Today’s selected reading continues in the Old Testament book of Exodus as it was written and recorded by Moses the servant of the Lord. More specifically, today’s passage is found in chapters five through eight of this Old Testament book. THE REVELATION OF GOD IN THE WILDERNESS! THE REVELATION OF GOD IN THE LAND OF BONDAGE & OPPRESSION! THE REVELATION OF WHAT GOD IS GOING TO DO! THE REVELATION OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE! THE REVELATION OF WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY SPOKEN! ARGUMENTS & EXCUSES IN THE MIDST OF REVELATION! THE BEGINNING OF THE CONFRONTATION IN THE LAND OF EGYPT! SOMETIMES THINGS GET WORSE BEFORE THEY GET BETTER! A FRESH REVELATION IN THE MIDAT OF SORROW & DESPAIR! CONTINUED ENCOUNTERS! REPEATED DECLARATIONS! FURTHER MANIFESTATIONS OF THE POWER OF GOD! When you come to this particular portion of scripture you will find the narrative found within the book of Exodus shifting gears from the emergence of a king within the land of Egypt who knew not Joseph and thus subjected the children of Israel to cruel and harsh bondage, slavery, and oppression. When you come to this portion of the book of Exodus you will find the account of Moses at the burning bush having drawn to a close, and Moses having finally run out of excuses before and in the presence of the living God. WHEN YOU COME TO THE END OF YOUR EXCUSES! WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF EXCUSES! Have you ever found yourself in this place where you hurled before and into the presence of the living God every excuse you could possibly think of, and at some point—much like a train that runs out of steam—you run out of excuses? Have you ever found yourself encountering the presence of the living God who appears unto you and not only calls you to something much bigger than yourself, but also to something you feel inadequate for, and you attempt to give Him every reason to pick and choose someone else? If you read and study the account of Moses at the burning bush you will find the Lord God of his fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—appearing unto him and not only instructing him to return unto the land of Egypt, but also instructing him to enter into the presence of pharaoh and emphatically declared unto pharaoh to let the children of Israel go. As we read the words which are found within the narrative of Moses at the burning bush we find the Lord appearing unto him after he had spent the previous forty years living in the land of Midian after having fled from the face and presence of Pharaoh who sought to slay and put him to death. After forty years living as a stranger within a strange land the Lord God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob appeared unto Moses and not only revealed Himself unto him, but also instructed and commanded him to return to the land of Egypt—return to the land he had fled from all those years earlier—in order that he might stand before pharaoh and command him to let the people of God go. Oh we must recognize and understand that the words which Moses spoke unto Pharaoh in the land of Egypt were not a polite suggestion, nor were they an invitation to think about and consider the word of the Lord. When Moses stood before him and instructed him to let the people of God go it was en emphatic command, and one that was not optional.

What is so incredibly intriguing about how the fourth chapter of the book of Exodus draws to a close is that you will find Moses leaving the land of Midian—not only with his wife Zipporah and their sons, but also with Aaron his brother who had come out to meet him. By the time the fourth chapter concludes we find Aaron Moses’ brother coming unto him to meet him in the mount of God—an encounter which resulted in Moses revealing unto his brother everything the Lord had spoken unto him, and the signs which He had commanded him to perform. Moses and Aaron would eventually come unto the land of Egypt and call all the elders of the children of Israel, and in the presence of all the elders of Israel Aaron spoke on behalf of Moses and revealed unto them all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses, as well as performing the signs in the sight of the people. Furthermore, you will find the people believing, and when they had heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that He looked upon their affliction, they bowed their heads in worship. That which makes the final verses of the fourth chapter so absolutely incredible and intriguing is when you think about and consider the fact that at the mountain of God where the Lord had appeared unto Moses in the midst of a bush that burned and yet was not consumed, Moses made every attempt to try and convince the Lord to choose someone else. The conclusion of the fourth chapter of the book of Exodus is so incredibly powerful, for when you come to the end of the chapter you will find Moses having run out of excuses and all the reasons why the LORD God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob should not choose and use Him. Perhaps you have found yourself in that place—the place where you have clearly heard the voice of the living God, and that place where the Lord has spoken something so specific, and yet you seek to try and convince the Lord that He should choose someone other than yourself. In your own self-doubt and in your own self-consciousness you feel as though you are not the right person for the job, nor the right person for the assignment. There is not a doubt in my mind that Moses undoubtedly felt that he was completely and utterly unqualified to move and operate as the Lord’s chosen instrument to bring deliverance to the children of Israel. Moses knew and understood the magnitude and scope of that which the Lord was calling him to, and that which the Lord was instructing and inviting him to do, and he realized that it was far greater and far bigger than himself, and even anything he could think or imagine. For Moses he tried thinking of everything that would prevent him from stepping into that which the Lord had called and was calling him to do—from the words and message he would bring unto the children of Israel, and even the fact that he was not eloquent and was slow of speech. The Lord had clearly appeared unto Moses, and the Lord was clearly calling him to return unto the land of Egypt in order that he might speak unto Pharaoh concerning the release of God’s people, and yet Moses spoke every reason possible for why he could not step into and fulfill the will and purpose of the living God.

