What challenges might we face when obeying God like Moses and Aaron? The Verse in Focus Exodus 7:6: “So Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded them; so they did.” Why This Moment Matters God’s word records a real event: two aging brothers stood before the most powerful ruler on earth and obeyed exactly what the LORD said. Their example lays bare the very obstacles we are likely to meet whenever we choose simple, literal obedience. Challenges We May Face When Obeying, Reflected in Moses and Aaron • Feeling inadequate or “past our prime” – Moses was about 80 and Aaron 83 (Exodus 7:7). – God delights in strength made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). • Confronting hostile authority – Pharaoh’s first response: “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice…?” (Exodus 5:2). – Obedient disciples in every age meet resistance (Acts 5:29; 2 Timothy 3:12). • Watching hearts remain hard, despite clear truth – “Yet Pharaoh’s heart was hard, and he would not listen” (Exodus 7:13). – Some will “always resist the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51). • Enduring delayed results – Ten plagues unfolded before freedom came. – “Let endurance have its perfect work” (James 1:4). • Bearing criticism from our own people – Israel grumbled: “May the LORD judge you” (Exodus 5:21). – Jesus’ hometown skeptics did the same (Mark 6:3-4). • Discerning true power from impressive counterfeits – Egyptian magicians mimicked the rod-to-serpent sign (Exodus 7:11-12). – End-time deceivers will perform “counterfeit miracles” (2 Thessalonians 2:9). • Accepting personal risk – Moses feared Pharaoh’s wrath (Exodus 10:28). – “Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25). • Maintaining unity with co-laborers – Moses spoke; Aaron often acted (Exodus 7:1-2). – “Two are better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9), yet unity requires humility (Philippians 2:3-4). • Guarding against pride when God moves powerfully – Miraculous plagues could have inflated egos. – “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). • Keeping God’s instructions central, not our own ideas – The text repeats, “just as the LORD had commanded.” – Jesus links love and obedience: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word” (John 14:23). Strength for the Journey • God’s presence: “I will be with you” (Exodus 3:12). • God’s promises: “By a mighty hand he will let them go” (Exodus 6:1). • God’s power: His staff swallowed the magicians’ serpents (Exodus 7:12). • God’s purpose: deliverance that displays His glory (Exodus 9:16). Key Takeaways 1. Obedience rarely travels an easy road, but God travels it with us. 2. Resistance—from within and without—does not mean we misheard God. 3. Exact obedience anchors us when circumstances, critics, or counterfeits swirl. 4. Perseverance today positions us to witness tomorrow’s deliverance. |
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