God Allows Us to Choose

Exodus 5: 19-23

“19 The Israelite supervisors saw that they were in trouble when they were told, “You shall not lessen your daily number of bricks.” 20 As they left Pharaoh, they came upon Moses and Aaron, who were waiting to meet them. 21 They said to them, “The Lord look upon you and judge! You have brought us into bad odor with Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” 22 Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O my Lord, why have you mistreated this people? Why did you ever send me? 23 Since I first came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has mistreated this people, and you have done nothing at all to deliver your people.”

The leaders (supervisors) of the Israelites were in trouble with the Pharaoh because of Moses.  They blamed Moses, not the Pharaoh, for the mistreatment of the Israelite people, and especially the treatment that they, themselves, were receiving.

Moses began to question his presence and his mission in Egypt.  Moses saw the harsh treatment of the Israelites and wondered why God did not intervene.  

God often receives the blame for things that have been brought about through human will and human hands.  When God does not swoop out of the heavens and save us from ourselves we begin to have doubts about God, but not about ourselves.

Moses blamed God for the mistreatment of the Israelites.  God allowed the mistreatment, but God did not mistreat them. It was the Egyptians that chose to mistreat the Israelites.

God allows us to choose, to make decisions about our behavior, our words, our actions.  When our plans fail or when we act badly, we blame others, not ourselves.  We may even blame God.

Moses accused God of doing nothing at all to deliver the Israelites.  Perhaps Moses had forgotten his purpose for being in Egypt.

Moses was about to see God’s plan unfold.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)