Exodus: Affliction Before Freedom

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Chapters: Exodus 4-6
Message: Exodus: Affliction Before Freedom

Hello My Friend,

The second a person gets saved they are ecstatic, they get a glimpse of hope that things will be better, but it does not take long for them to realize things may get worse before they get better. The world is not going to be happy that they accepted their new found friend, and neither is the devil, he is going to do whatever he can to discourage them and get them to lose that hope. Let me tell you, being a Christian can be one of the hardest choices we make, we are going to face much opposition, but if we can endure we will be amazed at what God will do in and through us. “Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:” - 2 Timothy 2:10-12.

People make the false assumption that just because God calls the Jews His people that they are automatically saved. We must realize that an unsaved Jew is no different than an unsaved Christian, if they do not accept Jesus Christ personally as their Saviour they will end up in the same place, hell. God chose the Jews not because they had great faith, but because He made a promise to Abraham, and since God never goes back on His promises He was going to prove to the rest of the world that a nation can become great under the authority of God, but it can also fall if they go against Him. God's plan to use Moses to free Israel from bondage was underway, He continues to speak to Moses from the burning bush. Moses was not too keen on being used of God, in fact, he made up all sorts of excuses to to get out of it, but God did not accept them.

“And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.” - Exodus 4:10-16.

“Who hath made man's mouth?” What we see as infirmities or handicaps, God sees as opportunities. God is looking for willing souls, those who first believe in Him, second want Him in their lives, and third, allow Him to work in their lives. God will never force Himself on anyone, but He will give us every reason why we are fully capable to do the things He calls us to do, and since He knows that it is only fear that keeps us from doing them, He is going to keep on us until we do it. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” - Hebrews 13:5,6,20,21.

Now, we must realize that when we are doing to worship God, we are going to face some opposition, not only from those who oppose us, but even those we know. Moses and his brother Aaron stood before Pharaoh and asked him to let Israel take some time to worship God, he did not let them go, and even placed harsher burdens on them,

“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. 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. 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. Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants? There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people. But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD. Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.” - Exodus 5:1-3,15-18.

“But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle:” Pharaoh sited if they had time to worship God, they had more time to work. This did not go over well with the Israelites, in fact, they went to Moses and complained to him, but in reality they were making it harder in themselves because they half did their work. They did not have faith that God could really set them free, all they could think of was the affliction they were facing, and blaming it on Moses. They complained so much that even Moses went to God and asked Him why He even told him to go up to Pharaoh in the first place since he placed even more affliction on them. God answers Moses.

“Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD. And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.” - Exodus 6:1-4,7-9.

“by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.” God reminded Moses, “I am JEHOVAH, the Almighty, I will bring you out of captivity”, but the people did not listen. Their faith was dead because they could not see past the affliction they were facing. God is always there to help us through our affliction, it is us who cannot see pass them and walk away from Him. He allows affliction, not to punish us or hurt us, but to grow us, prepare us, and to show us that He is JEHOVAH. Believe it or not, Jews or Christians, we are not the most appreciative people when we are just handed things to us. 90% of mankind, maybe even more than that, have a me, myself, and I mentality. They want what is best for them, not thinking of the consequences it might bring to others, forgetting or ignoring that God gave it to them to begin with. Of course, we all want things and God wants to give them to us, but He wants He wants first is for us to put our faith and trust in Him. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” - Matthew 6:33.

Today's Prayer: God, You always have a purpose and plan for every willing soul. Lord, let us continually remember the work that You call us to do is not grievous. Give us comfort, peace, and guidance, let the afflictions we endure become inspirations to do more by the hope we have in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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