I absolutely love when the fourth chapter ends and the fifth chapter concludes, for not only do we encounter and come face to face with the reality that eventually Moses came to the point where he no longer had any more excuses, but we also clearly see that Moses would step into and fulfill that which the living God had called him to do. When we come to the fifth chapter of the book of Exodus—not only do we find Moses having left the land of Midian, but we also find Moses speaking unto the elders of the children of Israel and declaring unto them the words which the LORD God of their fathers had spoken unto them, as well as performing the signs the Lord had given him. The simple fact that Moses entered into the land of Egypt, and first spoke unto the elders of the children of Israel points to and reveals the fact that eventually there came a point when there were no longer any excuses left for Moses to speak in the presence of the Lord, and he was left with nothing but the call of God upon his life and the need to obey it. I have to admit that I am quite astonished and amazed at the fact that Moses was able to voice as many excuses and as many reasons why he could and should not return to the land of Egypt to fulfill that which the living God had called and was calling him to do. The truth of the matter, however, is that there came a point when the excuses ceased and when Moses would no longer try and argue with the LORD God of Israel. Does that describe you? Have you found yourself in the presence of the living God and the Lord has called you to something specific, and instead of immediately surrendering to the divine will, plan and purpose of the living God you try and come up with every reason as to why you cannot and should not step into that which the living God has called you to do. Perhaps you are fearful and terrified of that which the Lord has called you to do; perhaps you feel as though are not qualified to walk in the call which the living God has placed upon you. The question I have to ask you who would be reading the words within this writing is what would cause you to think and believe that you are somehow not the right and obvious choice for that which the living God has called you to do. What has entered into your heart, and what has entered into your mind that has caused you to somehow think that you are not qualified to step into that which the living God has called you to do, and as a direct result of the thoughts and opinions in your head you try and reason with the living God that you aren’t qualified to do what He has called you to. If there is one thing the narrative and account of Moses demonstrates and reveals it’s that despite whatever arguments, excuses and reasons we can possibly think of for why we cannot and perhaps even should not step into that which the living God has called us to do—eventually there comes a point when after the Lord has allowed us to exhaust all our words, He finally brings us to the place where we are ready, willing and able to completely and utterly surrender to that which He has called us to.

