Rough Start for Moses: When Obedience Makes Things Worse Before They Get Better

 

When Obedience Makes Things Worse Before They Get Better

Text: Exodus 5:3–23
Key Verse: “May the Lord look on you and judge you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” – Exodus 5:21 (NIV)

Have you ever obeyed God—and immediately regretted it?

Not because it was the wrong thing to do, but because the consequences felt worse than before you obeyed?

In Exodus 5:3–23, Moses and Aaron finally stand before Pharaoh with a divine message: “Let my people go.” But what follows is not a triumphant breakthrough—it’s backlash. Pharaoh not only refuses but intensifies Israel’s suffering. And the people? They turn their anger on Moses and Aaron.

It’s one of those moments when doing the right thing seems to make life worse. But in that painful tension, God is at work.

The Immediate Outcome of Obedience (vv. 3–19)

Moses and Aaron obey God’s command. They speak directly to Pharaoh:

“The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God…” (v.3)

But Pharaoh’s reaction is harsh and proud:

• He dismisses their God (v.2).

• He accuses them of distracting the Israelites from their work (v.4–5).

• He punishes the people by increasing their labor—no more straw for bricks, but the same daily quota (v.6–9).

Obedience triggered resistance.

And not just resistance from Pharaoh—but pain for the people of God. That’s a hard pill to swallow. We often expect obedience to result in blessing, clarity, and ease. But the pattern of Scripture—and real life—often shows that obedience first leads us into hardship, not out of it.

The People’s Reaction to Moses and Aaron (v. 21)

The foremen of Israel, beaten and blamed for falling short, meet Moses and Aaron and say:

“May the Lord look on you and judge you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” (v.21)

In modern words: “Thanks a lot. You’ve made our lives even worse. You’ve given Pharaoh a reason to destroy us.”

Now imagine yourself in their place:

• You were already suffering.

• Someone promises deliverance.

• And the result? More pain.

Wouldn’t you be angry too? Wouldn’t you feel betrayed, confused, even resentful?

It’s easy to judge their words, but honesty compels us to admit we might have said the same.

Moses’ Desperation and Honest Prayer (vv. 22–23)

Moses turns to God—not in praise, but in protest:

“Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me?... You have not rescued your people at all.” (vv.22–23)

This is the raw, painful heart of a man who obeyed—and saw everything get worse.

Yet here’s the lesson: God does not rebuke Moses. He listens. And in the next chapter, He reaffirms His covenant, His power, and His plan (Exodus 6:1–8).

God can handle our honest prayers. He invites us to bring confusion, pain, and protest to Him.

Lessons for Today

1. Obedience may lead to opposition.
   Don’t assume that doing God’s will means a smooth path. In fact, opposition can be a sign that you’re right where God wants you.

2. God sees beyond the immediate.
   Pharaoh’s cruelty didn’t catch God off guard. In fact, God told Moses in Exodus 3:19–20 that Pharaoh would resist. The pain was part of the process.

3. People may blame you for doing the right thing.
   Moses and Aaron weren’t wrong—but they were targets of anger. Sometimes, the cost of leadership is being misunderstood. Be faithful anyway.

4. God honors honest prayer.
   When the road gets rough, take your pain to God. Don’t pretend. He welcomes honesty and responds with reassurance.

The encounter in Exodus 5 reminds us that following God doesn’t always yield instant results. Sometimes obedience brings struggle, and the people we hope to help may turn against us. But this isn’t the end of the story.

God is not silent. He is setting the stage for deliverance. The oppression gets worse—but that’s because freedom is drawing near.

So if you're in a place where obedience seems to have made things harder, take heart: God is still writing the story. What looks like a step back is often a setup for a mighty act of deliverance.

Keep trusting. Keep obeying. And keep praying.
Because God sees. And He will act—with a mighty hand.

More: Sabbath School Lesson 3 - Rough Start

I Do Not Know the Lord

“I Do Not Know the Lord”

Text: Exodus 5:1–2

In Exodus 5, Moses and Aaron deliver a bold and divine message to Pharaoh:

“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” (Exod. 5:1)

But Pharaoh’s reply is defiant and dismissive:

“Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” (Exod. 5:2)

This short exchange is a collision of two worldviews: God’s authority versus human pride. And Pharaoh’s response reveals more than a personal refusal—it reflects the heart of rebellion that still resists God today.

Pharaoh’s Response: Rejection and Ignorance

Pharaoh responds with two declarations:

1. “Who is the Lord?”
   Pharaoh didn’t deny gods existed—he had a whole pantheon of them. But Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, was unknown to him. He saw no reason to submit to this foreign deity.

2. “I do not know the Lord… I will not let Israel go.”
   This wasn’t just ignorance—it was willful ignorance. Pharaoh’s heart was proud and closed. His mind was made up before he heard the message.

