In today's reading it's interesting that when the people (via Moses and Aaron) asked for relief of bondage, the bondage gets harder and more difficult. Isn't that what happens in our own lives as well? When we start to see the light and start desiring to be free from Satan's bondage in certain areas of our life, he tightens the chains and temptations! It makes us think, "Things are only getting more difficult. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea afterall to try to break away from these sinful habits!" Yes, Satan doesn't want to let us go free from Egypt, even today...
The task of "making bricks without straw/stubble" and increased persecution for the Israelites makes me think of the testing we will receive at the end of time. The Bible tells us the works of self "stubble" will be all burned up! Only that which has been accomplished thru the Holy Spirit will last! "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble [In the words, any foundation other than Jesus Christ is a dangerous foundation and will be destroyed]; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." ( I Cor. 3:11-13) In Luke 3:17 we are told, "... He will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable." Luke 3:17
As the difficulties were increased Moses didn't want to go back and speak to Pharaoh. Do you blame him? His cry to God, "I am a man of uncircumcised lips!" (This is our condition as well! The sooner we recognize this, the better...)
In Isaiah we see a similar cry: "Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged." (Isa. 6:6-7)
The following passage from Inspiration really speaks to me regarding this experience the Israelites had to walk through before leaving Egypt :
"The Hebrews had expected to obtain their freedom without any special trial of their faith or any real suffering or hardship. But they were not yet prepared for deliverance. They had little faith in God, and were unwilling patiently to endure their afflictions until He should see fit to work for them. Many were content to remain in bondage rather than meet the difficulties attending removal to a strange land; and the habits of some had become so much like those of the Egyptians that they preferred to dwell in Egypt. Therefore the Lord did not deliver them by the first manifestation of His power before Pharaoh. He overruled events more fully to develop the tyrannical spirit of the Egyptian king and also to reveal Himself to His people. Beholding His justice, His power, and His love, they would choose to leave Egypt and give themselves to His service." – {PP 260.2}
"The Hebrews had expected to obtain their freedom without any special trial of their faith or any real suffering or hardship. But they were not yet prepared for deliverance. They had little faith in God, and were unwilling patiently to endure their afflictions until He should see fit to work for them. Many were content to remain in bondage rather than meet the difficulties attending removal to a strange land; and the habits of some had become so much like those of the Egyptians that they preferred to dwell in Egypt. Therefore the Lord did not deliver them by the first manifestation of His power before Pharaoh. He overruled events more fully to develop the tyrannical spirit of the Egyptian king and also to reveal Himself to His people. Beholding His justice, His power, and His love, they would choose to leave Egypt and give themselves to His service." – {PP 260.2}
The children of Israel had a bitter cup to drink. In today's reading of Matthew 20 Jesus questions his disciples: "Are you able to drink this cup?" The truth is, we are not able, none of us are able, except by the grace of God.
Tomorrow's reading: Ex. 7-8 and Psalms 13-14
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