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