Monday: A Rough Start
Daily Lesson for Monday 14th of July 2025
Though Moses must have known, even from the beginning, that what the Lord had tasked him with was not going to be easy (hence his attempts to get out of it), he probably had no idea of what was coming.
Read Exodus 5:3-23. What were the immediate results of Moses and Aaron’s first recorded encounter with Pharaoh?
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Even before going to Pharaoh, Moses and Aaron gathered the elders and people of Israel, told them God’s words, and showed them God’s signs, which resulted in Israel’s believing that the Lord would deliver them from their slavery. Thus, they worshiped the Lord (Exodus 4:29-31). Expectations surely were high: the Lord was going to deliver the Hebrew people from their bondage—finally!
Moses then went to the king of Egypt with God’s demands, and things became even worse for the Israelites. Their suffering increased, and their daily labor became more burdensome and demanding. They were accused of being lazy; they were treated more harshly; and their service became more difficult than it had already been.
Their leaders were not happy, and the confrontation between them and Moses and Aaron was ugly, and (as we will later see) it simply portended the kind of conflicts Moses would have with his own people for years to come.
Read Exodus 5:21, and then put yourself in the place of these men as they confronted Moses and Aaron. Why would they say what they did?
It’s not that hard to see why they would have been upset with Moses (“ ‘Let the Lord look on you and judge,’ ” they said). They thought Moses was coming to free them from the Egyptians, not to make their lives under the Egyptians even harder.
Thus, besides dealing with the Egyptians, Moses and Aaron had to deal with their own people, as well.
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What are some better ways you and others might be able to deal with local church leaders when disagreements arise, as they inevitably do? |
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How many times do we hear the adage, "It gets worse before it gets better!"? My Dad had his own version of it as he handed out the pitchforks at hay-making time, "It's all part of the toughening-up process!" And even our politicians admit that sometimes we have to suffer a bit of pain to become great again.
Moses learned quickly that being called by God did not solve all the problems. His biggest task was convincing the Hebrews that leaving Egypt really was possible. And his first steps were seriously misread. They rebelled. Not a good start.
I am reminded of my sheep-minding days. The flock had been in a paddock for several days and had grazed it down to the ground, so I would be sent, with the dogs to move them to another paddock full of rich clover and rye grass. In sheep terms that should have been party time. But sheep are stubborn creatures and like to maintain the status quo. I would round them up and bring them to the open gate, where they would stamp their feet and refuse to budge. I have even seen them head-butt the dogs. it often took a fair degree of subterfuge to coax the sheep though the gate.
Even though Moses had been shepherding for 40 years, I am sure he found the Hebrews to be stubbornly complex.
The lesson author asks questions about our modern local church in this context. Too many of my friends read my comments for me to quote examples, but I think I can add that human behaviour has not changed all that much between the Exodus and now.
Isaiah has something to say about sheep that is pertinent to this discussion:
Life had become more harder and more miserable after Moses had requested Pharaoh to let the Hebrew people go and worship their God in the wilderness. This request triggered more brutality from the Egyptian slave masters. This request was even seen as an excuse not to work and earned them a label for being lazy people (Exod. 5:17-18). More pain followed the request, and this increased animosity between Moses and his own people. What was meant to be the start of good times to come, unfortunately, added salt to the injury. What was meant to be a hopeful turning point turns into increased suffering and disillusionment. From this unfortunate episode, what spiritual lessons can we learn?
1. Obedience does not bring instant relief from earthly miseries. In fact, obedience leads to greater trials before deliverance comes (1 Peter 4:12).
2. God’s plans quite often include times of testing. Moses’ faith was tested, and the Israelites’ trust in God was put on trial. The testing of our faith produces patience (James 1:3)
3. God is still in control even when situations seem to be worsening. The worse the situation, the greater the glory to God when deliverance comes (Exodus 6:1)
4. God’s deliverance is more often a process than instant coffee! We must learn to trust God in every stage of the process. “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…” (Philippians 1:6)
5. Discouragement and frustration are a real part of a believer’s experience. Moses was discouraged and questioned God’s calling. “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Galatians 6:9)
God sees our pain and responds in His time. His promises are sure, and His deliverance will be at the right time.
GOD be praised bro. Omwenga for your thoughtful post. It was an encouraging answer to my situation
thank you
I am incredibly blessed by this. Thank you!
