Week of January 23

The reply is, “Aren’t you getting ahead of yourself?” There! I have written the answer to the big question for today prior to stating the question, so please bear with me. We have just stepped into masonry class and today’s lesson covers the how and why of brick-making, so get your shop aprons on! Instruction in such a class typically begins with a teaching segment followed by practical skill training.

First, we need an introductory learning moment. I certainly do not want to oversimplify the meaning of our passage, but too many times we snatch an event in our lives out of its broader context, and we are left befuddled, wondering what on earth God is doing with us. The call of Moses, the trials of the Israelites, and the subsequent discouragement of the leader, and those he was leading, all prepare us for God’s deliverance (see Exodus 1-6).

The background to our focal passage and the book of Exodus may be found in 1:1-7. Israel arrived in Egypt by God’s grace and were eventually enslaved while in their sojourn there (see Genesis 37-50). Exodus fits seamlessly within the wider context of the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch. We may be tempted to think that God lost His grip on the situation, but this is hardly the case. Things did go from bad to worse at points along the way; however, God was still firmly in control. Got it?

Aside from making mud bricks and searching for straw to make binders for the blocks, some of Moses’ circumstances occur in our lives. We’ve all known those in authority who’ve asked, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice. . . ?” (5:2). Furthermore, we’ve known people who have very little regard for the value that God places upon human life. God creates men and women in His image to govern His creation, but Pharaoh corrals them and disdainfully orders them to make mud bricks. We’ve also likely been in similar circumstances.

Moses and Aaron give God’s command to Pharaoh who only responds punitively. He increases the difficulty of their labor (5:4) and classifies the Israelites as lazy (5:8, “idle”). He adds the little extra bit of sarcasm: “They keep whining and begging me to allow them to go and worship their ‘god.’” Keep in mind, Yahweh was not spelled with a capital “Y” in Pharaoh’s contact list. So, he heaps more and more upon their shoulders (5:9, 11, 14; “beaten”). We are reminded that God’s Son, our Savior, was unjustly beaten, too. I’m getting ahead of myself, as I stated in today’s opening sentence, so I will refrain from speaking further until it is the right time.

My Hebrew-reading friends will notice that verse 15 begins with a “waw.” We translate the conjunction as “then,” which indicates that a new section is being introduced. The results of the beatings are now being told—the Israelite foremen head to the palace to seek some answers for their plight. Pharaoh denies culpability (false!), dehumanizes them further, and sends them away. The leaders of the enslaved Israelites approached the freemen, Moses and Aaron, and beg essentially to remain slaves (5:20). First, they speak an angry “May the Lord . . .,” meaning they are calling down a curse upon these two men. They accuse Moses and Aaron of making their “odor” to “stink” before Pharaoh. They heighten the accusation by claiming the two had given the Egyptians a reason to kill them (5:21, “sword in their hand”).

Moses reverently finds a quiet spot where he could pour out his discouragement, grief, and grievances to the Lord (5:22). He basically prays, “What’s up with this? You sent me to Pharaoh, and he dismissed You and Your command.” Now, we get to the point at which all of us eventually arrive, “Why have you done evil to Your people?!”

First, Pharaoh is the obvious and immediate reason, but Moses claims that God is the ultimate cause. “Have you done evil” is one word in Hebrew and it means “mistreat” (Handbook). Secondly, I will paraphrase Moses’ complaint with, “I didn't want to go in the first place, so why did You insist? This was a bad idea from the get-go” (cf. blaming God, and “the woman you gave me” in Genesis 3:12). Thirdly, “On top of it all, You have done nothing to help Your people!” We will now see that this analysis as hardly the case—then or now.

Now is the right time to answer the question I have stated in the subheading. Moses had believed erroneously that God’s deliverance would come quickly and would not include “setbacks” or “disappointments” (NAC). I do the same. How about you?

Friends, I need to share that our present chapter and verse divisions were not part of the original writings. The natural division of the chapter is at the end of 6:1. Sadly, like Moses, we too often hastily issue our grievances to God before He has had time to show us His grace (see 6:1). The point? Be careful not to believe that God’s involvement in your circumstances ends with the “Chapter 5:23s” in your life. And, in Ashlock-speak, we must remember that God has to get the slave out of us in order to put the Savior into us (read Romans 6:15-23). Your trial has eternal purpose and value. Trust God and follow Him.

My answer to the opening question is, “Yes, I sometimes get ahead of myself and doubt God when I should not do so.” Here is one of many personal testimonies that I could share. I traveled with a mission team to Guadalajara, Mexico, many years ago. I was assigned to a family in that city that did not speak English. I was in no way able to communicate with them with my elementary-level Spanish proficiency. To make things more difficult, the missionary who was assigned to oversee our work was required to remain in Mexico City because a severe earthquake had occurred, and she was needed for relief efforts in that area.

In short, I was alone long before cellphones were common, and a good portion of my day was spent marking days off the calendar until I returned home. To add to my discomfort, I acquired a “bug” from eating in one of the church member’s homes. Even worse, I became upset that all the other team members (like Moses and Aaron) had been assigned to resort locations where they enjoyed the local cuisine and creature comforts! Friends, you must laugh with me at my pity party.

Despite the emotional and physical challenges, God enabled me to mature in ways that otherwise I never would have grown. Looking back, that experience was absolutely needed to prepare me to lead church congregations in multiple overseas partnerships and to equip me for the current strategic partnerships of the Baptist Center for Global Concerns. There was grace in the trials!

Here is an application for your heart: Babbie Mason recorded the wonderful song, “Trust His Heart.” I often quote to myself the words of one of the verses when I am in the middle of a trial:

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When don’t see His plan
When you can’t trace His hand
Trust His Heart

The key words for us are: “We see the present clearly, but He sees the first and last.” The point today? Do not try to make bricks in your life without adding the key bonding ingredient, Exodus 6:1. Trust Him.

“Trust His Heart” 
by Babbie Mason as sung by
UNAI Chorale Alumni

1. We do not have to work for Acme Brick to learn a lesson about spiritual “brick-making.” The same God who gave a battered and bruised Savior resurrected life and a glorified body is working out the same plan for your life. In Ashlock-speak, it is ultimately not about the bricks you are making but the bridge that you are building. Trust me, it leads to Him! Take time to write down the difficult life circumstances (i.e., bricks) that you are facing. Ask God to show you how His grace is helping you to build a bridge that fulfills His purposes for your life.

2. For Families: This weekend, when the weather turns colder, take a couple of hours to gather all of the Legos and figurines in your child’s toy box, and clear a space on the floor. Then, turn to the story of Moses and Aaron in your children’s Bible and have them act out this story using their Lego “bricks.” Tell them about the Israelites, building bricks (and pyramids), and the harsh Pharaoh. Tell them about Moses, a babe in the basket in the Nile River, who was rescued by his big sister. He grew up and was sent by God to deliver a message to let God’s people go. Let all of the drama unfold. Then ask your children to build bridges from those structures to a beautiful land with trees and water and animals. God delivered His people. And God will deliver us too. Memorize this verse together as you build: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock