“Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery” (EX 6.9).
God had promised Israel deliverance from the crushing weight of Pharaoh’s cruel fist and their hopes had soared. Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh, demanding Israel’s release. But instead of letting them go, he turns the screws even tighter, intensifying Israel’s cruel slavery.
God again promises to deliver them, but this time Israel doesn’t listen because Pharaoh’s brutality had broken their spirits.
The Scripture above teaches us that sometimes it gets worse before it gets better. But that doesn’t mean God has abandoned us. It means he’s setting the stage to gain even more glory and give us even greater joy than if he answered our prayers right away. How stunning was his rescue of Israel from Egypt! How astounding was Jesus’ rescue of us from our death and sins. Just when all looks lost, Jesus comes bursting forth from the grave!
Often in superb dramas, things get increasingly impossible for a character before a sudden and glorious rescue. He’s knocked unconscious only to awake strapped to railroad tracks. A train whistle blows in the distance. He struggles, only tightening the knots. Now we see smoke. The train rounds the corner, bearing down. The extremity of the character’s peril makes his escape that much more incredible.
We must keep trusting God’s promises, even when things go from bad to worse.
We must seek his grace to keep our spirits from being broken. We must keep asking him to fulfill his promises and keep thanking him that he’ll help us.
But even when our faith wanes, God is patient and longsuffering! Even though Israel didn’t listen to Moses in their discouragement, God still rescued them. Sometimes trials crush believers so much they struggle to believe God’s promises. Just as God bore with Israel’s weakness, we should bear with our brothers’ and sisters’ weakness.
So let’s be patient with the weak in faith, and pray for them and encourage them. And if you are in the cooker and things have gone from hot to boiling, remember, sometimes it gets worse before it gets better – for God’s glory and your joy.
photo by Amymillerphotos
Written by Mark Altrogge
Topics: Faith