The Undercover Adventist

  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...

“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 : “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. “I do not know the Lord… I will not let Israel go.” T...

  "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: “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....

  EXODUS   Sabbath School Lesson 3 Rough Start You may use this for presenting and studying the current Sabbath School Lesson. --------------------- >   Download the notes for Lesson 3 video here. (Video is Below) ----------------------- More on Lesson 2: Sunday: Who is the LORD Monday: Rough Start Tuesday: The Divine "I" Wednesday: Uncircumcised Lips Thursday: Like God to Pharaoh Friday Further Thought: "I Don't 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 quest...

  "The Lord Who Will Not Be Ignored" Text: Exodus 4:18–31 The Strange Passage Let’s be honest—Exodus 4:18–31 is one of the strangest, most jarring passages in the Old Testament. One moment, Moses is on his way to obey God’s call, and the next, God seeks to kill him. Then Zipporah, Moses' wife, steps in and circumcises their son, touching Moses with the foreskin and saying, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me.” What’s going on here? We might be tempted to skip past passages like this—but we must remember that every word of Scripture is inspired and profitable (2 Tim. 3:16). So today, we will walk through this story, consider its background, and find its message for us today. The Journey Begins (vv. 18–20): Obedience with Loose Ends Moses finally agrees to obey God’s call. He asks Jethro for permission to return to Egypt, loads his family on a donkey, and heads out. Outwardly, everything seems in order. But there’s a major unresolved issue : Moses has not ...

  "When God Calls, He Equips" Text: Exodus 4:1–17 Have you ever felt inadequate for a task you knew was important—maybe something you believed God was asking you to do? Maybe you’ve had a sense of calling but felt overwhelmed by your weaknesses. If so, you are in good company. Moses, one of the most revered leaders in the Bible, experienced this same inner struggle in Exodus 4:1–17. Here, we see a conversation between God and Moses that reveals both human hesitation and divine patience. The Excuses of Moses (Exodus 4:1, 10, 13) God had already called Moses in Exodus 3, but here in chapter 4, Moses begins to push back. He gives three excuses : "They won’t believe me" (v.1) – Moses feared rejection, doubting that the Israelites would believe that God had sent him. "I’m not eloquent" (v.10) – Moses focused on his perceived weakness—his lack of speaking ability, whether due to a speech impediment or insecurity. "Please send someone else...

  “I AM WHO I AM: The Name That Changes Everything” Text: Exodus 3:13–22 Have you ever had someone ask, “Who sent you?” It’s a question about authority, identity, and purpose. In Exodus 3 , Moses stands at a turning point. God has just called him to the impossible: confront Pharaoh and deliver a nation of slaves. But Moses, uncertain and afraid, asks something incredibly profound: “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” (Exodus 3:13) This isn’t just a request for information. It’s a desperate need for assurance. Who are You, God? And what God gives in response is nothing short of life-changing. Moses Asks: Who Are You? Moses wasn’t doubting that a god had spoken to him. He wanted to know which God—and what kind of God—was sending him into danger. Names in the ancient world weren’t just labels. They revealed something about the person’s character ,...

  On July 4, 2025, during the 62nd General Conference (GC) Session in St. Louis, Missouri, Erton C. Köhler was elected president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. This marks the beginning of Köhler’s first term as the spiritual and administrative leader of a global movement that spans over 200 countries and includes more than 23 million members. “Before anything else, I want to say that I move forward with renewed confidence in the Lord and in His church,” Köhler said. His nomination followed careful and prayerful deliberation by the Nominating Committee, made up of delegates from every global division and attached field of the church. The committee’s recommendation was then presented to the full body of delegates, who voted to confirm Köhler’s appointment during a business session at the Dome in America’s Center. Since his election as General Conference (GC) secretary during the 2021 Spring Meeting at church headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, Erton C. K...

  "The Call from the Burning Bush" Text: Exodus 3:1–12 Sometimes God calls us when we least expect it. Moses wasn’t in a temple or on a mountain looking for God. He was shepherding sheep in the wilderness of Midian—just another ordinary day. But in this passage, God steps into Moses’ quiet life in an extraordinary way. Let us consider: Why God chose to intervene on behalf of His people. Who the “Angel of the LORD” might be. And how the humility of Moses gives us a model for our own response to God’s call. God's Compassionate Response (Exodus 3:7–9) God begins by explaining why He is stepping into the story of Israel’s oppression. He tells Moses: “I have surely seen the affliction of my people... and have heard their cry... I know their sorrows.” (Ex. 3:7, KJV) Notice these three verbs: seen , heard , and know . God is not distant or indifferent. He sees the injustice. He hears the groans. He knows the pain of His people intimately. Then He says: ...