Un-pharaoh

April 23, 2013

Un-pharaoh

Exodus 5:1-23

Read That same day Pharaoh sent this order to the Egyptian slave drivers and the Israelite foremen: "Do not supply any more straw for making bricks. Make the people get it themselves! But still require them to make the same number of bricks as before. Don't reduce the quota. They are lazy. That's why they are crying out, 'Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God.' Load them down with more work. Make them sweat! That will teach them to listen to lies!" (Exodus 5:6-9)

Reflect Sometimes hardship comes as a result of obeying God. Moses and Aaron obeyed God and took their message to Pharaoh. Pharaoh responded with harder work and more oppression for the Hebrews. We often wonder what we've done to deserve our own hardships. Typically, we look for something we've done wrong. But sometimes it's not our own sins that bring us suffering. Sometimes it's our obedience to God in a world running in the opposite direction.

Respond Are you following God but still suffering—or suffering even worse than before? If your life is miserable, it may not be the consequences of your own sin but of others' sins. Read 1 Peter 3:13-22, and ask God for the strength to persevere and remain faithful.