“Then, as they came out from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron who stood there to meet them. And they said to them, “Let the Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.” So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.””
Exodus 5:20-23 NKJV
I know that you probably don’t want to hear about roach baits today; but hear me out.
Different companies make roach baits. These baits have some irresistible delicacy (to the senses of a roach) mixed with a potent roach killer. The way these work is that the roach is attracted to the bait, eats the bait, also taking some of it back to the nest. Ant baits work much the same, actually working even more quickly as ants are such tireless workers.
Now, on the ones I have used (as much as I love animals of all sorts, insects cannot share my home), there is a disclaimer saying that there may seem to be more roach/ant activity when you put out the bait. But given time, it will work the way it is meant to work.
Here’s another scenario: Anybody who has ever had a knee or hip replacement knows that they went from bad to worse quickly after the replacement was implanted. So, there is generally a period of time when the surgery is regretted. However, given time for healing and therapy, there is often great pain relief.
I have known people who had wounds where the surface had healed over but the inner part was not healed and contained infection. The remedy was to totally expose the wound again, making it look(and feel) worse. But given time, it healed as it was supposed to heal.
Now, what do roach baits, joint replacements, and scraping out infected wounds all have in common? As you have probably already supposed, they all present a scenario wherein things look worse, but GIVEN TIME, get better. If any of these remedies had been rated early on in the process, their rating would not have been very good.
Further, we see examples in the Bible of people who, after being anointed to be king, went through an intense period of assault and struggle (ask David about this).
We also see people who, having received a promise from the Lord, are first met with a move in the “wrong” direction (ask Joseph about that).
Today we find Moses, having just been assured by the Lord that he has been sent to deliver God’s people, facing the anger of people whose situation is suddenly much worse because of Moses’ intervention.
We will later learn that the Lord has allowed circumstances to harden Pharaoh’s heart so that the plagues would come on the Egyptians, proving the preeminence of the God of the Hebrews over the gods of Egypt.
As well, consider prophetic passages referencing the fact that in the end times the Lord will actually allow the gathering of all nations against Israel, so that they may be dealt with (and I mean DEALT WITH) in one fell swoop.
“For behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.”
Joel 3:1-2 NKJV
“Then the Lord will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.”
Zechariah 14:3-4 NKJV
Given, we don’t have a full understanding of how everything works. But the Lord does. If He has said He will do something, He will do it. It just may not follow our “timeline” to victory, or look the way we would suppose. Indeed, we may see some “scary” things before the word is realized.
Consider this advice from the writer of Hebrew:
“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.”
Hebrews 10:35-36 NLT
For today let us discover what Moses discovered:
Sometimes it seems things are getting worse before the breakthrough.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
Comments