Well, my title for this study from Exodus 5:1-9 is, "We're at War!"
Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'" But Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go." Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword." But the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens." And Pharaoh said, "Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!" The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, "You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, 'Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.' Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words."
What I've just read is a reminder for us that between the fall of Adam and Eve and the final kingdom of peace and righteousness, we live in an inescapable everyday spiritual war. Spiritual warfare is not some unusual thing about demons and deliverance but is an everyday normal thing. Because of this, it should not be surprising that Pharaoh would resist the will and the plan of God for his people. The Israelite slaves were Egypt's economic engine, so a thought of letting them go was preposterous to Pharaoh. What Pharaoh says in response to Moses' request is the fault line of the human community, hear it--"Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice?"
Everyone's life is shaped by this question. You recognize God's existence and authority, and you submit your life to his will; or you mock or ignore his existence, and you live by the authority of your own will. But Pharaoh's response, it's important to notice, is not just dismissive of God's authority, it is vengeful as well. He commands that the brick-making task be made harder for the Israelite slaves. If you had been a slave in Israel, what would you be thinking as the work got terribly harder? What would you be thinking about Moses and Aaron? What would you be thinking about the LORD, his presence, his power, and his promises?
You see, the question that is put before us here is this, "Does hardship, opposition, resistance, or rejection crush our hope and weaken our faith in God?" The reality is, that in this moment of resistance, God is up to something very good here, but at that point, it's hard to understand. It makes me think of the disciples watching Jesus' public execution. What Jesus was up to was very good, but at that moment, was so hard for them to understand. How could it be that the Messiah would die? Does hardship, opposition, resistance, or rejection crush your hope and weaken your faith in God?
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1. How often do you realize that you are in the midst of a spiritual battle as a follower of Christ? How does the reality of spiritual battle impact your prayer life? Your time in the Word? Your desire to share the gospel with others?
2. Even though you may not phrase it this way (out loud or in the privacy of your own heart/mind), how has your life been shaped by the question, "Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice?" How has your decision-making in response to this question led to joy and comfort? How has it led to sorry and pain? Who would you say is on the throne of your life right now--you or God? In what ways do you need to proactively submit to his will for your life? What might your life look like if you actively trusted him with both the big and little decisions you need to make all day, every day?
3. As it stands with anything difficult you might be going through right now, what has been your thinking about the LORD, his presence, his power, and his promises? Have your difficulties shaped your opinions about God and his love for you? If so, what do you need to lay before the Lord right now as an act of worship, trust, gratitude, and submission?
4. Does hardship, opposition, resistance, or rejection crush your hope and weaken your faith in God? Why do you think it's so easy for us to allow our circumstances to dictate the strength of our faith?
For Younger Children:
1. What good things in your life have brought you the most joy lately? Do you think those good things are a gift from God? What have been some difficult things in your life that have made you sad or frustrated lately? Do you think God is in control of those things too? Why or why not?
2. How can you and I make decisions each day that invites God into whatever may be going on in our lives--good or bad?
For Older Children:
1. What kinds of things bring you hope and joy? What brings you sadness and frustration? Do you think God is in control of all things, regardless if they bring joy or sadness?
2. In the Old Testament, Pharaoh once said, "Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice?" Why do you think that's a question that you and I ask all day, every day? What comes from obeying God's voice? If we're not obeying his voice, whose voice are we listening to and obeying?
3. Does hardship, opposition, resistance, or rejection crush your hope and weaken your faith in God? Why do you think it's so easy for us to allow our circumstances to determine the strength of our faith? How can we help each other in this area of life?
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