As you come to the fifth chapter of the book of exodus you will find Moses having already revealed unto his brother Aaron everything concerning that which the living God had spoken unto him, and both of them journeying into the land of Egypt where they would both reveal unto the elders of the children of Israel concerning that which the living God had spoken. Before we get into that which is found in the opening verses of the fifth chapter I feel it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the final portion of the fourth chapter when we see Moses and Aaron speaking unto the children of Israel. If and as you read the words which are found within these final verses you will encounter Moses and Aaron not only revealing everything the Lord had spoken unto Moses, but you also find them performing the signs which the Lord had given unto Moses. Upon reading these verses you will encounter and come face to face with the tremendous reality that the elders of the children of Israel were greatly encouraged and over joyed at THR report which these two Levite brothers had spoken unto and declared to them. In fact you will find and discover the elders of the children of Israel not only worshipping the living God, but also declaring how surely the Lord had seen their affliction and visited them. Pause for a moment and think about that reality and what it must have been like—particularly if there was no discussion concerning God during those days, and yet they still sighed and cried because of their affliction and oppression. Consider if you will the tremendous reality that for years they must have sighed and cried concerning their affliction and oppression, and yet they undoubtedly must have felt as though their cries had fallen on deaf ears. That which makes the final verses of the second chapter so wonderful is the fact that within those verses you not only find the living God hearing their cries, but also looking upon them, remembering the covenant and promise He had made with their fathers, and regarding their plight and condition within the land of Egypt. We dare not miss and lose sight of this absolutely incredible reality, for within this we find the truth that even if and if even when we cry and perhaps we feel as though no one is listening and no one is paying any attention—the living God of heaven and earth both hears and sees. This truth concerning the living God hearing and seeing would again be mentioned in the Old Testament in the second book of the Chronicles of Israel and her kings. It would be in response to Solomon’s dedication of the Temple and his prayer before the living God that He would respond unto him through a dream by night and speaking unto him something very specific concerning the cries and prayers of His people. In fact, if you turn and direct your attention to the seventh chapter of the book of Second Chronicles you will find the Lord emphatically declaring unto Solomon that if His people which were called by His name would humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways and seek His face then would He hear from heaven and heal their land and forgive their sin. What’s more is that you will find the living God also declaring that His eyes and His ears would be attentive unto the cries of His people and would be in that place throughout generations.

This reality and truth concerning the living God both hearing and seeing the cries and affliction of His people is actually quite remarkable and astounding for I can’t help but wonder how many years—how many decades and generations and centuries—the children of Israel cried out in response to their affliction, their oppression and their slavery in the land of Egypt and it seemed as though their cries were falling on deaf ears. What’s more is that I would dare say that there was nothing that would give the children of Israel any clue or indication that their cries and their sighs and their groans were heard by anyone—certainly not the living God. Even more than this I have to say that I firmly believe that the children of Israel weren’t even calling upon the name of the Lord and perhaps did not even know, nor speak of Him during those days. I firmly believe that when you read the words found in the opening chapters of the book of exodus—not only do you understand that there arose a king who knew not Joseph, but you also get the sense that there arose a generation which knew not the God of their fathers. In fact, on more than one occasion during the encounter between Moses and the Lord he referred to Himself as “the God of their fathers,” and even as “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Undoubtedly when the Lord appeared unto Moses—not only was He seeming to deliver His people out of their bondage and affliction within the land of Egypt, but He was also seeking to reveal and make Himself known unto them. I firmly believe that there arose a generations—and perhaps multiple generations—which knew not the God of their fathers, and as much as deliverance was necessary for them, there was something else that was of more importance and more necessity than deliverance. I am firmly convinced that without and apart from the revelation of the living God and the God of their fathers deliverance would have been of no use or any value to them. Tell me—what good would a delivered and ransomed people be if they did not know or have a relationship with the One who had delivered them out and brought them forth from the midst of their slavery. I am convinced that at the very heart of deliverance is the principle of revelation and relationship and the Lord never delivers us without also intending on revelation and relationship with us. With that being said, think about and consider what it must have been like for the elders of the children of Israel to hear Moses reveal unto them that their cries and their groaning—all those nights, all those weeks, all those months, and all those years—have been heard by the living God. Even more than this—we find that the living God both heard their groaning and cries and looked upon their affliction and was ready to act. If they did not know the God of their fathers before this time they were about to know Him firsthand through the judgments He would execute upon the land of Egypt.