In the aviation industry practice every pilot needs guidance. A plane, no matter how advanced, needs the control tower for direction, for safety. In case taking off without guidance it is a sure way to have a rough and turbulent start. Over 2,000 years ago, God gave us more than just direction, He gave us a Savior in the name of his son Emmanuel God with us. Jesus Christ came not to simply give instructions, but to take control and bring us safely home. He calmed the winds, walked on water, and healed the broken—not just to prove who He was, but to invite us to trust Him completely.
Many of us still live like pilots flying without a flight plan. They’re confident in their own skills, their own altitude, and their own direction, but they have no real connection to the control tower. In Exodus 5:2, Pharaoh asked, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice? I don't know Jehovah” That same attitude is alive today. People speak of God but ignore His Word. They rely on personal success, ambition, and inherited religion while flying blind to eternal truth. No winder we have many false starts and takeoffs in our engagements as christians in our mission!
Who is this Lord? He’s the divine Pilot who never crashes, never loses signal, and never leaves us stranded. While many are still asking “Who is the Lord?” the answer is clear. He is Jesus, the Son of God, the only way to the Father (John 14:6). If we surrender the cockpit of our lives to Him, He will take us higher than we ever imagined and safely land us into eternity.
Our Altitude depends on our Attitude!
A rough start is apropos to today's lesson. The Pharaoh of the time, Tut the 3rd of the king of Egypt, the most powerful nation on earth, took revenge. To the Israelites Moses was making trouble for them. They had to work harder. They were in need of trusting in God.
"What are some better ways you and others might be able to deal with local church leaders when disagreements arise, as they inevitably do? " Do we need a red sea experience to trust in God? No!
We look how the Lord has led His people in the past.
Answer: Work harder, to be loving, kind, live an upright life day by day, ask the leaders what can I do, I pay an honest tithe, I walk right with the Lord, by God's grace He keeps me from being a hypocrite.
Don't murmur, trust the Lord will work things out, pray about it. Take the issue to the leader in private. Pray about it again. Don't let the issue dominate your life, by not bringing it up in public. Dwelling on negative issues are detrimental to the soul. Like many husbands and wife's policy, don't go to bed without resolving(dropping) an argument. The next day will be a peaceful one, because you slept on it, putting it to rest. Trust that God is directing our leaders and don't hold against them decisions you disagree with, of which many times you can't control. God is in control, even through troublesome times. Christ predicted we who profess His will, will have troublesome times.
Montanya Dan, I can relate to your illustration, Christ is indeed my pilot. He calls me to be his copilot, handling the communication with others for instruction and encouragement. Okay, some day we are going to fly through space, landing on a planet close to the Orion to rest on the Seventh-day Sabbath, joining in worship with song and praise for the Maker of the universe, then on Sunday, flying on to land on the sea of glass our home for 1000 years. So, we carry on with our daily life, living the Christian life, praising God for the times he carried us through the rough times, and the good times when He has kept us from deviating from His flight plan.
A Rough Start demonstrates the conflict that arises from within and without... even when you are doing God's work ...even when you have followed the right steps... even when you have gathered the pray team (the Elders of Israel )to continue to pray for success...even when you have told them and showed them God's signs; sadly opposition, distrust will arise; conflict from within is heart wrenching! How do we negate that? first by remembering that nothing in life is neutral, there is a cosmic conflict over every issue that pertains to a Christian life. One of the Hebrews' issues is that they saw the man Moses as coming to liberate them and so they have to spend some time now to reorient their thinking and see the all powerful God as the the Deliverer. It will do good for us to remember that God brings solution on His terms and in His time. His ways are not our ways Isaiah 55: 8 but trust the "Never Lost A Squirmish Yet" God. One of my favourite quotes is apt here... Ask, then; ask, and ye shall receive. Ask for humility, wisdom, courage, increase of faith. To every sincere prayer an answer will come. It may not come just as you desire, or at the time you look for it; but it will come in the way and at the time that will best meet your need. The prayers you offer in loneliness, in weariness, in trial, God answers, not always according to your expectations, but always for your good.—(Gospel Workers, 258.)
My prayer is Lord help me not to make the same mistake made by the soon to be liberated Isrealites but help me to be assured that if God is leading, in spite of rising storms He will calm the billows and a safe landing is guaranteed 💯 amen.
