Moses – The Making of a LeaderSample

Day Seven: Moses before Pharaoh

Thoughts on the Passage

What do we do when obedience to God causes problems, not blessings?

Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh and tell him what God has told them to speak – Pharaoh is not impressed. In fact, he chooses to increase the pain on the Israelite people because they dare to seek relief. The people are already under slavery – and now it is going to get even harsher. The people had a glimpse of hope and now that is brutally dashed. 

With this promise by God; this rejection by Pharaoh; this failure of God’s promise to get Pharaoh to submit; and this rejection of Moses (God’s messenger) by the people – all point to Moses as a failure. 

It was a crushing blow to Moses. It was not what Moses expected God to do.

It is truth from a human perspective. It is not reality though. God is just setting the stage for the work that He is about to do. 

God has promised Israel that they will come out of Egypt. The people see the mountain – not the promise. The mountain is bigger than they understand. The mountain is more dangerous than they expected. It is a reality that they don’t understand. The reality of God’s promise has not yet really taken root in their hearts.

The challenge is to see the reality of God’s promises in a world where those promises make no sense.

Application to our Life

Go back again and look at the promises God has given to you. Have you given up on promises God gave you – but the world has crushed?

Have you seen the world impose harsher penalties because you trust God’s promises and declare them? 

How has your heart responded to the promises of God?

Time to Pray
Father, it is not just me that faces greater opposition just because I choose to follow You and believe Your promises. Many of God’s people face this today. I ask in Jesus’ name that You strengthen our hearts to keep trusting You and Your character. Help us to put our trust in Your heart and the promises that You give. I am tired of believing that Your promises to me are not true or that they will not come to pass – whether now for me or to another generation. I know what my eyes see. I know that the obstacles are huge and real. I know my God as well. I choose to believe that the promises of my Father are greater. I also know my heart – it fails to walk in what my mind is telling me. So today I ask for strength – because tomorrow I will see the promise start to unfold. In Jesus' name, Amen.