REVELATION THROUGH JUDGMENT! REVELATION THROUGH JUDGMENTS! REVELATION THROUGH JUDGMENTS AGAINST YOUR ENEMIES! I can’t help but sit here this morning and get the awesome and incredible sense when reading the narrative and account of the children of Israel within the land of Egypt, as well as through the encounter Moses had with the living God in the wilderness at the burning bush that the living God would reveal Himself unto His people—perhaps not through the traditional sense that we would think about and expect, but rather through means and methods that were completely and utterly different. When we think about revelation and the living God revealing and making Himself known unto us we tend to think about it in terms of visions and his appearing and speaking unto us. The truth of the matter when reading and considering the account of the children of Israel within the land of Egypt in the midst of their bondage, their affliction, their oppression and slavery is that the Lord would reveal Himself unto Moses outside of the land of Egypt and in the wilderness where He would not only reveal Himself, not only remember the covenant He made with their fathers, but would also reveal what He was about to do. When Moses returned and entered into the land of Egypt—not only did he come with a message for Pharaoh concerning his need to let the people of God go, but also with a revelation for the children of Israel concerning the living God of their fathers. With that being said, however, it is absolutely critical and necessary that we understand that this revelation would not come through visions, nor even the Lord speaking unto them directly, nor even manifestations of His presence or the angel of the Lord. As you read the words which are written and found within these opening chapters of the Old Testament book of Exodus you will encounter the tremendous and awesome reality that when the Lord revealed Himself unto the children of Israel He did so through judgments which He executed upon the Egyptians, upon Pharaoh, and upon the land of Egypt. If you read and as you study the words which are found within this passage of Scripture you will find that the first encounter the children of Israel had with the God of their fathers was through judgment which He would execute upon Pharaoh, upon the rulers and leaders within the land of Egypt, and even upon and against the land of Egypt itself. Pause for a moment and think about and consider that, for when we think about the revelation of the living God we don’t think about or even consider the fact that He can reveal and make Himself known through judgments which He executes against our enemies and adversaries. The opening chapters of the Old Testament book of Exodus point to and reveal a wonderful revelation of the God of the fathers of the children of Israel, and yet that revelation would not be found in the traditional sense we would think or expect, but rather through specific judgments which the living God would execute upon the land of Egypt.

If you begin reading with and from the nineteenth verse of the third chapter of the Old Testament book of Exodus you will find the Lord declaring and speaking unto Moses that He was sure the king of Egypt would not let them go, no, not by a mighty hand. With that in mind, the Lord emphatically declared unto Moses that He would stretch out His hand, and smite Egypt with all his wonders which He would do the midst thereof. It would be in response to the judgments the living God would execute upon the land of Egypt that—not only would Pharaoh let the children of Israel go from the land, but the children of Israel would also experience and encounter their first revelation of the God of their fathers. This same God of their fathers who had destroyed every living thing that moved upon the face of the earth save Noah, his wife, their three sons, their wives, and two of every living thing that moved upon the face of the earth, would not execute judgment upon the land of Egypt. This same God who would destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone from heaven would now execute judgments upon the land of Egypt and would smite it with His strong right hand. Pause for a moment and think about and consider this, for it is truly wonderful and truly spectacular when you take the time to think about it. The Lord would indeed reveal and make Himself known unto the children of Israel within the land of Egypt, yet that revelation would not come through dreams, or visions, or even manifestations of His presence, but it would come through judgments which He would execute upon their enemies, as well as their adversaries. At the risk of getting ahead of myself, I would like to point out that this revelation continued at the Red Sea—long before the encounter at the mountain of God in the wilderness when He descended upon the mountain with a thick cloud, thunder, lightning, fire and smoke—when the living God would once more execute judgment against their enemies and adversaries who attempted to pursue them out of the land of Egypt and overtake them there at the Red Sea. If you study the Old Testament book of Exodus you will find the God of the fathers of the children of Israel first revealing Himself through judgments against their enemies and adversaries when He smote the land of Egypt and ultimately the firstborn of every living thing within the land of Egypt. This revelation would continue after the children of Israel had departed from the midst of the land of Israel and had come to the Red Sea, for the Lord would again reveal Himself unto them when He would divide the waters, thus allowing them to walk through upon dry ground, but would cause confusion in the midst of the waters as their enemies tried pursuing them through them. The Lord would cause the wheels of the chariots to fall off, and would eventually and ultimately thrust the horses, the chariots and the soldiers of Pharaoh into confusion before bringing the waters which had been parted crashing down upon them in the midst of the Red Sea. The revelation of the living God of the Hebrews would begin within the land of Egypt as He would execute judgment upon their enemies and adversaries as he smote the land of Egypt, and this revelation would continue at the Red Sea when the living God would consume the horses, the chariots and the soldiers of Pharaoh’s army with the waters of the Red Sea.

