Post by Les on Jul 28, 2023 10:47:38 GMT -5
The Long Game By: Tim Gustafson
Click here for the Audio Message
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh.”
Exodus 6:1
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Exodus 5:1–9
When Tun’s country suffered a coup, the military began terrorising believers in Jesus and killing their farm animals. Having lost their livelihood, Tun’s family scattered to various countries. For nine years, Tun existed in a refugee camp far from his family. He knew God was with him, but during the separation, two family members died. Tun grew despondent.
Long ago, another people group faced brutal oppression. So God appointed Moses to lead those people—the Israelites—out of Egypt. Moses reluctantly agreed. But when he approached Pharaoh, the Egyptian ruler only intensified the oppression (Exodus 5:6–9). “I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go,” he said (v. 2). The people complained to Moses, who complained to God (vv. 20–23).
In the end, God freed the Israelites and they got the freedom they wanted—but in God’s way and timing. He plays a long game, teaching us about His character and preparing us for something greater.
Tun made good use of his years in a refugee camp, earning a master’s degree from a New Delhi Bible college. Now he’s a pastor to his own people—refugees like him who have found a new home. “My story as a refugee forms the crucible for leading as a servant,” he says. In his testimony, Tun cites Moses’ song in Exodus 15:2: “The Lord is my strength and my defence.” And today, He’s ours as well.
Reflect & Pray
What questions do you have for God? How will you trust Him to keep His word?
Heavenly Father, I can always rely on You. Forgive me when I lose sight of that truth.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Scripture gives us the reasons God commissioned Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian servitude: “so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness” (Exodus 5:1), so they may “offer sacrifices to the Lord” (3:18), and so they “may worship [Hebrew ‘avad] me” (4:23; 7:16; 8:1, 20; 9:1, 13; 10:3). ‘Avad can also be translated “to serve” or “to be a slave,” as in the ESV: “Let my people go, that they may serve me” ( 7:16). To worship God is to serve Him. Having been forced to serve as slaves to the Egyptians, Israel was now set free to serve Yahweh.
K. T. Sim
Exodus 5:1-9
King James Version
5 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.
2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.
3 And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the Lord our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.
4 And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.
5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.
6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,
7 Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8 And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.
Click here for the Audio Message
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh.”
Exodus 6:1
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Exodus 5:1–9
When Tun’s country suffered a coup, the military began terrorising believers in Jesus and killing their farm animals. Having lost their livelihood, Tun’s family scattered to various countries. For nine years, Tun existed in a refugee camp far from his family. He knew God was with him, but during the separation, two family members died. Tun grew despondent.
Long ago, another people group faced brutal oppression. So God appointed Moses to lead those people—the Israelites—out of Egypt. Moses reluctantly agreed. But when he approached Pharaoh, the Egyptian ruler only intensified the oppression (Exodus 5:6–9). “I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go,” he said (v. 2). The people complained to Moses, who complained to God (vv. 20–23).
In the end, God freed the Israelites and they got the freedom they wanted—but in God’s way and timing. He plays a long game, teaching us about His character and preparing us for something greater.
Tun made good use of his years in a refugee camp, earning a master’s degree from a New Delhi Bible college. Now he’s a pastor to his own people—refugees like him who have found a new home. “My story as a refugee forms the crucible for leading as a servant,” he says. In his testimony, Tun cites Moses’ song in Exodus 15:2: “The Lord is my strength and my defence.” And today, He’s ours as well.
Reflect & Pray
What questions do you have for God? How will you trust Him to keep His word?
Heavenly Father, I can always rely on You. Forgive me when I lose sight of that truth.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Scripture gives us the reasons God commissioned Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian servitude: “so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness” (Exodus 5:1), so they may “offer sacrifices to the Lord” (3:18), and so they “may worship [Hebrew ‘avad] me” (4:23; 7:16; 8:1, 20; 9:1, 13; 10:3). ‘Avad can also be translated “to serve” or “to be a slave,” as in the ESV: “Let my people go, that they may serve me” ( 7:16). To worship God is to serve Him. Having been forced to serve as slaves to the Egyptians, Israel was now set free to serve Yahweh.
K. T. Sim
Exodus 5:1-9
King James Version
5 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.
2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.
3 And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the Lord our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.
4 And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.
5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.
6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,
7 Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8 And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.