How does Moses' question in Exodus 5:22 reflect human doubt in God's plan? Setting the Scene Pharaoh has just tightened his grip on Israel, forcing the slaves to gather their own straw while producing the same quota of bricks (Exodus 5:6-18). The people blame Moses and Aaron, and Moses brings his anguish straight to God. Moses’ Honest Cry: Exodus 5:22 “So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, ‘Lord, why have You brought harm upon this people? Is this why You sent me?’” What Moses’ Question Reveals About Doubt • Doubt often surfaces when obedience seems to make things worse, not better. • Moses equates immediate hardship with divine failure, missing the long-range deliverance God promised in Exodus 3:8. • His words show the tug-of-war between faith (“You sent me”) and fear (“why have You brought harm?”). • Notice the personal tone—Moses addresses God directly and honestly. Scripture never hides the raw wrestlings of its heroes, underscoring its historical reliability. Echoes of This Struggle Elsewhere • Jeremiah: “O LORD, You deceived me, and I was deceived” (Jeremiah 20:7). • Habakkuk: “How long, O LORD, must I cry for help, but You do not listen?” (Habakkuk 1:2). • David: “How long will You hide Your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1-2). • The disciples: “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38). • Martha: “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21). These accounts show that doubt is a common human response when God’s timeline stretches beyond our sight. God’s Compassionate Response • God does not rebuke Moses; He reveals more of His plan (Exodus 6:1-8). • He reaffirms His covenant name—“I am the LORD” (v. 2)—grounding Moses’ wavering heart in God’s unchanging character. • Seven “I will” statements (vv. 6-8) emphasize that deliverance rests on divine action, not human performance. Lessons for Today • Bring doubts directly to God; Scripture models open dialogue, not silent despair. • Present hardship does not negate God’s promises; it often precedes their fulfillment (Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:17). • God’s patience with Moses assures us He can handle our questions and still accomplish His purposes (Philippians 1:6). • Trust grows as we recall past faithfulness—just as Israel would soon witness the plagues, the Passover, and the Red Sea. Holding Fast to God’s Character • He hears: “The LORD heard our voice” (Deuteronomy 26:7). • He remembers: “God remembered His covenant” (Exodus 2:24). • He acts: “The LORD will fight for you” (Exodus 14:14). Moses’ question captures the heartbeat of every believer who wonders why obedience sometimes deepens the trial. Scripture invites that honest question, then answers it with God’s unfailing, covenant-keeping love. |
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