Thursday, November 4, 2021
“And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all” (Exodus 5:22,23 KJV).
Yes, even a saint can be silly enough to charge the LORD God with evil!
Moses assumed Israel would be immediately liberated from Egypt. Again, this was in contrast to what the LORD Himself had already told him: “I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand” (3:19). “But I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go” (4:21). It is not clear from the Bible whether or not Moses informed Israel of this delay—but, as indicated in today’s Scripture, Moses was influenced to forget these LORD’S words to him.
Re-read today’s Scripture in context: “[19] And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task. [20] And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: [21] And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us. [22] And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me? [23] For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.”
After hearing human viewpoint in verse 21 (“Moses, you ‘deliverer,’ you did nothing for us!”), Moses whined to God in today’s Scripture. To paraphrase, “Why have You ‘evil entreated’ [injured, harmed] Your people? You have sent me to help them, but this has been unsuccessful—destructive not beneficial.” We can expect nothing less from those who listen to man instead of the LORD….
333 Words of Grace 