Moses: Day 11

Monday, September 13

Moses: Called, Challenged, Changed

The Big Picture

Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharoah 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 desert.'"

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 5:1-2

Suggested reading: Exodus 5:1-23

The setting of our study of Moses has changed from the mountain of God in Midian to Pharoah’s palace in Egypt. Moses and Aaron were following God’s orders, and just as God foretold, Pharoah resisted. Why would he listen to the commands of a God that he didn’t even know? He was not having any of it.

As a matter of fact, Pharoah enforced the reversal of freedom. By his command, the Israelite’s workload became even harder; no straw was provided for the Hebrews in their brick making. The slaves had to gather their own AND keep up with the required daily quota. They all scrambled to find straw.

The overall run-down was this: When the slaves didn’t meet their quota, the Israelite foremen went to Pharoah, who didn’t listen and deemed them lazy. As a result, these foremen found Moses and Aaron, and accused them of all the trouble that had been brought on the Hebrews. Moses, in turn, complained to God:

"O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharoah to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued them at all” (v. 22-23).

Thoughts:

So far, not so good. Moses was in a quandary. Things were not going according to his wishful, quick exit strategy. I’m certain he wanted to get in and out of Egypt both heroically and trial free. And I don’t blame him! Who wouldn’t want “smooth sailing” in a calling, a job, a relationship? (The discouragement for the Israelites continue for another whole chapter in Scripture, where Moses ends up circling back to his own insecurity issues, “Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharoah listen to me?” Ex. 6:30). Hmmm, do we ever circle back to self?

This portion of Moses’ story reminded me of a post I wrote years ago entitled “The Big Picture.” It’s about a VERY different situation than Moses and the Hebrew slaves, but it has a similar lesson. At one point in time, my son was a collegiate golfer at University of Cincinnati. My husband Mac and I enjoyed following Davis around the different tournaments. On one cold Cincinnati day, NOTHING seemed to be going Davis’ way. I kept trying to “will” his little white ball into the hole for him, but to no avail. As I was walking, and brooding “in prayer,” I took a step back from my golf-ball-stare-down and it was as if the Lord lifted my chin. I opened up my eyes a little wider to see the beautiful golf course… the towering trees… the hovering clouds… my strong son. I heard the Lord whisper, “Chris, remember the big picture.” Suddenly the little white golf ball gained proper perspective.

When things are not going the way we want, and when we are met with resistance from the enemy, let’s remember that our trials today are the refining process for tomorrow. God was/is way more concerned about my son’s developing character than he is about a ball going into a hole every time I want it to. And in Moses’ case, God was way more concerned about the Hebrews’ freedom from slavery than providing more straw for brick-making in their bondage.

Trust the Lord in trials, in set-backs, in resistance. Remember his promises! He always has the big picture in mind for you and for me.

Going deeper and sweeter: Psalm 119:71; James 1:2-4; Romans 8:28

Dear Lord,

Forgive us when we have tunnel vision, seeing only the immediate. Remind us that you are at work in our lives and it is a long sanctifying process. Groom and grow us into your likeness, which is “the big picture” of our lives. Amen.