by: Dr. Allen Domelle
Exodus 5:21
“And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.”
When Moses returned to Egypt, he showed Israel through the signs of the rod that was turned into a serpent and the healing of the leprous hand that God would deliver them. Exodus 4:31 says when God’s people saw these signs, “And the people believed…” However, something happened between Exodus 4:31 and the verse above. What happened was when Moses told Pharaoh to let the people go, he hardened his heart and increased the hardness of their bondage. They believed in one verse, but a few verses later they were blaming Moses for the increased affliction.
These people made the same mistake many Christians make by basing God’s promises on their current conditions. They thought that God didn’t speak or promise because things were not going the way they imagined. They based God’s promises on whether or not their situation had changed. What they didn’t take into consideration was that nothing had changed from the time that God spoke to Moses to the time of their increased afflictions. There are three things we need to take into consideration concerning God’s promises.
First, just because our situation hasn’t changed doesn’t mean God didn’t speak. Just because our situation gets worse doesn’t mean that God isn’t working. We are guilty of basing the working hand of God upon the ease of our current situation when often God’s hand is working through life’s afflictions. God was working for Israel through the plagues, but they couldn’t see it because they were focused on the immediate. Don’t let the difficulties of your current situation shake your faith in God’s calling, promise or working hand.
Second, God’s promise hasn’t changed when He doesn’t come through on our timetable. Even Moses doubted whether God promised him when he said in verse 22, “Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people?” We want God to work immediately when He works on His timetable. Don’t let the Devil discourage you when you don’t see God working immediately on your behalf. He is working, you just can’t see what He is doing. Remember that God doesn’t work off our clock. He has His own timetable, and His timing is always right. Until He comes through, you must obey and follow through with what He wants you to do.
Third, God’s call and command don’t change when there is no evidence of anything happening. Moses asked in verse 22, “…why is it that thou hast sent me?” Many people have quit on God because they didn’t see God change their situation. The only way you will serve the LORD to the end of life is by believing in a place called Heaven, and in a judgment seat where He will reward His children. When you have no evidence of God working, go back to His Word and regain your confidence by realizing He always keeps His promises.
Do you at times wonder if God is really working in your life? Just because things are not going the way you think they should go doesn’t mean that God didn’t speak or promise. If you will continue obeying God, in His timing you will see that your faith in what He said was right. Don’t despair; God is working.