Not What I Was Expecting

Introduction:

A missionary couple once brought some African pastors to the Unites States for a big meeting. During their free time, these pastors wanted to go shopping. Even though they were in a small town, the missionary knew there was a chance one of them might have some difficulty finding their way around or get lost. So the missionary gave each pastor his phone number in case of an emergency. In less than an hour the missionary’s phone rang and one of the pastors said, “I am lost.”

The missionary replied, “Lay the phone down, go to the street corner, find out the names of the two streets, and come back and tell me.” In a few minutes the African pastor returned and reported, “I am at the corner of ‘Walk’ and ‘Don’t Walk.’”

I start with that funny story to set the scene on where we are going in today’s teaching. Last week, you read in small groups that Moses left for Egypt to tell his fellow brothers that the Lord had sent him to free them from their oppression and to confront Pharaoh. Tonight, we will be looking at the first confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh, and let’s say it doesn’t go according to Moses or the Israelites plan, but it will go exactly the way God intended it to go.

Open up your bibles to Exodus 5 as we listen to the reading of God’s word and pray.

Exodus 5–6:1 CSB

Later, Moses and Aaron went in and said to Pharaoh, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival for me in the wilderness.” But Pharaoh responded, “Who is the Lord that I should obey him by letting Israel go? I don’t know the Lord, and besides, I will not let Israel go.” They answered, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go on a three-day trip into the wilderness so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, or else he may strike us with plague or sword.” The king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why are you causing the people to neglect their work? Get to your labor!” Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are so numerous, and you would stop them from their labor.” That day Pharaoh commanded the overseers of the people as well as their foremen, “Don’t continue to supply the people with straw for making bricks, as before. They must go and gather straw for themselves. But require the same quota of bricks from them as they were making before; do not reduce it. For they are slackers—that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ Impose heavier work on the men. Then they will be occupied with it and not pay attention to deceptive words.” So the overseers and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am not giving you straw. Go get straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but there will be no reduction at all in your workload.’ ” So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. The overseers insisted, “Finish your assigned work each day, just as you did when straw was provided.” Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s slave drivers had set over the people, were beaten and asked, “Why haven’t you finished making your prescribed number of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?” So the Israelite foremen went in and cried for help to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way? No straw has been given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but it is your own people who are at fault.” But he said, “You are slackers. Slackers! That is why you are saying, ‘Let us go sacrifice to the Lord.’ Now get to work. No straw will be given to you, but you must produce the same quantity of bricks.” The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, “You cannot reduce your daily quota of bricks.” When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them. “May the Lord take note of you and judge,” they said to them, “because you have made us reek to Pharaoh and his officials—putting a sword in their hand to kill us!” So Moses went back to the Lord and asked, “Lord, why have you caused trouble for this people? And why did you ever send me? Ever since I went in to Pharaoh to speak in your name he has caused trouble for this people, and you haven’t rescued your people at all.” But the Lord replied to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: because of a strong hand he will let them go, and because of a strong hand he will drive them from his land.”

(Prayer)

Tonight’s teaching is divided into three sections, the first called “Confronting Pharaoh”.

Confronting Pharaoh (Verses 1-5)

We see the conversation between Moses and Pharaoh, and it doesn’t go according to Moses plan. Notice how Moses was confident at first, but then lost his confidence. In verse one, Moses makes a demand. In verse five, Moses makes a request.

Exodus 5:1 (CSB)

“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival for me in the wilderness.”

Exodus 5:3 (CSB)

Please let us go on a three-day trip into the wilderness so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, or else he may strike us with plague or sword.”

Why did Moses go from a demand to requesting? I believe for two reasons;

1.) Moses forgot the second half of God’s promise.

2.) Moses lost confidence.

Remember the conversation back in Exodus 3?

Exodus 3:18–21 CSB

They will listen to what you say. Then you, along with the elders of Israel, must go to the king of Egypt and say to him: The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us go on a three-day trip into the wilderness so that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. “However, I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go, even under force from a strong hand. But when I stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my miracles that I will perform in it, after that, he will let you go. And I will give these people such favor with the Egyptians that when you go, you will not go empty-handed.

I think Moses thought he would be able to walk right in to Pharaoh’s palace, place his demand, and pharaoh would "Of course Moses! Anything for the Lord. Is There anything else?”. Sometimes we think the same way . When we live out our Christian walk, we tend to lose confidence when not everyone agrees with what we are saying/doing according to the Word of God. Why? In my personally opinion, we put too much confidence in what we personally want to happen. Moses wanted Pharaoh to let them go, but the results were different.

Different Results:

Pharaoh was upset, angry, and even mocked Moses because of his request. Why? For two reasons;

1.) Pharaoh thought of himself as “lord”. (verse 2)

2.) Pharaoh felt threatened. (verses 4-5)

The result? Punishment for the Israelite people. (verses 6-18)

The Lie:

"The biggest lie being sold today in the American church is that being a Christian is "easy".

(Personal Example: 8 years of battling)

Are you willing to fight? Are you willing to keep going? Are you willing to persevere?

The disciples told Jesus, before His crucifixion, that they would be willing to do whatever it took for Him, and after the Last Supper they couldn’t even stay awake to pray with Jesus before He was arrested. Jesus said, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Your spirit might be willing, but your flesh will do everything to get you to quit. That’s why we need Someone who is stronger and encourages us to keep going. That Someone is the Lord God Almighty.

Encouragement From The Lord:

The people are discouraged, take it out on Moses, which causes Moses to get discourage, and take it out on the Lord.

Exodus 5:22–23 CSB

So Moses went back to the Lord and asked, “Lord, why have you caused trouble for this people? And why did you ever send me? Ever since I went in to Pharaoh to speak in your name he has caused trouble for this people, and you haven’t rescued your people at all.”

The Lord’s Response?

Exodus 6:1 CSB

But the Lord replied to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: because of a strong hand he will let them go, and because of a strong hand he will drive them from his land.”

The Lord reminds Moses of His promise.

Jesus reminds the disciples. (John 15:18-16)

John 16:33 CSB

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

What is our hope in life and death? Christ alone, Christ alone. What is our only confidence? That our souls to him belong. Who holds our days within his hand? What comes, apart from his command? And what will keep us to the end? The love of Christ, in which we stand.

O sing hallelujah! Our hope springs eternal; O sing hallelujah! Now and ever we confess Christ our hope in life and death.

What truth can calm the troubled soul? God is good, God is good. Where is his grace and goodness known? In our great Redeemer’s blood. Who holds our faith when fears arise? Who stands above the stormy trial? Who sends the waves that bring us nigh Unto the shore, the rock of Christ?

Unto the grave, what shall we sing? “Christ, he lives; Christ, he lives!” And what reward will heaven bring? Everlasting life with him. There we will rise to meet the Lord, Then sin and death will be destroyed, And we will feast in endless joy, When Christ is ours forevermore.

Oh church, let us not allow the difficulties of our Christian walk blind us from the truth of who Christ is. Hold on to the words of Jesus Christ;

“You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” -John 16:33b