Scripture:

“God said to Moses, ‘Now you’ll see what I’ll do to Pharaoh: With a strong hand he’ll send them out free; with a strong hand he’ll drive them out of his land.’

God continued speaking to Moses, reassuring him, ‘I am God. I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as The Strong God, but by my name God (I-Am-Present) I was not known to them. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the country in which they lived as sojourners. But now I’ve heard the groanings of the Israelites whom the Egyptians continue to enslave and I’ve remembered my covenant. Therefore tell the Israelites:

 

‘I am God. I will bring you out from under the cruel hard labor of Egypt. I will rescue you from slavery. I will redeem you, intervening with great acts of judgment. I’ll take you as my own people and I’ll be God to you. You’ll know that I am God, your God who brings you out from under the cruel hard labor of Egypt. I’ll bring you into the land that I promised to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and give it to you as your own country. I AM God.’

But when Moses delivered this message to the Israelites, they didn’t even hear him—they were that beaten down in spirit by the harsh slave conditions. Then God said to Moses, ‘Go and speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt so that he will release the Israelites from his land.’

 

Moses answered God, ‘Look—the Israelites won’t even listen to me. How do you expect Pharaoh to? And besides, I stutter.’

 

But God again laid out the facts to Moses and Aaron regarding the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he again commanded them to lead the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.” Exodus 6:1-13 (MSG)

Perspective:

Moses had gone to Pharaoh to initially ask him to release the Israelites from slavery. When Pharaoh heard their request, he tightened his rule over the Israelites by creating even more harsh conditions under which to work. The Israelites were very upset with Moses and Aaron, and Moses cried out to God. God responded with the same promise of deliverance he had given Moses in the wilderness. God’s specific message for the people wasn’t received by them, because there was no physical evidence of a change in their circumstances. They were tired, weary, and discouraged. Their situation went from bad to worse, and they couldn’t receive God’s direction because they were so weighed down by their circumstances. God had given them a promise and a plan, but the Israelites kept seeing the problems. Furthermore, God’s promise would not change as plague after plague were poured out on the Egyptians. After the initial request, Moses couldn’t have anticipated the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart and how many times he would have to keep following God, even when it looked like nothing was going to change. Did God not realize that their meeting with Pharaoh had made everything worse for the Israelites? Additionally, Moses didn’t want to go back because of his inability to speak clearly, but Moses’ perceived disqualifications did not negate the promises or plan of God. God’s promise didn’t change based on their changing circumstances. Even when God kept repeating His promise to Moses, he struggled to believe. Yet, God was setting the people up to experience great provision by eventually being able to plunder the Egyptians and witness the miraculous parting of the Red Sea. God was working. He was bringing an answer, and He gave them His promise to sustain them even when it seemed inconceivable that anything would ever change.

 

The reality of our circumstances can impact our ability to believe God. When God takes us on a long journey, we can become discouraged. How many times in our own lives do we struggle with believing God because all we see are our problems? When we face a difficult situation and pray for God’s deliverance, there is sometimes a waiting period where God is working in the details behind the scenes. But, our circumstances don’t have to change for us to believe God for His deliverance, restoration, protection, provision, or healing. Just because it becomes increasingly difficult doesn’t mean that God has left you. He actually may be closer than ever before. God knew that the Israelites would need this promise time after time when Pharaoh wouldn’t let them go. God knows the promises you need to hold onto as well. Don’t give up on the first time, third time, or tenth time. If God has promised it, then He is able to fulfill it. When you pray and see no change, allow faith to rise in your heart. God’s working in our situations is not based on what we can initially see. He is strategically working behind the scenes.

Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002.  Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. 

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About Hona Amer

I help people live life to the fullest. Check out my book, Smart Work U. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. In order to receive updates, subscribe below.

 

 

 

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