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Worse before Better

Words of Faith Final

Worse before Better
Words of Faith 9-28-2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Exodus 5
[6] That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and foremen in charge of the people: [7] "You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. [8] 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.' [9] Make the work harder for the men so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies."
[10] Then the slave drivers and the foremen went out and said to the people, "This is what Pharaoh says: 'I will not give you any more straw. [11] Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.' " [12] So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble to use for straw. [13] The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, "Complete the work required of you for each day, just as when you had straw." [14] The Israelite foremen appointed by Pharaoh's slave drivers were beaten and were asked, "Why didn't you meet your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?"
[15] Then the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: "Why have you treated your servants this way? [16] Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, 'Make bricks!' Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people."
[17] Pharaoh said, "Lazy, that's what you are--lazy! That is why you keep saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.' [18] Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks."
[19] The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, "You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day." [20] When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, [21] and they said, "May the Lord look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us."
[22] Moses returned to the Lord and said, "O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? [23] Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all."

Sometimes things get worse before they get better.
That was certainly the case for the Israelites. The appeal made by Moses and Aaron seemed to only make things worse. The Pharaoh was angry and determined to oppress the Hebrew slaves, even more to get their minds off these silly ideas of freedom. Now they would have to make bricks without straw.
Things went from bad to worse, and Moses and Aaron heard about it. The Hebrew language here indicates that the foremen "attacked" them with resentment because they had stirred up trouble with Pharaoh. Freedom comes at a cost.
Interestingly, this is often the case. Before things get better, they get more difficult. Exactly why this is the case, I do not know. In my humble view, this would have been a perfectly appropriate time for Pharaoh to have a major "health crisis" to help persuade him. A well-placed cardiovascular problem, myocardial infarction, or cerebral hemorrhage would not seem ill-timed at all and would have fascinated archeologists.
This probably sounds vindictive, but it would have moved things ahead with fewer lives lost. But this was not the plan of God. And, frankly, I make a very poor "god."
It must have been the case that God had more work to do in Egypt and in the hearts of the people. He would reveal His mighty hand only in His time, which meant things would get worse before they got better. Hard times can certainly serve to solidify our commitment and resolve before the needed change.
We do not always know why but this is something of a pattern. Things will get worse in the wilderness before they get better. Things will get worse in the Promised Land before they get better. Things will get worse in Jerusalem before they get better. Things will get worse in Babylon before they get better. In the end times, things will get worse before they get better. It will be called the tribulation. The good news is that they will get better! God is in charge. He has a plan. It is a plan of redemption and victory.
For us, things often get more difficult before they get better. This is true in degree-seeking education and in serious relationship issues. This is true in most business ventures and in following the ministry vision that God sets before us. This is true in sports and in any situation where we stand up for what is right and true. Sometimes things just have to get tough to get us where God wants us.
What did the sign in the locker room say: "When the going gets tough, the tough get going"? For us, it is more like, "When the going gets tough, the Lord gets us going." But we must also remember that the darkness does not go out with a whimper. The Light may overwhelm darkness, but it goes out kicking and screaming. Even when defeat is inevitable, the darkness claws desperately at the air.
Are you facing a hard time? Remember the word of the Lord we have revisited so many times-- "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11). But don't be surprised if things get worse before they get better. This is when we really get to know the Lord who is there carry us.

Father God, give me the faith and the courage to endure the tough times so that I may enjoy Your victory. Carry me by Your strength through the hard times. Cause me to depend entirely upon You. In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2022 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.