God Reveals the Heart

God Reveals the Heart: Four Confrontations that Change Everything Exodus 5:1-23 Review • In Exodus 3-4, God calls Moses to the office of Prophet and commissions him as leader of the people. • Several encouraging predictions come true: Aaron appears from nowhere; the elders of Israel believe and worship, etc. • But now, we see some of the not-so-encouraging predictions: “ But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand” (3:19). • Moses tells this part of the story in four confrontations. God’s Prophet Confronts Pharaoh (5:114) • Moses’s Two-part Request: one as God’s representative; one as personal appeal • Pharaoh’s Presumption of Godhood: 1. Brash Superiority – Who is Yahweh … I don’t know Yahweh 2. Feigned Omniscience – Pharaoh pretends to know the heart; Pharaoh presumes to determine the truth 3. Attempted Omnipotence – “Thus says Pharaoh”; confident proclamations: I will not let them go/Get back to your labor/They must gather straw/impose heavier work • Disastrous Consequences: No Straw; Nationwide Shortage; Dispersion; Beatings God’s People Confront Pharaoh (5:15-19) • The people assume the fault was with Moses and Aaron • The Israelite representatives acquiesce in almost every way (3x they affirm servitude to Pharaoh; Politeness that borders on absurdity, “For what reason have you done thus … your own people are at fault” • Pharaoh doubles down on this national policy of destruction: lit., “Lazy you are! Lazy!” God’s People Confront God’s Prophet (5: 21) • Moses and Aaron are showing some fast learning – they know what Pharaoh’s response will be and they are ready to comfort • Moses and Aaron still have some leadership lessons to learn – the Israelite leaders turn on Moses and Aaron: 1. They call down a curse upon Moses and Aaron 2. They lay all the blame on Moses and Aaron for their supposed poor handling and seemingly obvious lack of foresight God’s Prophet Confronts God (5:22-23) • Moses returns the LORD with four-fold accusation: 1. Moses refuses to call the LORD by His personal name 2. Moses again questions his calling to the task 3. Moses accuses God of the trouble that has come on the people 4. Moses accuses God of failing to keep His word • Moses is telling on himself years after the fact – see Psalm 73:22 • Amazingly, God ignores the personal affronts, but determines to move ahead with His plans all the same. Applications 1. Contrast Man’s Anger with God’s Patient Resolve: • “Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9) • “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32) 2. “Judge not the Lord by Feeble Sense” (Cowper, Mysterious Way)