Moses: Part 9 When You’ve Had a Bad Day

Moses

Part 9 – When You’ve Had a Bad Day

Exodus 5-6

Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’” Exodus 5:1

Moses got a heaping dose of and .

2 Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.” Exodus 2:2

3 Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword.” Exodus 5:3

Moses was following the God had given him; but Pharaoh was still not playing ball.

4 But the king of Egypt said, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!” 5 Then Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working.” 6 That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people: Exodus 5:4-6

7 “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. 8 But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ Exodus 5:7-8

9 Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.” Exodus 5:9

Pharaoh wanted this Moses mission before it got any traction!

10 Then the slave drivers and the overseers went out and said to the people, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you any more straw. 11 Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.’” 12 So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble to use for straw. 13 The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, “Complete the work required of you for each day, just as when you had straw.” Exodus 5:10-13

14 And Pharaoh’s slave drivers beat the Israelite overseers they had appointed, demanding, “Why haven’t you met your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?” 15 Then the Israelite overseers went and appealed to Pharaoh: Exodus 5:14-15

15 …“Why have you treated your servants this way? 16 Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.” Exodus 5:15-16

17 Pharaoh said, “Lazy, that’s what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18 Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks.” Exodus 5:17-18

The Israelite overseers are overwhelmed by and seething with !

19 The Israelite overseers realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day.” 20 When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, 21 and they said, “May the Lord look on you and judge you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” Exodus 5:19-21

Moses’ motives were and it hurt him to the core.

“There isn’t a leader in the world who holds that post for very long who isn’t compelled to stand alone.” — Charles Swindoll

22 Moses returned to the Lord…, Exodus 5:22a

22 …“Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? Exodus 5:22b

Moses asked the Lord two questions that you and I may ask when we find ourselves under intense pressure, feeling the pains of loneliness and insecurity:

1) ?

2) ?

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.” Exodus 6:1

God reassures and reminds Moses of His and ! (Ex: 6:2-8)

9 Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor. Exodus 6:9

Give Moses credit; he knew where to turn when life wasn’t going his way, and the Lord !

10 Then the Lord said to Moses, 11 “Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his country.” 12 But Moses said to the Lord, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips?” Exodus 6:10-12

God does His most amazing work when we find ourselves in an situation, utterly and unable to do it on our own!

God offers Moses two vital reminders in Exodus 6 to get help him get through this bad day:

1) God reminds Moses !

Without your eyes on the Lord, you will not be able to endure those days that go from bad to worse. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

2) God reminds Moses what !

God will always do what is for you.

13 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron about the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he commanded them to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. Exodus 6:13

When life takes a turn from bad to worse, we can can or we can !

Today’s Song List:

Glory Hallelujah

See A Victory

King Of My Heart

Great Are You Lord