Exodus Moment

I’ve told several people, while reflecting on everything that has occurred in just half a year, that I’ve seen these events as more of an Exodus moment rather than a Revelation moment. And the farther we get into the year, my feelings have been bolstered by new events and personal experiences.

Moses was sent to Pharaoh to ask to release God’s people. God used the plagues as a tool against Pharaoh’s hard heart. Pharaoh, who was considered a god by the Egyptians and had no concern for the requests of the God of Israel, laughed at Moses’ request that the Israelites be allowed to go celebrate this other god. Even with all of the demonstrations and plagues, Pharaoh’s heart remained hard.

We may not be enslaved by man, but so many hearts are hard right now. And this is why I see this as more of an Exodus moment. The hardened hearts need to break. The man-made gods must fall. For far too many, our selfishness has led us to hold on to our hardened hearts and cry out to our self-made gods, even when God’s heart and reality don’t align with what we want. The fear of future struggles and the pain of the present one prevent us from moving beyond the plague and hardship we face.

The Hebrews were not freed into paradise. Their freedom was never promised to be comfortable, even before they messed up and were punished. God has never promised comfort. God will provide peace, but only in His presence and will. God provided for the Hebrew people while they endured their punishment and wandered the desert, but his provision still required discipline and trust. Even when He provided mana each morning, God expected His people not to hoard the blessings. His guidance and presence were always there, but He was always leading and moving His people through struggles and uncomfortable environments.

A life of peace in your freedom within His will is the promise, not the life of comfort without discipline.

Life is a constant struggle because we live in a sinful world. A close relationship with Christ will bring peace and blessing, but never confuse peace and blessing with consistent comfort. An active relationship with your Savior will be a state of constant conviction and never-ending change when we use Christ as our benchmark and our God-given purpose as our guide. Change is often uncomfortable.