Exodus 6:9-7:7 When caught in a protracted crisis, seek deeper intimacy with God
Exodus 6:9-7:7 When caught in a protracted crisis, seek deeper intimacy with God
9 So Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account of their despondency and cruel bondage. 10 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 11 “Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the sons of Israel go out of his land.” 12 But Moses spoke before the Lord, saying, “Behold, the sons of Israel have not listened to me; how then will Pharaoh listen to me, for I am unskilled in speech?” 13 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a charge to the sons of Israel and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt …
1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall speak to Pharaoh that he let the sons of Israel go out of his land. 3 But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 When Pharaoh does not listen to you, then I will lay My hand on Egypt and bring out My hosts, My people the sons of Israel, from the land of Egypt by great judgments. 5 The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst.” 6 So Moses and Aaron did it; as the Lord commanded them, thus they did. 7 Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three, when they spoke to Pharaoh.
Background
Moses was caught by a backlash from the Pharaoh and the prospect of a no-confidence vote from the people. Moses drew near to God seeking higher wisdom and authority. God responded by granting Moses greater understanding and power. As we know it, Moses succeeded in delivering the people because he sought God continually without depending on his own instincts. Today’s devotion teaches us: When caught in a protracted crisis, seek deeper intimacy with God.
Observation
So Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account of their despondency and cruel bondage.
There is a gap between God’s promise and the present circumstances. Because of the people’s suffering and bondage, Moses’s words had indeed fallen on deaf ears. Moses blamed it on his inability to persuade and lead. Moses’s grievances were not imagined or exaggerated but were real. If even his people would not listen to him, how would the Pharaoh take the divine charge seriously! That said, Moses was not intending on giving up on the mission. He was voicing his concerns in an attempt to solicit a recourse from God.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a charge…
God responded to Moses’s complaint by giving him a charge that was meant to address his inadequacies. The divine charge to Moses and Aaron is detailed in verses 7:1-5:
- Moses was appointed as “god” to Pharaoh. And Aaron would function as his prophet, his mouthpiece to Pharaoh. Moses, being made God’s regent would no longer have to engage in oral exchanges with Pharaoh to demand the release of the people.
- Moses was charged to multiply God’s signs and wonders in the land to deliver the Israelites. He was also given insights into Pharaoh’s psyche and his subsequent responses to the divine commandment.
- Moses was charged to make the Lord known to the Egyptians by bringing the Israelites out of Egypt.
Even as the text portrays God as the one executing the signs, Moses as God’s regent was responsible to perform all the divine acts on God’s behalf.
Truth
When caught in a protracted crisis, seek deeper intimacy with God.
Moses, when faced with a crippling backlash from the Pharaoh and the certainty of a no-confidence vote, seek deeper intimacy with God. God responded to Moses by renewing the divine charge, this time with deeper revelations and greater power. If you are battling a protracted crisis in your finances, health or family without a breakthrough, it is time to seek God intimately. Wisdom and authority can only be obtained by seeking deeper intimacy with God. Intimacy is achieved by knowing the mind of God by conversing with Him unceasingly. The characteristics of the conversations vary from person to person according to the inclinations of the heart. A God-fearing person will converse with greater depth and clarity than a lukewarm person. Naturally, it will be a lot easier for a God-fearer to obtain divine wisdom and authority for breakthroughs. Moses obtained a deeper understanding into the Pharaoh’s psyche and greater power over the earthly elements by conversing with God.
Many throw up their hands in despair when their prayers don’t work at the outset. Instead of drawing near to God, they murmured and accused Him of abandoning them. Such were like Moses’s generation that perished in the wilderness of Sinai. There are also those who continue to trust God by praying and doing the same things even though it does not produce results. Such are no doubt better than those who murmur against God. Nevertheless, they are still trapped in their crisis. Believers must emerge from blind faith to enter into a deeper intimacy with God. Only then can higher wisdom and authority be granted to overcome the crises of life.
Application
When we are caught in a crisis (be it financial, health, relationships or career), converse with God deeply and unceasingly. Seek His perspective on the current circumstances and His will on the final outcome. In the course of seeking divine wisdom, it is important to understand the following:
- Is the crisis caused by demons and the agents of darkness? Or is the crisis due to natural causes? Or is it due to our folly?
- Is our ineffectiveness in dealing with the crisis due to our lack of wisdom or spiritual authority? If it is an issue of wisdom, ask God for wisdom and He will grant your request without reservation. The apostle James said, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” – James 1:5.
- If it is an issue of authority, ask God for greater authority over the angels and the elements of the earth. Believe that greater authority is entrusted to you. James said, “But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” – James 1:6.
- Identify the demons at work and destroy them by the authority of Jesus.
- Restore truth and righteousness among those involved.
- Keep up the battle, do not let up until you see a breakthrough in your circumstances.
Dear Lord, you know my troubles and have made plans to deliver me and my community from crises. I seek your face. Open my mind to see my circumstances from your perspective. Indeed…
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?
When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
In spite of this I shall be confident.
One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord
And to meditate in His temple.
For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.
And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice,
And be gracious to me and answer me.
When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You,
“Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.”
Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
But the Lord will take me up.
Teach me Your way, O Lord,
And lead me in a level path
Because of my foes.
Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries,
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let my heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord. – Psalms 27.
In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.