As you come to the fifth chapter of the book of Exodus you will find Moses and Aaron having already stood before the elders of the children of Israel and spoken unto them all the Lord had spoken unto Moses, as well as demonstrating the signs the Lord had given unto Moses. Now, however, the time had come for Moses and Aaron to transition from merely speaking unto the elders of the children of Israel to actually standing before and standing in the presence of Pharaoh. It would be when and as you come to the fifth chapter that you will encounter and come face to face with the beginning of several encounters Moses and Aaron would have with Pharaoh over a period of time when they demanded that he let the children of Israel go from the midst of the land of Egypt. In the first verse of the fifth chapter we find that afterward—after Moses and Aaron had spoken unto the elders of the children of Israel—Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh. Stop right there and think about and consider this absolutely incredible truth and reality, for it’s one thing to hear the revelation straight from the mouth and presence of the living God at a burning bush in the wilderness; it’s one thing to discuss the revelation of the living God between and amongst yourselves while at the mountain of God; it’s one thing to discuss that which God had spoken and that which God had demonstrated through the signs He gave unto you; it’s another thing altogether to actually stand in the presence of Pharaoh who was the most powerful ruler of the known world at that time. The first verse of the fifth chapter begins and opens up with Moses and Aaron standing in the presence of Pharaoh—and not only standing in his presence, but also declaring unto him that which the living God had spoken unto them. If you read the second half of the first verse you will find that not only did Moses and Aaron command Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go, but they also spoke unto him concerning the foundation of that command and declaration—namely, that the LORD God of Israel had spoken and commanded it. Oh please don’t miss and please don’t lose sight of this absolutely wonderful and incredible reality, for when you read the narrative and account of Moses and Aaron standing in the presence of Pharaoh—not only will you find them declaring unto him “Thus saith the LORD God of Israel,” and not only do you find them commanding him to let the people of God go, but you will also find them declaring the purpose and reason for his letting them go—namely, that they might hold a feast unto Him in the wilderness. How absolutely remarkable and astounding it is to think about the fact that the deliverance which the children of Israel would experience in the midst of the land of Egypt would not only produce a revelation of the God of their fathers, but it would also demonstrate His willingness to make Himself known and be known by them. The simple fact that the Lord was calling them out of the land of Egypt that they might hold a feast unto Him in the wilderness suggests that the God of their fathers not only wanted to make Himself known unto them, not only wanted to be known by them, but also wanted to be approached and worshipped by them there in the midst of the wilderness.

It’s absolutely incredible to read these chapters found within the Old Testament book of Exodus and to think about and consider the nature of events which unfolded in the midst of them. If and as you study that which is found and contained within these chapters you will find that beginning with the third and fourth chapters we find the living God—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—revealing Himself unto Moses in order that Moses might take that revelation unto the children of Israel in the midst of the land of Egypt, as well as unto the Egyptian people themselves. It’s worth noting and mentioning when reading these chapters that when Moses returned into and unto the land of Egypt—not only did He come with a revelation of the God of the Hebrews which would be experienced by the children of Israel, but he also came with a revelation for and unto the people of Israel. As you read these chapters you will come to the point and place where you find that the Lord would not only be known by the children of Israel through the judgments He would execute upon the land of Egypt, but you will also find that in the midst of those judgments the people of Egypt themselves would know that He indeed was the living God, and was the God of their fathers. It’s absolutely necessary and imperative that we recognize and understand that the revelation of the God of the Hebrews found within the land of Egypt was not only a revelation for the children of Israel, but it would also be a revelation for and unto the people of Egypt as well, for they would see and encounter the God of the Hebrews in the midst of the judgments He executed upon the land of Egypt, and against Pharaoh and his rulers therein. How absolutely wonderful and incredible it is to think that the revelation of the God of the Hebrews which Moses would bring into the land of Egypt would not only touch the children of Israel, but it would also touch the Egyptian people themselves, as they too would have a front row seat to the judgments which the Lord would execute upon the land. As surely and as certainly as there would come judgments within and upon the land of Egypt—those judgments would be manifested with and for the express and sole purpose of bringing a revelation unto the children of Israel, as well as unto the Egyptian people themselves as they too would encounter and experience the revelation of the God of the Hebrews through the judgments He would execute within and upon the land of Egypt. It must be considered that the revelation of the God of the Hebrews would be manifested in the midst of the land of Egypt through the judgments He would execute upon Pharaoh, upon his rulers and leaders, and upon the land of Egypt itself—including the people within the land of Egypt. Even if you look back to the words which the living God spoke unto Moses there in the wilderness at the mountain of God you will find Him speaking and declaring unto Him how He would completely and utterly spoil the Egyptians and the land of the Egyptians in order that he might bring forth his people out of and from the midst of their slavery, bondage and oppression.

