It Usually Gets Worse First
Exodus 5:20–23 (ESV) They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; 21 and they said to them, “The Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” 22 Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”
Moses has gone to Pharaoh and nothing but bad has happened. Note that again: Moses has done what God has said exactly... and all that has been produced is Pharaoh's decree to cause more pain to the people of Israel. They will not be forced to make the same quota of bricks per day AND scavenge for their own straw.
Herein lies the unseen fact of following the Lord. It usually gets worse at first. The Lord does not make everything alright. He is not "mommy" who kisses our pain away. I have found in my own life and in the lives of the saints in the Scriptures, they typically obeyed God and were met with discouraging news immediately after.
Think of David who is anointed King, kills Goliath, and then serves in Saul's throne room. He will spend the next 13 years dodging the chairs and spears from Saul's hand, hiding in caves and pretending to go insane. It got worse at first.
Think of Peter who preaches the Gospel and thousands are saved. He's preaching the message of Jesus. Surely there's good reward in store. Not right away. He's flogged and imprisoned. He's scheduled for beheading and sitting in jail soon after. It got worse at first.
Think of Jesus Himself! He is God the Son. He is anointed of the Spirit, He hears the voice from Heaven at His baptism. He is about to begin His ministry. The Spirit then leads Him to the wilderness to be tempted for 40 days and nights by the devil with the wild animals. It got worse at first.
I think we accept this truth in our minds more than our reality. For sure all these illustrations from the scriptures are helpful for us at the moment. But what about when we actually step out, step up and start doing what God wants us to do and we meet nothing but trial, trouble and hardship? What about when friends question us? What about when relatives doubt us or disown us? What about when our money is tight or our jobs are tenuous BECAUSE we did what God has asked?
THAT is when we need to remember stories like this. Because to Moses and all Israel, it does look worse at first. But here's the fact. They won't be making bricks any more at all. The plagues will begin, the Nile will be blood, the sky dark, the cattle destroyed and Pharaoh's palace will be in disarray. What looks terrible right now is MOMENTS from glorious redemption for God's people.
I like the first word from God's mouth to Moses in chapter 6:
Exodus 6:1 (ESV) But the LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”
Right now, Moses is looking at all the trouble. He's questioning his calling. He's starting to sound like the foremen. First they appealed to Pharaoh as if he was their "master" and then they complained against Moses who was God's messenger! Two things we often do in trouble is turn back to sin and away from God's people!
God says to Moses: Look at Me! Don't look back at Pharaoh. Don't listen to the naysayers. Don't live with self-doubt. Watch ME!
Romans 8:18 (ESV) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
What are you facing right now for having done God's work that makes you wonder if you heard Him right? Examine your heart, confess any sin, pray to Him. Then look for Him to show up. He will not fail you.
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