Obedience

As we read Exodus 5 we feel for the Israelites. All their hopes of deliverance were dashed when Pharaoh cruelly imposed heavier burdens upon the people, requiring the same number of bricks, but compelling them to gather their own straw. Even Moses began to doubt the whole plan in Exodus 5:20-23, as he appeals to the LORD. Moses was discovering that his obedience to the word of the LORD only aggravated the evil He wished to remove. Instead of receiving gratitude from his countrymen, Moses was loaded only with reproaches. His faith and obedience were being tested. No great work of God is ever accomplished without severe testing, and Moses' career was no exception. Moses did the right thing. He went to the LORD and poured out his heart before Him.

Moses is frustrated. The people are worse off than when he started. And so, we have the lesson. LESSON: When you obey God, opposition often comes. It's not always smooth sailing. We, as believers, err in thinking when we assume that being in God's hand and being in God's will means that there will be no difficulties; and then we get upset when things DON'T go smoothly. We've got to realize that opposition is not necessarily a sign of failure, but is many times a sign of obedience! As we close, do know and understand these two things: 1) When God sends you on a task, and you obey, the mission will not end in failure. It may seem like it's failing, but it will not fail. 2) It is better to be in God's will and to provoke reactions than to run away and accomplish nothing. Obedience to God and opposition from the world go hand in hand.