In the fifth chapter of the book of Exodus we find the beginning of the confrontation between Moses and Aaron and Pharaoh, and it is absolutely necessary that we recognize and understand this, for you would think that given the nature of the word which the LORD God of the Hebrews spoke unto Moses that Moses and Aaron would simply step into the presence of Pharaoh, demand that he let the people of God go, perform a couple signs, and that would be the end of it. The truth of the matter is that this simply isn’t the case, and this wasn’t what happened at all. In fact, if you read the words which are found within these chapters you will not only find that Pharaoh’s magicians were able to produce some of the same signs which Moses and Aaron did, but you will also find that Pharaoh’s heart was hardened before the LORD God of the Hebrews, and they he refused to let the people of God go. Upon reading these chapters you will find that as if it weren’t bad enough that the heart of Pharaoh was hardened and he refused to let the people of God go, he actually made matters much worse for them as a direct result of the presence of Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt. Beginning to read with and from the fifth verse of the fifth chapter you will find that after Moses and Aaron had initially stood in the presence of Pharaoh and demanded that he let them go, Pharaoh would turn around and make matters much worse for the children of Israel. The fifth verse begins and opens up with Pharaoh declaring how the people of the land are many, and how Moses and Aaron caused them to rest from their burdens. Unwilling to allow this to continue Pharaoh commanded that same day that the taskmasters of the people, and their officers should no more give the people straw to make brick as they had done before, but rather to let them go and gather straw for themselves. What’s more, and as if this wasn’t in and of itself trying on the people of Israel, you will also find that Pharaoh did not reduce the quota of bricks which would be required of the people of the land, but would require from them the same quota he had always done. Even more than this, you will find Pharaoh seemingly increasing the work load upon the people of the land, for in the ninth verse you will find him instructing that more work be laid upon them in order that they might labour more intensely and earnestly. The entire purpose for demanding that they gather their own straw, as well as for their work load to be increased in the land was to prevent and keep them from being idle, and even to regard the words which Moses and Aaron were speaking and had spoken unto them. Oh please don’t miss and please don’t lose sight of this absolutely incredible reality, for within this reality and within these verses we find and discover that there are times within our lives when even though we have a clear word from the Lord, and even though we have a revelation from the living God—things seem to get much worse before they get better.

