Faithfulness Is Never Failure (Exodus 5)

Have you ever tried a diet or exercise plan that promised fast and easy results? It’s not hard to find a 30-day weight loss program touting everyday people with real success as a result of their plan. Unfortunately, about four and a half days after you decide to go all in, a basket of chips at the Mexican restaurant has you wondering if one “healthy” snack bar and 800 calories of “meal replacement” shakes can sustain your ravenous appetite for another 26 days. The promo material for your 30-day quick fix didn’t prepare you for the fatigue, gnawing headache, and “hungry enough to eat the grass in my front yard” feeling.

We are often promised success without struggle. When the suffering comes, we say to ourselves, “If I had known it was this tough, I wouldn’t have done it”. If we don’t quit, we t least wish we had prepared ourselves to suffer before getting into the situation. Thankfully, God prepares us for the pain and the promise. Just as God prepared Moses for his success and suffering, God prepares us beforehand for the tough days ahead. Yet like Moses, we also convince ourselves that suffering means we have failed, and God hasn’t kept His word.

A Rough Start

Whether it’s due to pride or negligence, we often get ourselves in tough situations because fail to follow clear instructions. Alec Motyer points out how Moses chose a different path than God had laid out for him.  Notice the contrast:

Pharoah’s response probably would have been the same, but it seems that Moses’ approach added fuel to the fire (Ex. 5:2). Pharaoh’s arrogant, sinful, and bewildered response seems to have made Moses change his tune, but it was too late (v. 3). Even in his correcting his request, Moses adds to God’s words the threat of pestilence and sword. Pharaoh remained unfazed.

The Burden Worsened

Pharaoah, annoyed and angry, convinced himself that the Israelites were “idle” (v. 4-8). To counter this so-called laziness, Pharaoh increased the Hebrews’ labor by forcing them to find straw to make their bricks. This meant that the Hebrew slave force had to do more work in less time. In it all, Pharaoh’s wicked and unmerciful response didn’t catch God off guard (Ex. 4:21).

Pharaoh’s persecution meant that the Hebrews were “scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble and straw” (v. 12). This brings to mind Acts 8:1 where “there arose…a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles”. In Acts, the scattered church spread the gospel. In Exodus, the scattered Israelites were loved by God and perhaps given an avenue to later plunder the Egyptians (Exo. 12:35-36). Man meant evil, but God meant good.

Pharaoh unflinchingly placed the blame on the Israelites and their desire to go and sacrifice to the Lord (v. 17). The Israelites were “in trouble”, and the elders rebuked Moses and Aaron, saying, “The LORD look on you and judge because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us” (v. 19-21).

The Call In Question

The consequences of Moses’ actions reached the people of Israel, and they were deeply grieved because their lives were endangered. Moses, too, fell flat on his face—or so it seemed. Hadn’t he told God this wouldn’t work? Didn’t he tell God that the Pharaoh wouldn’t listen to him? Why on earth would God set him up to fail like this?! 

Moses and Israel were on the brink of a major breakthrough.

In this moment, Moses accused God of “doing evil” (Heb. ra) to the people who were “in trouble” (Heb. ra) (v. 19). God sent them to Pharaoh, and Pharaoh immediately began “doing evil” (Heb. ra) to them (v. 22-23). Moses used the same Hebrew word, ra, to accuse both God and Pharaoh of harming the Israelites. In Moses’ mind, he had shown up and done what he was told, but Israelites were further from freedom than before he left Midian. In the face of tribulation, Moses acted like Adam, his forefather: “The command You gave backfired, and now everything is worse!” (see Gen. 3:12).

We ought to see a reflection of ourselves in Moses. We feel the pressing need to be a better parent, spouse, or employee. We sense that God calls us to engage our loved ones, friends, and neighbors with the gospel. We eventually step out in faith to do what God commands, and we end up flat on our backs like Charlie Brown trying to kick Lucy’s football. We reason with ourselves that we should’ve stayed in our comfort zone. We vow that if God wants us to risk our comfort, security, and sanity again, He’ll have to send an angel in a dream. We blow our tops and blame Him for messing everything up. 

All of this happens because we have the wrong definition of success. 

Faithfulness Is Never Failure

Instead of punishing Moses in His just wrath or answering him in a fierce storm (see Job 38:1-7), God answered more gently and mercifully than Moses deserved. We don’t hear God’s tone, and we don’t get a full sense of His outward expression in the conversation, but God’s tenderness shows up profoundly in HIs gracious response.

Instead of thundering at Moses in a frightening display of glory, “God said to Moses…”. God spoke. He said, “You shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land” (Exo. 6:1). God reserved His strong hand and punishment for the idolatrous Egypt and their leader, not Moses. Pharaoh wouldn’t only let the people go, he would drive them away after seeing what God’s acts of judgment. God already told Moses that success wouldn’t happen on day one. Pharaoh’s heart would be hardened and He would do signs and wonders, even the killing of his firstborn of Moses’ household (Exo. 4:23).

When we define success on our own terms, nearly all suffering and resistance will derail us. We need God’s definition of success, and that’s found by looking to His promises. We need to constantly behold the cross where hardship and holiness met to bring ultimate success to the Son of God as He came to free His people from sin and death once and for all.

Reflection Questions
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• How do you respond when situations don't work out as smoothly as expected? Do you get anxious, angry with God, or have another response? Why?
• What is your definition of success? How does this definition confirm or conflict with God's definition? What are some biblical passages that can help you better understand God's definition of success?
• How can Christ's finished work on the cross shape our view of success in the face of suffering? How does our future hope of eternal life empower us to press on in the faith even when we feel like failures and want to quit?

Prayer Points
 

• Worship God in your suffering. What areas of your life seem out of control or make you feel like a failure? Before you lament or ask God to change your circumstances, worship Him in it. Proclaim His goodness, faithfulness, and holiness.
• Ask God to teach you His definition of success. Whatever your general or specific callings are, ask God to redefine your definition of success. Pray for the Spirit to prompt you with Scripture passages to help you do this.
• Glory in the cross. Reflect on the work Jesus did for you on the cross. Praise God for His mercy and patience toward you in your sins, fears, and shortcomings. Worship Christ for His faithfulness to die on the cross for your sins. Glorify the Holy Spirit for giving you spiritual eyes and ears to see and believe the gospel.

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