Trusting His ways

The Israelite foremen could see that they were in serious trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce the number of bricks you make each day.” As they left Pharaoh’s court, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who were waiting outside for them. The foremen said to them, “May the Lord judge and punish you for making us stink before Pharaoh and his officials. You have put a sword into their hands, an excuse to kill us!” Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. Exodus 5:19-23 Moses was commanded by God to lead the Israelites out from Egyptian bondage. He will do this by telling Pharaoh to let his people go (Exodus 5:1). Yet, Moses did not know how God would deliver His people out of Egypt. Later, he realized that God’s plan of leading out the Israelites from Egypt included the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart (Exodus 7:3). Moses did not anticipate this way of God in dealing with Pharaoh. He thought that Pharaoh would easily budge to listen to God’s command. Moses experienced otherwise. Pharaoh made life very difficult for Israelites that they came to Moses accusing him that God’s ways would result to death among the Israelites. “You have put a sword into their hands, an excuse to kill us! (Exodus 5:21). Because of this, Moses was hated by the Israelites. This prompted Moses to return to the Lord and inquired what had just transpired. “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? (Exodus 5:22). Are you trying to figure out how God works in your life? There are times that Christians tend to second-guess God. This has led to so many frustrations because God at times work His will in ways that believers did not anticipate. But the source of the frustrations oftentimes comes from false assumptions. You presume that you know how God thinks and what He will do. Then, when things did not work out the way you wanted you get discouraged. It is a folly if you make assumptions about God’s will because your basis for His activities in your life is your own “common sense.” God does not eliminate your common sense instead He shifts it to a different level of understanding. He gives you wisdom so you could understand His ways and accept His will for your life. This is what you will notice when you look back to His past activities in your life where He provided you wisdom so you could follow His will for your life. Your frustrations doing God’s will are lessened when you do not try to anticipate the result of your actions when you do what God told you to do. All He asks you is to obey and let Him take over as to what will be the result of your obedience. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Blessings,

Noel De Guzman Westside Baptist Church Los Angeles, CA