Exodus 5:1–2: “Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel: “Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.” And Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.'”

November 9th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Pharaoh asked Moses, “Who is the LORD?” It was a brilliant question! And although Pharaoh didn’t realize it at that moment, this was the most important thing he would ever ask in his lifetime. It is highly probable that Pharaoh already knew of Israel’s God, which turns his statement from a sincere question into an arrogant rejection of God’s power and authority to make a demand of Egypt’s human king. This was God Almighty speaking through Moses and Aaron, and He had all the power and authority. God is the Master of human masters, the Ruler of human rulers, and the King of every human king. Recognizing and submitting to that truth, makes all the difference in a person’s earthly and eternal life.

Pharaoh saw the warning of divine judgment, if he didn’t let God’s people go and hold a feast to Him, as simply a trick to reduce the hours his slave labor force was putting in, so he increased their burden. Moses went back and complained to God. Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation, when you thought the Lord was about to rescue you and instead things only got worse? This event reveals to us that we would be better served by following Moses’ example and also go back to God to ask why things are not going well. For Moses it led to a better understanding of just what God was about to do. God told Moses that everything was going exactly as planned and to stand back and watch Him work. Perhaps God will show you how He has been at work, even through the seemingly negative circumstances, as He sets the stage for His intervention and deliverance. “Who is the LORD?” He is the great “I AM” who is working today in our lives.

“LORD, we trust You to lead us this day, in Jesus’ name.”