ENCOURAGEMENT

God's Covenant is Never Forgotten

I was reading this morning in Exodus and my heart was challenged in many ways. Amidst the oppression of the people of Israel, there is a powerful word of encouragement to be found.

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 ...

God spoke to Moses and said to him, "I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant." Exodus 5:1-9; 6:2-5

What? How can that be called encouragement? We have to know the rest of the story to truly understand it. We have to understand that God was about to do a MIGHTY work of deliverance. And, this people called by His name will form the lineage of the Messiah ... our GREAT DELIVERER!

HIDDEN ENCOURAGEMENT

The Israelites were already burdened as Pharaoh's workers or slaves. Their labor was oppressive. And, then came Moses with this declaration of God's deliverance only to have their oppression increased. Their burden was compounded and the challenges multiplied -- those faced both personally and as a nation of God's people. Their hardships were very real -- a high price to pay as the chosen people of God! What they couldn't see was the glorious miracle of deliverance that was just ahead of them.

GOD HAD A PLAN

I'm sure many of them were not feeling like happy campers and beloved children of YHWH. Nor were they likely to feel very excited or honored to be counted as YHWH's very own! In fact, I would venture to guess there were many who were tempted to denounce their heritage! Things appeared to grow worse instead of better! In the "now" moments of Exodus 5 there is little encouragement to be found. The dark days had darkened. The painful burden had become unbearable. The hope they once had most likely had been reduced to a mere flicker in the midst of a storm. But God had a plan ,,, but God does not forget His promises.

YHWH had NOT forgotten His covenant with Abraham and He hadn't forgotten His people. He was working all things together for the good of His people. These were the ones He had called to fulfill His purpose, just like us!

THE MIRACLE WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER

The miracle of deliverance was just ahead. When the days seemed the darkest for Israel, YHWH was near. He continued working all things on their behalf, to bring about His perfect will. His people were being delivered from bondage. No longer would they be prisoners or slaves or owned by an evil Pharaoh. No longer would they be pawns at the behest of evil. They would walk out of Egypt into glorious FREEDOM!

GOD IS ALWAYS WORKING

Isn't that the way life seems to go sometimes? We have challenges ahead of us and the days seem to grow darker and darker. Hope seems to wane and we lose sight of the promises of God! And, we all go through seasons like that! But, this scripture in Exodus 5-6 reminds us that God is there. He is always working behind the scenes for our good and for our deliverance from the burden of life. Always for His glory ... and His glory WILL be seen.

THE GLORIES OF HIS GRACE

I pray today that His glory will ultimately be evident in each of our lives, regardless how dark the days may appear. I pray that we will remember that God is working on our behalf. He continues to lead us out of darkness into His glorious light. I pray we each will journey through our darkened days with our eyes firmly fixed on YHWH. And, I pray that our testimony of His deliverance will bring encouragement to the hearts of all. May those who are facing difficult life circumstances not be distracted from the glories that await!

God is good ... He will never turn a deaf ear to our cries for help and deliverance!

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Suggested Reading:
Your Glory
Sometimes Little is Big
Valley of Vision