Bad To Worse To Wonderful

“You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw.”  Exodus 5:7

Sometimes things go from bad to worse for no apparent reason—at least not what seems like a good one.

The Israelites felt this way when Moses showed up and their circumstances went down. Moses came back to Egypt to encourage God’s people and confront Pharaoh, but instead of deliverance, all they got was double duty.  “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota”(Exodus 5:7-8).

The demands were impossible, and unbuilt bricks meant beaten backs.  The Jews were furious at God’s messenger and minced no words. “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 5:21). Moses was befuddled and cried out to God.  “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all”(Exodus 5:22-23).

“Why, Lord, why?  You haven’t done what You said, and this makes no sense.”  It’s an honest prayer—and not a bad one, but even as we say it, we can be sure the answer lies in the name of the God to whom we call.

“Lord.” There is One who is above us and over us, whose ways are not ours to decide and determine, and who sometimes orchestrates circumstances that don’t make much sense from our side.  But when all we can see is suffering and sorrow, we must remember that the One who is above us and over us is also in us and for us, and the God who cares about the lifespan of simple sparrows is, without doubt, concerned about His own children. “Don’t be afraid.  You are worth more than many sparrows”(Matthew 10:31).

As we read the Exodus story, we want to tell the dejected slaves, “Don’t despair!  Deliverance is coming!  Just wait until the next chapter!” and we would do well to take that same advice. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all”(2 Corinthians 4:17).  We are not disposable pawns in an arbitrary celestial chess match being moved and removed with little calculation, but we are dear and precious children, redeemed from the worst form of slavery at the highest possible price and now being prepared for a glorious eternity. Our God will do all He has said, but the “hows” and “when” are up to Him to tell and us to trust.

So when life goes from bad to worse for reasons you can’t figure out, know that no matter what happens now, the wonderful is coming later.  Keep waiting.  Keep trusting.  Keep calling out to the One who hears and is here.

And remember that He is Lord.

 

God Cares

 “And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.”  Exodus 4:31

“Nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen.  Nobody knows but Jesus.”  In our younger years, my sister and I often crooned this mournful tune when our mom ruined a perfectly good Saturday with countless chores. Though mopping and dusting caused much distress, she did not seem the least bit moved by our misery, so we sang all the louder and took solace in the fact that at least heaven heard our cries—and cared.

Now that I’m older, I’m not so sure housekeeping makes the list of life’s hardships, but lots of other legitimate trials and troubles do, and during those times it’s comforting to know that even if others don’t notice, God sees and God cares.

The Israelites doubted this during the many years their bodies ached from the bitter labor of brickmaking, city building, and crop gathering.  Their freedom had been stolen through slavery by “Egyptians who worked them ruthlessly”(Exodus 1:14), and their lives were harsh, hot, and hopeless.

Then Moses showed up with miracles and a message—God cares.  “And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped”(Exodus 4:31).  With tears rolling down tired faces and calloused hands lifted high in praise, they knelt before the One who had seen every lash, heard every cry, noted every abuse, listened to every sigh—and cared.  “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him”(Nahum 1:7).

Sometimes we take God’s care for granted and fail to be awed that the God who is so far above us is so concerned with us—“What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?(Psalm 8:4), but more often we get so focused on our fretting that we forget the love of our Father and fail to take advantage of His open heart and strong arms—“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”(1 Peter 5:7).

Often it is true that nobody but Jesus knows your troubles, but without doubt and with great delight, you can be sure that He does.  Bow in worship and lift your praise.  The Almighty God cares for you and cares about you.

And that’s a tune you can croon with joy!

God's Got This

“Aaron is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you.”  Exodus 4:14

In spite of his staff turning from stick to snake and back to staff, in spite of his hand being covered with leprosy and then becoming clean, in spite of the promise of God’s presence, the detailed instructions, and the divine security of success, Moses still balked at the bottom line.  He just didn’t want to go, and he told God so.  “Then Moses said, ‘O Lord, please send someone else to do it’”(Exodus 4:13). 

God was mad (justifiably so), but He showed great mercy (and patience) and made a provision.  “What about your brother, Aaron? I know he can speak well.  He is already on his way to meet you”(Exodus 4:14).  Whoa and Wow. God knew this would happen, and He already had it covered.  He knew that Moses would hem and haw and hesitate and try to hand the job off to someone else, so before He ignited the bush, God inspired the brother.  “Aaron is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you.”

Oh, the supremacy and sovereignty of God!!  He’s got this—this thing called life.  Nothing happens without His knowledge.  Nothing occurs without His consent.  He is not surprised by our hesitations, stunned by our refusals, or stumped by our concerns.  Our actions and reactions can never thwart His plan or purpose for He knows what we will say, what we will do, and what we simply won’t.  And in His great grace, He doesn’t give up on His own.

To help Moses out, God already had Aaron on the way, and He gave the guarantee of continued guidance and support. “I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do”(Exodus 4:15).  In all our circumstances of life—even those where we’re uncommitted or undecided, God graciously provides and patiently assures. So when you just don’t want to but know you should, rest assured that help is already on the way.

God’s got this.

Go with Him.