Exodus 5: When things get worse (Day 53)

Pray

Lord, prepare me to receive your word. Clear my mind and warm my heart. Assure me of your loving purposes for me, and speak into my life today.

Read

Exodus 5 Luke 8 Job 22 1 Corinthians 9

Daily reflection: Exodus 5

The people of Israel are not, taken as a body, shining examples of discipleship. They're constantly shown as complaining, faint-hearted and faithless. All this begins here ­– Pharaoh, asked by Moses to let his people go, responds by launching a wave of oppression against them; the Israelite foremen tell Moses, ‘You have given them an excuse to kill us’ (verse 21).

To be fair, they have some basis for their accusation. Their oppression has got worse, and it's not clear that Moses really knows what he's doing. Moses' own faith wavers, and he blames God for the situation (verses 22–23).

There are times in our lives when all we seem to have are promises that one day, things will get better – and they don't. Whatever is oppressing us – illness, unemployment, problems with relationships or at work, or just a consciousness of our failures and inadequacies – weighs heavily on us, grinding us down more and more with every passing day. What can we do? What is God doing?

This chapter is comforting – God's people can complain, and he is big enough to take it. But it also reminds us of the harsh realities of life. When we're oppressed, well-meaning Christian friends can respond by trying to cheer us up or reminding us of encouraging Bible verses. Sometimes, though, we just want someone to acknowledge how hard it is for us; and then, perhaps, they can remind us of God's words to Moses: ‘Now you are going to see what I will do’ (Exodus 6.1).

Pray

God, when I am at the end of my tether, help me to remember that others have been there before me. Thank you that you hear my cry; please give me the faith to believe you will save me.