Exodus 5:4-23 (The Dissenting voices)

V4 – Pharaoh says that Moses and Aaron are disturbing the people from their work. Remember, Moses and Aaron communicated God’s message that the people were to be set free so that they can worship the Lord. Pharaoh here is the dissenting voice against God’s message.

When the Spirit of God speaks about Good’s purposes, there are always these dissenting voices. They come up to speak negativities and try to reason against God’s word. God’s purposes include his salvation, his call for service, his call for living a holy and pleasing life and more.

What do the dissenting voices say? They say like Pharaoh “Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their tasks? Get back to work! Look, there are many of your people in the land, and you are stopping them from their work.”

They say:

• “Do you really have time for that?”
• “There is so much work to do.”
• “Here is a better more fun way.”
• “You do not have the capacity to serve God in that way.”
• “Now is not the right time. You can do it another day.”
• “Don’t you think these commands of holiness from God are too demanding?”
• “This entertainment gives me a lot of pleasure. These movies are so fun, it’s the best way to relax after the long day/week I have had.”
• “You are getting distracted from your career path. Focus on the career progression first. You can give God your time later.”
• “You don’t have the money to give to that. You also have needs.”
• “You are too tired to pray and read God’s word.”

In the Bible, here are some of what the dissenting voices said and still do:

Matthew 4: 8-9 NLT – Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Galatians 5:17 NLT: The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

V6-18 – Pharaoh decides to put even more oppression over the people saying they were lazy and that is why they wanted to leave Egypt. However, you remember that it was actually not the people; it was God’s word and instruction.

The lives of the people therefore much more harder because they now have to still meet their quota of the bricks yet they are not given any straw. It was impossible to make bricks without straw and therefore, the Israelites had to go all over Egypt looking for straw to make the bricks. The slave drivers at the same, punished and pushed them to meet the quota still. It was simply extremely hard and painful.

The opposition and the pain can become harder after God has spoken his purposes. The enemy may try to attack you even more and the temptations to sin may become even stronger. The urge to disobey therefore becomes much stronger.

When they saw how hard it had become to meet the daily quota of bricks after Moses and Aaron spoke to Pharaoh, the foremen said to Moses and Aaron, “May the Lord judge and punish you for making us stink before Pharaoh and his officials. You have put a sword into their hands, an excuse to kill us!”

It becomes so easy to complain yet God has actually meant all this for their good.

God was in the process of saving them but the people were forgetting this because of their pain.  God was setting them free but at that moment, it was not making any sense.

Their previous state of making bricks while being given straw by Pharaoh seemed much more tolerable. It seemed too difficult to persevere and wait for God’s salvation. And so, Pharaoh’s plan of seeking to distract them from even thinking about God’s salvation seemed to work. They were now focused on reducing the pain from the extra work rather than on what God had said.

There are so many times when this also happens in our lives. We get distracted from God’s purposes and God’s word by pain. And so, when the pain and difficulty gets harder, when the temptation to disobey is stronger, what should we do?

V22-23 – Moses went to the Lord and protested. He felt the pain of the people and so his trust in God’s plan was shaken. Remember, God had already spoken to Moses about all his plan to save the people of Israel. But Moses was now shaken, just like the people.

Let’s look at what the Bible says about what to do in these situations:

• Psalm 12:6-8 GOD’S WORD Translation – The promises of the Lord are pure, like silver refined in a furnace and purified seven times.
• Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV – The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
• Psalm 23:4 NLT – Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
• 2 Corinthians 2:14 ESV – But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
• Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

And when the enemy plans these things against you, ensure you have the full armor of God:

Ephesians 6: 10-18 NIV – Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Remember, the Holy Spirit is there to help you be reminded of all God’s truth:

John 14:26 NASB – But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.

The call is clear, trust in the Lord. Trust in his plan. Trust in his word. Pray about everything, tell it to the Lord. The Holy Spirit is there to help you. Be strong!