Significance:

• Pharaoh’s rejection highlights the natural human resistance to God’s rule.

• It foreshadows the hardening of his heart throughout the plagues.

• It sets the stage for God to make Himself known—through mighty acts that will answer Pharaoh’s question: “Who is the Lord?”

The World Still Says: “I Don’t Know the Lord”

Many today echo Pharaoh’s words—not always in anger or defiance, but in confusion, indifference, or ignorance:

• “I don’t know the Lord.”

• “Why should I obey Him?”

• “How do I even know He’s real?”

Sometimes this comes from arrogance, like Pharaoh. But often, it comes from lack of experience with God’s truth and love. And here is where we enter the picture.

Our Response to Those Who Don’t Know the Lord

1. Be Patient and Compassionate.
Not everyone is Pharaoh. Some genuinely don’t know God because they’ve never seen Him modeled. We can be the first glimpse of God’s love they encounter.

“Always be prepared to give an answer… with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)

2. Point Them to the Lord Through Your Life.
Pharaoh needed to see God’s power. Many today need to see God’s love—through us.

Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16)

3. Speak Boldly—but Humbly—About Who God Is.
Moses didn’t back down from Pharaoh. And we shouldn’t shrink from speaking about our faith. But like Moses, we can speak with humility, knowing it’s God who works through us.

4. Pray for God to Reveal Himself.
Ultimately, only God can change hearts. He can show Himself to those who say, “I don’t know the Lord”—just as He revealed Himself in Egypt.

The Lord Will Make Himself Known

Pharaoh said, “I don’t know the Lord.”
By the end of the story, he knew. All of Egypt knew. The plagues, the Passover, the parting of the sea—all answered Pharaoh’s question.

But let’s not miss this: God wanted to be known not just as Judge, but as Deliverer. And that’s the same heart God has today.

“This is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)

When the World Doesn’t Know God

So what do we do when someone says, “I don’t know the Lord”?
We don’t argue them into faith. We show them. We live out the truth. We speak with grace. And we pray that the Lord who revealed Himself in Egypt will also reveal Himself to them—through His Word, His Spirit, and even through us.

Let’s be people who know the Lord—and make Him known.

Prayer:

Lord, we live in a world where many say, “I don’t know the Lord.” Help us be vessels of Your love and truth. Teach us to respond with grace, boldness, and compassion. And may those who don’t know You come to know You through Jesus, Your Son, our Savior. Amen.

More: Sabbath School Lesson 3 - Rough Start

When Excuses Sound Reasonable: Trusting God’s Call

 

"When Excuses Sound Reasonable: Trusting God’s Call"

Text: Exodus 3:11–4:17

Have you ever felt unqualified for something important—something bigger than you? Maybe you were asked to lead, to speak up, to take on a role you didn’t feel ready for. Most of us have. And in those moments, we often offer what seem like perfectly reasonable excuses.

Moses did the same. In fact, his objections to God’s call are so familiar, so human, that we might be tempted to sympathize with him completely.

But the story of Moses shows us something powerful: God is not interested in how qualified we feel. He’s interested in what He can do through us—if we trust Him.

Reasonable Excuses, Divine Response

Let’s look at Moses' objections in Exodus 3–4:

1. “Who am I?” (Ex. 3:11)
   Moses begins with a deep sense of inadequacy. He’s a shepherd, not a diplomat. He tried to help his people once and failed.

   God’s reply? “I will be with you.”
   God doesn’t boost Moses’ ego; He shifts the focus. The success of the mission won’t depend on who Moses is, but on who God is.

2. “What if they don’t believe me?” (Ex. 4:1)
   A fair question—after all, Moses had no official credentials.

   God responds by giving him signs—a staff turned to a snake, a leprous hand healed, water turned to blood.
   In other words, God equips him with more than words: He provides evidence of divine backing.

3. “I am slow of speech and tongue.” (Ex. 4:10)
   Moses is convinced he’s the wrong man for a speaking job.

   God replies, “Who gave human beings their mouths?” and promises, “I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

4. “Please send someone else.” (Ex. 4:13)
   At the core of all his excuses is fear and reluctance.

   God becomes angry—but even then, He accommodates Moses by sending Aaron to speak for him.

Each time Moses gives an excuse, God doesn’t say the concern is totally false—but He reminds Moses that the call isn’t based on human ability. It’s based on divine power and presence.

Lessons for Us Today

1. God Calls Imperfect People.
   The Bible is full of them—Abraham the doubter, David the sinner, Jeremiah the weeping prophet, Peter the denier, Paul the persecutor. Why? Because God delights in showing His strength through human weakness.

2. Excuses Often Reveal Fear, Not Fact.
   Moses’ excuses sounded logical, but underneath was fear. That same fear grips us—fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of not being enough. But faith begins where fear ends—with trusting God more than our own perceptions.