It's time to pray. Whenever we can, praying is the best attitude. God is willing to give His most precious gift, the Holy Spirit, an abundance of wisdom and knowledge, not as the world gives. Why would God give something different to those who ask Him for mercy?
When Moses obeyed God and demanded Israel’s release, their suffering increased—more work, harsher treatment, and accusations of laziness. This parallels what often happens after a person surrenders to Christ.
1. Increased Opposition – Just as Pharaoh resisted, Satan intensifies his attacks on new believers. Life may get harder before it gets better.
2. Criticism and Misunderstanding – Like the Israelites being called “lazy,” believers may be labeled fanatics or ridiculed for their faith.
3. Greater Burdens – The trials may grow heavier, not lighter. But this is part of God's refining process.
4. God is Still at Work – Even when things seem worse, God is moving behind the scenes to bring about full deliverance.
5. The Path to Freedom Begins with Struggle – Just as Israel’s journey to the Promised Land began in hardship, the Christian walk starts with challenges but ends in eternal victory.
Surrendering to Christ may invite trials, but they are signs of a real spiritual battle—and of God’s plan unfolding in your life.
In 1973 in Stockholm, Sweden, bank robbers held 4 bank clerks hostage for 6 days. In court, the 4 released hostages refused to testify against their captors, and even raised money for their defense! What was going on?! This historic bank heist event is where the term "Stockholm Syndrome" came from. It is a psychological state of mind where captives are in denial that the captors are the "bad guys". In their minds, the captor is the person who is going to let them live. One of the bank employees explained that during the gun crossfire, the police pointed their guns at the convicts while the hostages were in the line of fire and it was the robbers who protected them from harm. Also, she claimed that the prime minister would rather see the captives die then to give in to the robbers' demands, while she herself had negotiated with her captors for freedom.
This reminds me of today's lesson. In Ex.5:15-16, I read that the beaten Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh to negotiate and appeal for mercy. They even repeatedly called themselves his servants! Why weren't they afraid to go to him? What was Pharaoh's response? Predictable. Gaslighting, blaming the victim and twisting the narrative to make himself out to be the morally superior one. "You are lazy," he probably bellowed, his cruel, unsympathetic face contorting.
So, at this point did the Israelite foremen realize their mistake and turn to God for help? Nope, they got angry at their rescuers, accusing Moses and Aaron of causing them trouble, of putting them in the crossfire in this battle between good and evil (Ex. 5:20-21). In contrast, we read that as the abuse piled on to Moses, he turned to God for comfort and relief (Ex. 5:22-23). Moses didn't go to Pharaoh to renegotiate, or try to rationalize with the Israelite leaders..."Come on guys, stop blaming me."
So why did they see Moses as more of a threat than Pharaoh? Why did they speak deferentially to Pharaoh but threateningly to Moses? Could it be that their worldview and goals were more in line with Pharaoh and Egypt than with Moses and God?
We read in Ex.2:23 that the Israelites groaned and cried out in their bondage. It says God heard their cry, but were they crying out to God? What did they really want? Did they want freedom from Egypt and to fulfill God's promise to bring them out to their own land? Or did they just want freedom from discomfort and want a more comfortable, easy life in Egypt? Just live under the radar, continue to multiply but not cause any agitation, live out the good old days of Joseph's time when the choice between assimilating and being a separate holy people was not brought to a head. Whose vision did they see as more of a threat to their well-being? Did it seem easier to stick with the captors and get fed (Num.11:5)...who cares if they have to ask for permission for everything and endure a little abuse...or was their dream to step out into a place where they could really live out God's abundant life for them in freedom?
I think it's important to realize that God could have freed Israel without a struggle involving them....could have just miraculously teleported them to the Promised Land without all the fuss of plagues, the painting lamb's blood on the doorposts, and a wilderness journey. Now THAT is something I think they would have voted "yes" on. That's probably what they had in mind when they rejoiced and worshiped in Ex.4:31. Watch Moses and God do tricks with his rod. Spectator salvation. But God allows and invites us to participate in the struggle between good and evil in our salvation story. Wants to sharpen our desire for Him and build faith. Wants to wean us off of Egypt until it is not a lure anymore and we see idolatry for the threat it is. Is this our goal and dream, too?