SOMETIMES THINGS GET WORSE BEFORE THEY GET BETTER! SOMETIMES THINGS GET WORSE BEFORE WE SEE THE FULFILLMENT OF THAT WHICH THE LORD HAS SPOKEN UNTO US! If there is one thing these chapters proves and demonstrates, it’s that it is possible to have a word from the Lord, it is possible to have received a fresh revelation from the living God, and it is possible for us to have a promise from the living God, and yet before we see the fulfillment of that which He has spoken unto us we experience matters growing and becoming much worse. The fact that Pharaoh not only instructed that no more straw be given unto the children of Israel, and the fact that he demanded and expected the same quota he had previously expected, and even increased the work load suggests and reveals that even though Moses and Aaron had shown up with a word from the God of their fathers how He had heard their cries and had seen their groaning on account of their affliction, oppression, bondage and slavery, things would grow much worse before they would get better. Have you ever found yourself in this place within your life? Have you ever found yourself in the place where you have a clear word from the LORD God of heaven and earth, and before you see the fulfillment of that word things and matters seem to grow much worse for you? The fifth chapter of the Old Testament book of Exodus is quite unique and astounding when you think about and consider it, for within the words found in this chapter we find that instead of Pharaoh letting the people of Israel go from the midst of the land of Egypt, he instead makes their lives even more cruel and increases the oppression toward, against and upon them. Moses and Aaron stood in the presence of Pharaoh and demanded that he let the people go, and not only did Pharaoh ask who the Lord was that he should obey his voice, but he also proceeded to increase the affliction and oppression upon the lives of the children of Israel in the land of Egypt. It was indeed and was in fact true that the children of Israel were promised they would be delivered out of their bondage, out of their affliction, and out of their slavery, and yet before they would ever witness and behold that, they would first experience matters going from bad to worse. What I can’t help but think about and consider is that there are times in our lives when the stage needs to be set for hand of the living God to move in our midst, and the stage being set means and suggests that matters grow much worse before they grow better. What I mean by this is that there are times when we find ourselves having received a clear word form the Lord, and yet in the midst of that word which the living God has spoken unto us, we find matters growing worse in order that the stage might truly be set for that which the living God desires to do in our midst.

When you come to the sixth chapter of the book of Exodus you will find Moses having returned into the presence of the Lord and asking why He had so entreated the people, and why the Lord sent him, for ever since he went into the presence of Pharaoh to speak in His name, he responded by committing even greater evil against the children and people of Israel. The fifth chapter begins with Moses and Aaron standing in the presence of Pharaoh demanding that he let the people of Israel go, and yet it concludes with Moses returning unto the Lord and asking Him why He sent him and why He so entreated the people of Israel, for ever since he began speaking in his name Pharaoh began mistreating the children of Israel even more. The sixth chapter, however, opens up with a bang, for in response to the words which Moses spoke unto the Lord we find Him declaring unto Moses, saying, “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 will he drive them out of his land.” Please don’t miss the tremendous impact and significance of these words, for within these words which the Lord spoke unto Pharaoh we find the Lord’s response to Moses being spoken with a tremendous declaration of action, for even though Pharaoh seemed to inflict greater oppression and affliction on the children of Israel he would see that which the LORD God of the Hebrews would do unto Pharaoh. What’s more, is the Lord emphatically declared that with a strong hand Pharaoh would let the children of Israel go, and with a strong hand he would drive them out of the land. What’s more, is that if and as you continue reading the words which are found within this passage of Scripture you will find the Lord speaking unto Moses and declaring how He would bring them out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and how he would rid them out of their bondage, and would redeem them with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments. This is absolutely astounding when you take the time to think about and consider it, for with these words we find a fresh revelation of the living God in the midst of the land of Egypt, for even though Pharaoh had increased the affliction and oppression which was upon the children of Israel, the stage would now be set for the living God of the Hebrews to put on a display of His power and glory in the midst of the land of Egypt. Despite the fact that the lives and labor of the children of Israel had grown much worse and much harder, the Lord would now be prepared and would be poised to act with tremendous strength and might within the land of Egypt. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this absolutely incredible reality, for as we will see in the upcoming and following chapters Moses and Aaron would repeatedly enter into the presence of Pharaoh and demand that he let the people of Israel go. While entering into the presence of Pharaoh initially wasn’t enough for him to let the people of Israel go, we will also learn that it would take multiple encounters in the presence of Pharaoh, and multiple signs and judgments within the land of Egypt before Pharaoh would finally let the children of Israel go from the midst of the land. If there is one thing we can take great solace in it’s that despite the fact that matters might in fact grow worse before they show signs of improvement or getting better, the living God of Israel is still prepared and poised to act and has not forgotten about us.