3. God Provides What We Need—When We Obey.
   God didn’t give Moses everything up front. As Moses stepped forward in obedience, God supplied what he needed. It’s the same with us. Provision often follows obedience.

4. God’s Presence is Enough.
   The answer to every excuse was the same: “I will be with you.” That’s the same promise Jesus gave to His disciples in Matthew 28:20—“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Trusting the God Who Calls

If we only followed God’s call when we felt fully ready, few of us would ever take the first step. But the call of God doesn’t depend on our confidence; it depends on His presence and power.

So, what is God asking of you today?
Is He calling you to step out in ministry, to serve, to lead, to speak, to forgive, to change direction?

You might have a list of reasons why you can’t. Moses did too.
But in God’s hands, even the most ordinary person can do extraordinary things.

Let’s lay down our excuses and pick up trust.
Let’s believe that the One who calls us is faithful—and He will do it.

“Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Prayer:

Lord, You know our hearts. You know our fears, our doubts, and the excuses we carry. Help us lay them down at Your feet. Teach us to trust not in our ability but in Your power. Use us, Lord, not because we are able, but because You are. In Jesus’ name, amen.

More: EXODUS - Sabbath School Lesson 2 - The Burning Bush

Sabbath School Lesson 3: Rough Start

 

EXODUS 

Sabbath School Lesson 3

Rough Start

You may use this for presenting and studying the current Sabbath School Lesson.

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> Download the notes for Lesson 3 video here.

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More on Lesson 2:

Sunday: Who is the LORD

Monday: Rough Start

Friday Further Thought: "I Don't Know the Lord"

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I do not Know the LORD

 

“That I May Know Him”

Text: Exodus 5:1–2
“Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.” Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.”’”

What would you say to someone who says, “I do not know the Lord”? Not in rebellion, not in mockery, but simply in honesty?
That question was asked long ago by Pharaoh—though his version was full of pride and resistance. But what about today, when someone says it out of confusion, curiosity, or even sadness? “I don’t know the Lord.”

Today, I want us to walk through how God responded to that statement in Exodus and how we can lovingly respond to those who say it today.

Pharaoh’s Words: “I Do Not Know the Lord”

Pharaoh’s statement in Exodus 5:2 was blunt: “I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.”
It was not a question, but a challenge. He saw himself as a god-king. The God of the Hebrews meant nothing to him.

But here’s the key truth: God took that statement seriously—and personally.

Through the plagues and the mighty acts of deliverance, God essentially said, “You will know who I am.” Over and over, God said, “So that you may know that I am the Lord.”

Pharaoh came to know about God through judgment. But it doesn’t have to be that way for others.

What if Someone Today Says, “I Don’t Know the Lord”?

What if a friend, a coworker, a family member says the same words—not with Pharaoh’s arrogance, but with sincere honesty?

It’s more common than you think.

They may not have grown up in church.
They may have heard of God but never met Him.
They may feel unworthy, or unsure where to begin.

Here’s where we come in—not to scold or preach at them, but to gently introduce them to the God we know.

Helping Others Know the Lord

Moses had a mission: to speak on behalf of God, even when it was difficult. We are called to the same.

Here’s how we help others know the Lord:

• Tell Your Story – Share what God has done in your life. People may not understand theology, but they can’t deny your testimony.

• Point Them to Jesus – Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). To know the Lord is to know Jesus.

• Be Patient – God was patient with Moses when he had questions, and He was persistent with Pharaoh even in his rebellion.

• Live What You Speak – Let them see the Lord through your actions, peace, kindness, and integrity.

• Pray for Them – Only the Holy Spirit can open someone’s heart. Never underestimate what your quiet prayers can do.

Why It’s So Important to Know the Lord

Why should someone want to know the Lord?

Because to know the Lord is:

• To walk in truth, not confusion

• To live with hope, not despair

• To find grace instead of guilt

• To experience love that never fails

Jesus said in John 17:3, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

Eternal life is not just about heaven—it's about relationship. It starts now. Knowing the Lord is not about religion, it’s about life—real life.

If someone tells you, “I don’t know the Lord,” don’t panic. That’s a starting place. It’s honest. And it’s where we all once were.

Pharaoh resisted God and was brought low. But others—like the woman at the well, the thief on the cross, or Saul on the Damascus road—came to know the Lord through grace.

Let us be like Moses: willing to speak, even when it’s uncomfortable. Willing to go where God sends us. Willing to be part of God’s plan to help someone say one day, “Now I know the Lord.”

If you’re here today and those words—“I don’t know the Lord”—feel true of you, I invite you to take a step. Ask. Seek. Knock.
God wants to be known. He has revealed Himself in Jesus. And He’s not far from any one of us.

As the Scripture says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).