Exodus 3:19-21
But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty,
When God calls us to work for Him we tend to think that everything should be easy and okay. After all, God called us and we are in God's will, therefore things should be okay. The world's standards are this way. The world thinks if they are doing things okay everything is going to be just fine. The world views bumps in the road as something that should be avoided and something that indicates you are doing something wrong. However, notice what a walk in the Spirit looks like. In this chapter. Moses has a burning bush experience (you can't get a more direct message from God than a burning bush that never burns up!). Moses knows God's will, perhaps, better than any man on the face of the earth. Yet, in the above passage we see that his walk with God will meet the obstinance of the King of Egypt. Notice what Paul tells us about this in Roman's nine:
Romans 9:14-18
What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
God gave Moses a word about his work, but God also raised up a king with a hard heart so that God could use him to show great wonders and His awesome power!! When Peter was called to preach he was also placed in prison. When Daniel was called to interpret the dreams of the King he was also place in the den of the lions. When Paul was allowed to sail around Asia to proclaim the truth of the gospel he was also placed in the deep and allowed to almost drown for the message. God does NOT promise us to be free from harm, but to be delivered from it and prosperous in it. Notice what King David tells us in the following Psalm:
Psalm 33:19
that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.
The psalm doesn't tell us that God will keep us from death or keep us from famine. It tells us that God will deliver our soul from death and keeps us alive IN famine. We have been taught by the world that our "creature comforts" are at the bottom of the pyramid of what we desire in life (Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs). Yet, God turns that upside down. God wants us to trust Him for our needs and, rather than seek comfort in our mission for Him, redefine success, not as outcomes, but in obedience by faith. Moses, over the next chapters of the book of Exodus, will not see much success by the world's standards as he leads a rebellious people across the desert. But, he will be honored by God for being faithful and obeying on that faith.
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