almighty of doing nothing?
Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, just as God told them to do, but Pharoah did not react the way the Israelites expected. God did not provide in the way and in the time His people thought He would. Instead of letting the Israelites go, Pharoah increased the workload by making the people provide their own straw for making the bricks. The workers took their anger out on Moses and he took his confusion out on God. God had a plan and He was about to move in such a way that the Hebrew nation would NEVER forget.
“…You can be sure that I have heard the groans of the people of Israel, who are now slaves to the Egyptians. And I am well aware of my covenant with them. Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt. I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your very own possession. I am the Lord!” – Exodus 6:5-8
HE IS THE GOD WHO RESCUES, WHO PROVIDES AND WHO SAVES!
What a powerful word from God! Yet the people were too discouraged by their circumstances to find hope in God’s promises, too consumed by their own pain to see the capacity of God to rescue them and too stubborn to wait on God’s perfect timing and plan.
I think this would be a good time to simply stop and self-reflect. Does this describe me? Too discouraged to find hope, too consumed to see God, too stubborn to simply wait for God to move.
“Oh God, my rock,” I cry, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?” Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”
Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again — my Savior and my God! – Psalm 42:9-11
God, when I am tempted to accuse you of doing nothing, help me to remember ALL that you have done in my life — according to your plan and in your time. You are the God who rescues, who provides and who saves. Thank you for your presence in my life! To you be all the glory! Amen.