How does Exodus 5:1 encourage us to trust God's timing and plan? Setting the Scene “Afterward, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: “Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.” ’” (Exodus 5:1) Spotting God’s Timing in a Single Word • The verse begins with “Afterward”—signaling that God acted at a precise moment, not haphazardly. • Israel had suffered for centuries (Genesis 15:13), yet the Lord waited until every part of His plan aligned: Moses was back in Egypt, Aaron was with him, and Pharaoh’s heart was primed for confrontation. • Galatians 4:4 echoes this principle: “But when the fullness of time came, God sent His Son…”. God always moves in “fullness,” never prematurely. Why the Wait Was Necessary • Preparation of the Deliverer: Moses’ forty years in Midian shaped his humility (Exodus 3:1). • Demonstration of Power: A hardened Pharaoh provided the backdrop for ten astounding plagues (Exodus 7–12). • Cultivation of Faith: Israel learned to look beyond Egypt’s whip to God’s promise (Exodus 2:23-25). How Exodus 5:1 Builds Trust in God’s Timing • God speaks before He acts—giving His word first (“Thus says the LORD”), proving His promises anchor our hope (Psalm 119:114). • He initiates the confrontation, not Moses; our confidence rests in His leading, not self-made plans (Proverbs 3:5-6). • The command is clear and specific, reminding us that divine timing is married to divine clarity; God does not confuse His children (1 Corinthians 14:33). God’s Plan Unfolds Step by Step 1. Declaration: “Let My people go.” God states His will plainly. 2. Destination: “…so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.” Worship is always the endgame of deliverance. 3. Development: Resistance comes next (Exodus 5:2–23), displaying that opposition does not equal divine absence. 4. Deliverance: The plagues and the Passover follow (Exodus 7-12), proving that delay often magnifies deliverance. Scriptural Reinforcements • Psalm 31:15: “My times are in Your hands.” • Isaiah 55:8-9: His thoughts and ways outrun ours. • Romans 8:28: All things work together for good—events in Egypt included. • 2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is “not slow” but patient, accomplishing salvation. Living Exodus 5:1 Today • Wait with expectation; “afterward” moments come when God’s purposes ripen. • Hold to His word; like Moses, approach each obstacle armed with “Thus says the LORD.” • Measure success by obedience, not immediate results—Israel’s burdens actually grew before freedom burst forth. • Celebrate deliverance when it arrives; God’s timing always ends in worship, just as He promised a feast in the wilderness. Exodus 5:1 shows that the God who schedules every “afterward” can be trusted with every “right now.” |
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