Therefore, tell the Israelites, “I am the LORD. I will bring you out from your enslavement to the Egyptians, I will rescue you from the hard labor they impose, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you to myself for a people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from your enslavement to the Egyptians.”
Into the Text
Waiting is not fun. We have grown accustomed to instant gratification in our day that we seek out every opportunity to avoid waiting for any amount of time.
God promised Moses that He would deliver the Israelites from Pharaoh’s tyranny, but God was not coming through in the way or time that Moses anticipated. The waiting led to frustration and questioning of God’s word.
Rather than becoming angry and choosing someone else to lead Israel, God graciously met Moses in his frustration and questions. God would use the hardships for His glory and prove to Egypt that He alone is God.
God is a promise-keeper. This does not mean that God is obligated to act in the way and timing that we want or expect. But we can trust that He will come through.
In these moments of waiting, how are believers to respond, especially when it seems like God is not moving or is delaying?
First, we must acknowledge where we are frustrated, hurt, or confused and take it to God. He won’t be caught off guard or upset when we do.
Then, we meditate on God’s character and allow Him to remind us of truth in His Word. Scripture is our anchor in moments of confusion or wavering.
It may not make the whole situation easier or quicker, but it allows us to see God for who He is and to rely on Him each step of the way.
Prayer
God, thank you that you are a promise keeper. Help me to trust and cling to you when the waiting seems hard and prayers seem unanswered. Amen.