Gripe like Moses

A few weeks back, I wrote about blaming God and how so many of the prayers in the book of Psalms are quick to let God have it when life goes off the rails. I was reminded of that recently while reading in Exodus. Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh for the first time in Exodus 5. But this initial “Let me people go!” backfires spectacularly:

That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people: “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ (5:6-8)

Instead of securing the Hebrews’ freedom, Moses and Aaron only made their workload heavier.

When the Israelite foremen give Moses a piece of their mind for getting them into this mess, Moses turns around and gives God a piece of his:

Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.” (5:22-23)

Moses places the blame squarely on God. You brought trouble on this people. I spoke to Pharaoh in your name. You have not rescued your people. Moses knows how to point the finger at heaven as well as any of the psalmists.

Now, the psalms are prayers, meaning they are our words to God. What you don’t get in Psalms is God’s response. But in Exodus, the Lord speaks.

So, how does God respond to Moses’s resentful accusations? Does he chastise his servant? Maybe put him in his place? Does he threaten him for his impertinence, or explain that Moses simply can’t understand his mysterious ways?

Chapter 6, verse 1:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let [my people] go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.”

God doesn't chastise or threaten. God tells Moses: this isn't over yet. It's as if he says, 'You think I did all of this, Moses? I'm about to show you what I can do.'

God doesn’t berate Moses for his accusations and anger but reassures him that things won’t always be this way. Because Moses wasn’t wrong. The Lord agreed with him: this isn’t the way things should be. We do need to do something about this.

The next time you find yourself ready to gripe at God, to tell the Lord, “Why have you brought all this trouble? Was this your plan? You haven’t rescued us at all!”, don’t reverently bite your tongue. Go on and gripe, like Moses. Tell the Lord exactly what you think. 

You might be surprised to hear God respond: ‘You’re right. And I’m going to do something about it.’

You can listen to this week's devotional here: