Misunderstanding and Blame
Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD. And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. (Exodus 6:6-9)
Thought For Today:
Moses’ True Intentions
Moses was not attempting to oppress the children of Israel; instead, his mission was to deliver them from bondage. Despite his efforts to help, many among the Israelites failed to recognize his intentions. Rather than seeing Moses as an advocate for their freedom, they perceived his actions as adding to their burdens and hardships. Scripture notes that the children of Israel did not listen to Moses because of their anguish of spirit and the severity of their bondage. In their suffering, they blamed Moses for their troubles, refusing to heed his guidance. They believed that had Moses not intervened, they would still possess what they needed to complete their daily tasks, attributing their suffering and anguish to him rather than to Pharaoh.
Does this sound familiar? Think about what the President of the United States of America is currently trying to do. President Trump is trying to secure our future from the radical Islamist terrorists in Iran. And instead of trusting the process, we hear people claiming that President Trump is making things worse. Let’s rewind to President Abraham Lincoln’s tenure as president of the United States of America. A war ensued for the liberation of people who were enslaved and abused. Today, we can see that his decision was merited, but the people during his day didn’t think so. People were so angry with President Lincoln that he was assassinated. Maybe we should stop complaining and start praying for God’s will.
The Root of Their Bondage
However, the reality was that Moses was not responsible for their enslavement; their situation stemmed from the actions of their forefathers, who had sold Joseph into slavery. Moses was merely following God’s direction to bring about their liberation. These circumstances raise the question: do we, like the Israelites, direct our frustration toward our leaders when events do not unfold as we wish? Leadership often bears the brunt of blame when things go awry in people’s lives, even though, as the Bible says, Moses was the meekest of men. The Israelites, however, did not view him through this lens. To them, Moses was the source of their harsher bondage rather than a liberator. Even after their emancipation from Egyptian oppression, they continued to hold Moses accountable for their hardships in the wilderness, failing to recognize his role in their deliverance.
Recognizing God’s Liberators
God uses His ministers to bring freedom, not to cause additional suffering or bondage. It is important to view spiritual leaders—not as the source of our distress—but as God’s instruments sent to lead us out of captivity and into freedom. Rather than seeing your pastor or leader as a cause of your anguish, recognize that they are appointed by God to help set you free from the things that bind you.
