As Exodus starts the Isrealits are enslaved by a new king. King Pharaoh was terrified by the rising of the Isrealites and fear their strength in numbers. He begins to try to destroy them.

As we read cahpter 2 we are introduced to Moses.What a hard beginning he had. Left in a basket to be raised by one of Pharaohs daughters; well kind of. But let’s jump ahead to verse 11. Moses is a grown man now and so begins his mission to serve and save the Israelites. As we read on in chapter 2 we see in verse 13 how Moses is found out for what he has done and that the king is going to kill him. Moses goes into hiding again and because of his kind heart he is rescued.

As we read on some may wonder; what good is all this? Well at the end of chapter 2 we begin to see the Lords plan unfold. In verse 24 the Lord remembers His promise to His people and knows now the time has come to fulfill that promise.

In chapter 3 Moses is chosen by God to lead the people from slavery. In verse 10 God begins to explain what He wants Moses to do. In verse 11 Moses resist Gods request. He doesn’t believe that he is good enough to do the job at hand. The rest of chapter 3 and in chapter 4 Moses keeps finding reasons why he is not the person for the job. God continues to remind Moses; “yes, it is going to be difficult but I will be there with you, and I will see you through victories even if small.” Finally in verse 14 the Lord gets frustrated with all the excuses Moses has presented for reasons that God should not pick him. God then provides a helper, Aaron for Moses.

Chapter 5 revels the mission trip to save the Lord’s people. As we read on right out of the gate Pharaoh refuses and makes work hard for those in slavery to him. In verse 22 Moses even goes back to the Lord and blames Him for not stopping Pharaoh from punishing the workers more and more.

In chapter 6 the Lord responds to Moses and explains that Pharaoh will be driven to let the people go. In verse 9 Moses goes back to the people and tells them about the good news from the Lord. He will rescue them. But as verse 9 goes on we read how the people wouldn’t listen. They are tired and warn out from the years in slavery and how hard things have become for them.

At the end of chapter 6 God instructs Moses to go to Pharaoh one more time. In verse 30 Moses argues with the Lord again. I can’t do it! Why should Pharaoh listen to me?

As we read on in chapter 7 & 8 God brings hardships and terror onto Pharaoh, his people and his kingdom. Time and time again Pharaohs harden heart refuses to believe that God through Moses has brought these things on him. When we see what looks like a small amount of belief that Jehovah is behind all these things Pharaoh goes back to his hateful heart and refuses to free the people. In verse 32b at the end of chapter 8 Pharaoh hardened his heart again and didn’t let the people go.

We read these chapters and can ask ourselves why God? First why Moses, he certainly didn’t want the job. How about all the trouble brought on those poor people, Gods people. Where were you God?

How many times are we asked by God to go and do something that doesn’t feel right for us? Now a days it’s not a burning bush in front of us. It’s a nudge from the Holy Spirit. At first, we push it down away from our thoughts. Where did that idea come from? My mind must be playing tricks on me. I could never do that and I certainly do not think I can fit that into my life now.

The nudge from the Holy Spirit comes again and again. We keep ourselves busy or convince ourselves we are to tired. We worked all day taking care of our family (flock) or at a job outside of your home (sheep), I deserve to just sit back and rest because I had a long day.

How many times do we resist the nudge from God to be the light in someone’s life? Oh, I forgot witnessing to another person it not your thing, right?

How many times do you notice someone in need or a thought comes to you to help the person in front of you. You talk yourself out of it so quickly. You don’t have time or boy I need to save my money for..you fill in the blank.

Like Moses Gods promies are there when we have faith and follow His leading. Oh, I know, trust me, I know; the promises don’t even come in our time frame.

If we start our day with a thankful heart, we will begin to see all that God gives us, every minute of our day. The smile of our chld, a phone call from a friend or partent; the food in our stomach and warmth of our home.

Now lets take a step back and look breifly at Pharaoh. Wow Right!? Hardened heart for sure. Have you ever meet someone like this? Every moment we see God in their life they run to the world and view it with skepticism and fear.

You see God didn’t take Pharaohs free will away. He gave him every opportunity to see the truth and turn his hardened heart to the Lord. Some people we know in our life are a Pharaoh. Their hearts are hardened towards the Lord. But like Pharaoh God never gives up on them. He goes back again and again. Moses and Aaron continued to minister to Pharaoh and his people. I am sure it became exhausting every time they showed the Lord to him, he turned his back on them and God. Don’t give up on the person you know that has turned away from God. God’s love is a free gift to all who believe.

Lord we dont know today why we are in this situation; why things can seem hard. We dont see your plans for us but we are willing to follow you and will listen to your Holy Spirit even when it feels uncomfortable. We have faith that falls short sometimes and know that you are working all things for the good. Use us to teach your love to those that need you. Amen