January 14 - Exodus 5-8
Moses and Aaron set out to accomplish God's mission for them. They go from worshiping with the Hebrews into the presence of Pharaoh. It doesn't take long for them to come down from the mountain top experience of worshiping with people who believe God, when they are confronted by the brash unbelief of Pharaoh. Pharaoh proudly proclaims, "I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go." (5:2) They found out that their mission was not going to be quick and easy. God had already warned them of this in chapter 3 and verse 19, but it is easy to forget God's warnings when we get excited and ready to see His work done. Now, the people begin to complain, and Moses questions God and gets discouraged himself. What is God doing?
Have you noticed that God does His work in a process that will lead to His complete results. This process often takes time and some suffering. We must not be discouraged and quit when the going gets tough. We must continue to trust what God told us in the beginning, until He tells us something else. That is what Moses does eventually, but he has to reassure the people that God is working even when things don't go as we would plan them. (6:6-9) They people did not take the reassurance well, because they let their anguish override their trust in God's plan. Don't let that happen to you!
Then, even when Moses worked the signs God gave him to perform for Pharaoh, the magicians could simulate the same things. That must have been a rude awakening for Moses. How was this happening? God had given him these powers to convince Pharaoh, but Satan was giving a counter punch, and Pharaoh was believing Satan. That is usually what happens. Satan will not give up without a fight, and often people who do not know God will listen to Satan before they will turn to the Lord. Again, we must not be discouraged and quit. God will prevail if we continue to trust Him. Finally, (8:18,19) the magicians could not keep up with God, and they admitted that Moses' sign was the act of God not man's trickery. Still Pharaoh was so proud he did not listen. That is how pride works to keep many people from God even though they see clear evidence of God's power.
I urge you to keep trusting God, because even though you will still have trouble God will make a difference between those who believe and those who don't. (8:23) The punishments for the unbelievers will not fall on the believers who are walking with God. Yes, He will discipline as a loving Father when you sin to bring you back to Him, but if you walk with Him, your life will be free of His plagues for unbelief and rebellion. All around us we see people who are experiencing God's loving judgment, but they harden their hearts against God like Pharaoh did, and God has to keep punishing their sin in an effort to get them to repent and turn to Him. All the while the lives of the believers should stand in contrast to their afflictions. They should see us like the Egyptians saw the Hebrews and ask themselves, "why are these things happening to me, but not to them?"
I think a good example of this is the condition of the church in China. I am reading a book on Church Planting Movements. The book says that China is the home of the fastest growing church in the world and to the most church planting movements. How could this happen in a communist country that rejects Christianity and persecutes Christians? Why isn't America the home of the fastest growing church and the most church planting movements today? The Christians in China are persecuted as were the Israelites in Egypt, but in the midst of their suffering, God has poured out His blessings on them. The people can see the difference Christ makes in their lives, and they want to know their Savior and Lord, even though they know when they become a Christian, it could cause them to suffer. In America the believers are not trusting God. Many are living in sin, so God can't really bless their families. When unbelievers see them, they don't see a difference. Therefore, they don't see the need to become a Christian.
I am praying that we will start trusting God and see a revival in the church in America. Could it be that it will take a little persecution to bring this about? I hope not, but God's process is not easy. He is looking for the end result. Let's ask God to show us what to do and trust Him to empower us to do it, even if it is difficult. It is all worth it, if we see God work and His Kingdom expanded.
Have you noticed that God does His work in a process that will lead to His complete results. This process often takes time and some suffering. We must not be discouraged and quit when the going gets tough. We must continue to trust what God told us in the beginning, until He tells us something else. That is what Moses does eventually, but he has to reassure the people that God is working even when things don't go as we would plan them. (6:6-9) They people did not take the reassurance well, because they let their anguish override their trust in God's plan. Don't let that happen to you!
Then, even when Moses worked the signs God gave him to perform for Pharaoh, the magicians could simulate the same things. That must have been a rude awakening for Moses. How was this happening? God had given him these powers to convince Pharaoh, but Satan was giving a counter punch, and Pharaoh was believing Satan. That is usually what happens. Satan will not give up without a fight, and often people who do not know God will listen to Satan before they will turn to the Lord. Again, we must not be discouraged and quit. God will prevail if we continue to trust Him. Finally, (8:18,19) the magicians could not keep up with God, and they admitted that Moses' sign was the act of God not man's trickery. Still Pharaoh was so proud he did not listen. That is how pride works to keep many people from God even though they see clear evidence of God's power.
I urge you to keep trusting God, because even though you will still have trouble God will make a difference between those who believe and those who don't. (8:23) The punishments for the unbelievers will not fall on the believers who are walking with God. Yes, He will discipline as a loving Father when you sin to bring you back to Him, but if you walk with Him, your life will be free of His plagues for unbelief and rebellion. All around us we see people who are experiencing God's loving judgment, but they harden their hearts against God like Pharaoh did, and God has to keep punishing their sin in an effort to get them to repent and turn to Him. All the while the lives of the believers should stand in contrast to their afflictions. They should see us like the Egyptians saw the Hebrews and ask themselves, "why are these things happening to me, but not to them?"
I think a good example of this is the condition of the church in China. I am reading a book on Church Planting Movements. The book says that China is the home of the fastest growing church in the world and to the most church planting movements. How could this happen in a communist country that rejects Christianity and persecutes Christians? Why isn't America the home of the fastest growing church and the most church planting movements today? The Christians in China are persecuted as were the Israelites in Egypt, but in the midst of their suffering, God has poured out His blessings on them. The people can see the difference Christ makes in their lives, and they want to know their Savior and Lord, even though they know when they become a Christian, it could cause them to suffer. In America the believers are not trusting God. Many are living in sin, so God can't really bless their families. When unbelievers see them, they don't see a difference. Therefore, they don't see the need to become a Christian.
I am praying that we will start trusting God and see a revival in the church in America. Could it be that it will take a little persecution to bring this about? I hope not, but God's process is not easy. He is looking for the end result. Let's ask God to show us what to do and trust Him to empower us to do it, even if it is difficult. It is all worth it, if we see God work and His Kingdom expanded.