Praying Through

I was reading about the plagues of Egypt this morning.  You know, frog, flies, blood, and stuff.  I noticed that in the beginning things didn't go well for the Jews.  After the first plague, Pharaoh ordered the Jews to make clay bricks and to get their own straw too.  They couldn't reduce their daily quota of brickmaking either without punishment.  This means that the Jews had to work twice and made three times as hard.

They gave Moses and Aaron an earful for it.

Exodus 5 20 They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; 21 and they said to them, “The LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”

The Jews have been living in Egypt for nearly 400 years.  For much of that time, they have been slaves to the Egyptians.  They have been praying for God to deliver them.  They have waited a long, long time for an answer to their prayers and it seems that Moses is that answer.

But things didn't go as planned.  In fact, the situation got worse, not better.

How many times have you prayed for God to deliver you from something?  Then in the midst of your trial things got worse.  Many of us have experienced this at some level.  What do you do?

Don't blame yourself.  Many times when things get worse, we think that it is our fault.

Remain faithful.  Don't stop praying and don't stop believing that God will answer your prayers.

Learn, don't revolt.  This was a learning moment for the Jews.  That even in the worst of situations God would come through for them.  Calm your heart and listen to the Holy Spirit.

PRAY:  Dear Jesus, I'm going through it right now, and it isn't getting any better.  Please encourage my faith.  AMEN.