This morning, we are in a sermon series called “Exodus: The Victorious God.”
Today’s message “The War Begins.”
Exodus 5:1-22
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.” 2 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.” 3 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.” 4 The king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why are you causing the people to neglect their work? Get to your labor!” 5 Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are so numerous, and you would stop them from their labor.” 6 That day Pharaoh commanded the overseers of the people as well as their foremen, 7 “Don’t continue to supply the people with straw for making bricks, as before. They must go and gather straw for themselves. 8 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.’ 9 Impose heavier work on the men. Then they will be occupied with it and not pay attention to deceptive words”… 19 The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, “You cannot reduce your daily quota of bricks.” 20 When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them. 21 “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!” 22 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? 23 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 Command of the LORD
The Response of Pharaoh
The Reality of following the LORD
The Command of the Lord
Exodus chapter 5 starts the story of the war between the Lord and the gods of Egypt.
Our God is showing himself to be the true Deliverer, and that he is victorious over the gods of this world. Moses is only the mouthpiece of Yahweh. The command of the Lord to Pharaoh is simple: obey me by letting my people go.
The Response of Pharaoh
Pharaoh is arrogant towards the Lord. The response of Pharaoh to the Lord is simple: disobeying and refusing to acknowledge him as God.
The Reality of following the Lord
1. Obeying the Lord might lead to opposition and resistance from others
We are promised that we will face persecution!
John 15:18-20
“If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. 20 Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”
We are also promised that we will be blessed if we are persecuted.
Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 11 You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Sometimes the opposition and resistance we face for obeying God will come from the people of God.
2. Obeying the Lord might negatively impact you
Obeying God can negatively impact your reputation, relationships, and position.
3. Obeying the Lord might negatively impact others
4. Obeying the Lord might not make sense to you
It was confusing to Moses, but God had a purpose and a plan and it would happen in his perfect timing.
Annual Prayer for Soma
Father, help us to see you clearly, trust you fully, seek you diligently, obey you completely, and reject all idolatry as we worship you alone.