| What vital lessons can we learn from these words | | | | You have not rescued Your people at all." |
| written around 3,300 years ago? There are many | | | | Only a man who is really secure in God can speak like |
| sound solid practical relevant lessons if we are willing | | | | this so boldly and courageously in prayer! Moses is |
| to make the time to understand. | | | | under tremendous pressure. There is the voice of |
| I have been reading and studying and teaching from | | | | Pharaoh, and there are the voices of his brethren. |
| the early Chapters of the exciting book of Exodus, | | | | Moses is caught between the uncompromising Word |
| and this scenario takes place in Chapter 5 as Moses | | | | of God, and reaction from some of the people of God |
| and Aaron go in to see Pharaoh and ask to be | | | | who did not know what God was doing. That is a |
| permitted to go and worship the Lord God Almighty. | | | | difficult position to be in. |
| Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord that I should obey | | | | Moses says nothing to Pharaoh or to his suffering |
| Him?" I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go. | | | | brethren who were misunderstanding all that was |
| Subject closed! | | | | going on. But Moses does go and talk with God and |
| Pharaoh thought he was the great I AM! And the | | | | uses that very strong language. |
| command is issued - verse 7 -no longer supply the | | | | "Lord, I have done what You told me to do, but You |
| people with straw for bricks! | | | | have not done what You said You were going to do." |
| This was Moses' first rebuff. Moses had better learn | | | | He does not dress up his words, nor does he |
| fast. There were going to be many more. | | | | suppress his feelings. |
| Moses heard - three "I"s - that of Pharaoh - the Israelis | | | | God speaks. This is the Voice Moses listen to and |
| - and Almighty God! | | | | pays attention to - not the voice of Pharaoh - and not |
| When you serve God and when you work for God, | | | | to the complaints of those who should have known |
| you can be up against things. If the situation had been | | | | better. |
| bad, now it was even worse. | | | | Moses listened to the Voice of God. These are |
| Have you noticed that too? As soon as the man of | | | | powerful reassuring words! |
| God intervenes, and speaks the Word of God, the | | | | I will - I am - I appeared - I made a promise - I have |
| situation can worsen within a very short period! As | | | | heard the groaning of the Israelites - I will bring you out |
| soon as the Word of God is proclaimed - as happens | | | | - I will free you - I will redeem you - with mighty acts of |
| here - burdens increase - suddenly. | | | | judgment - verse 6. On He goes - I will take you - I will |
| As soon the risen Lord Jesus Christ moves and | | | | be your God - I will bring you - I will give it to you as a |
| speaks and ministers in the Power of the Holy Spirit - | | | | possession! |
| problems multiply - with a few weeks or months - in | | | | What a dilemma to be in! Which "I" is governing your |
| some cases, within a few hours. | | | | life - which voice? |
| Straw made bricks dry quicker, and straw made | | | | There is the "I" of Pharaoh - or the "I" of Almighty God. |
| bricks lighter to carry. The clay now remained wet and | | | | Moses is going to listen to the "I AM". |
| heavy. | | | | We have here the Gospel according to Moses. God is |
| It was hard to keep up with the required quota - the | | | | acting. God is in action and responds to the 'whys' of |
| same number had to be supplied at the same rate - | | | | Moses. |
| and these workmen were accused of being 'lazy' - | | | | In Exodus Chapter 7 at verse 1, the anointing upon |
| and of being liars. | | | | Moses and the authority which Moses receives |
| This was result - the consequence - of the appearing | | | | becomes even greater, and he needs it because he is |
| and the coming of two men of God. | | | | facing evil.. |
| When the quota was not kept up, the Israeli foremen | | | | From verse 8 there is a demonstration of the power |
| were beaten. They appealed to Pharaoh, but he would | | | | of God. If Pharaoh will not pay attention to the mighty |
| have none of it, just repeating his allegations. | | | | power of God through Moses, then it will be not just a |
| Then the Israeli foremen came to Moses and Aaron, | | | | demonstration, but there will be destruction. |
| and cursed the men of God. | | | | In they go to meet with Pharaoh - two old men and a |
| Moses was being cursed by his brethren, and all he | | | | lump of wood! |
| was doing was obeying the Lord God. He had been | | | | What a tussle ensues. The evil one can perform |
| cursed by his wife, and now he was being cursed by | | | | miracles too, and very similar miracles. But the miracles |
| his kinsmen. | | | | of the living God were greater than the miracles of the |
| The call of God is upon his life, but he has to endure | | | | evil one. |
| real sore suffering - mental agony and anguish. It is as | | | | God demonstrated His Power to swallow up and kill |
| if the day goes from bad to worse! There is a very | | | | and remove - and make disappear - but Pharaoh |
| real leadership crisis! The people blamed Moses, and | | | | would not listen. Ten dreadful plagues followed. |
| Moses blames God! | | | | The man or woman with a hardened heart is seldom |
| Moses does what is best at such a moment. He turns | | | | moved or impressed and convinced by signs and |
| to God in prayer. "Lord, why have you brought trouble | | | | miracles. It has to be the grace and mercy of Jesus |
| upon this people? Lord, all it has been is trouble - and | | | | Christ and the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. |