Confessional Lutheran Ministerium

Exodus 8:20-32; 9:1-7 NKJV

²⁰ And the Lord said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water. Then say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. ²¹ Or else, if you will not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. ²² And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the land. ²³ I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.” ’ ” ²⁴ And the Lord did so. Thick swarms of flies came into the house of Pharaoh, into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt. The land was corrupted because of the swarms of flies.

²⁵ Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God in the land.”

²⁶ And Moses said, “It is not right to do so, for we would be sacrificing the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God. If we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, then will they not stone us? ²⁷ We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God as He will command us.”

²⁸ So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away. Intercede for me.”

²⁹ Then Moses said, “Indeed I am going out from you, and I will entreat the Lord, that the swarms of flies may depart tomorrow from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. But let Pharaoh not deal deceitfully anymore in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.”

³⁰ So Moses went out from Pharaoh and entreated the Lord. ³¹ And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained. ³² But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go.

9 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. ² For if you refuse to let them go, and still hold them, ³ behold, the hand of the Lord will be on your cattle in the field, on the horses, on the donkeys, on the camels, on the oxen, and on the sheep—a very severe pestilence. ⁴ And the Lord will make a difference between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt. So nothing shall die of all that belongs to the children of Israel.” ’ ” ⁵ Then the Lord appointed a set time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.”

⁶ So the Lord did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died. ⁷ Then Pharaoh sent, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh became hard, and he did not let the people go.

Almighty God is not only the wrathful and just one, true God; as Psalm 5:4 says, “For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You.” He is also the long-suffering (patient) God, as Psalm 103:8 proclaims: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.” Both sides are displayed within this account. God had long witnessed the mischief of Pharaoh. He had already decided that He would punish him severely. Nevertheless, God took His time and did not knock Pharaoh down in one day but went slowly from one punishment to the next, to see if he still might turn and repent, and then God would change His course and cast into the fire the plague which He had originally planned for Pharaoh. Yet what God neglected by putting off Pharaoh’s just punishment, He compensated for by increasing the calamity.

In his devotional on this text, Valerious Herberger, (an early Lutheran theologian from the late 16th & early 17th centuries), emphasizes the warning that God was giving to Pharaoh in sending the swarm of mixed flies when he writes,

“Behold, “God is a righteous God” (Deut. 32:4; 2 Chron. 12:6). In addition, God here gave Pharaoh a picture of hell. Thus, would it be. Beelzebub, the king of flies, would get the better of him. The devil takes pleasure in revealing himself in the abominable form of flies, for as they love to land on clean surfaces and sully everything, he too chases the pious and corrupts every man that makes room for him. Just as Pharaoh was surrounded by buzzing, Beelzebub and his swarm murmur around Pharaoh’s body and soul in hell, giving him no rest. In other words, “Their worm shall not die” (Is.66:24; Mk. 9:48). (The Great Works of God, parts Five and Six, translation. by Matthew Carver, pg. 144, CPH)

Let us pray: Grant that You keep us ever mindful of the pride within our flesh and that You bring us to escape the torments of this fallen world, trusting in Your patient and abounding mercy through faith in the merits of Christ. Amen.

Exodus 8:1-19 NKJV

8 And the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me. ² But if you refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all your territory with frogs. ³ So the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into your house, into your bedroom, on your bed, into the houses of your servants, on your people, into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls. ⁴ And the frogs shall come up on you, on your people, and on all your servants.” ’ ”

⁵ Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up on the land of Egypt.’ ” ⁶ So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. ⁷ And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt.

⁸ Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, “Entreat the Lord that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord.”

⁹ And Moses said to Pharaoh, “Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only.”

¹⁰ So he said, “Tomorrow.” And he said, “Let it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God. ¹¹ And the frogs shall depart from you, from your houses, from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only.”

¹² Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. And Moses cried out to the Lord concerning the frogs which He had brought against Pharaoh. ¹³ So the Lord did according to the word of Moses. And the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courtyards, and out of the fields. ¹⁴ They gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. ¹⁵ But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said.

¹⁶ So the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your rod, and strike the dust of the land, so that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.’ ” ¹⁷ And they did so. For Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and struck the dust of the earth, and it became lice on man and beast. All the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

¹⁸ Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. ¹⁹ Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had said.

Measure all things against the truth of God’s Word. If His Word doesn’t speak on a matter, then there’s freedom — that is, again, as long as there is no offense against God’s Word. Why mention this when reading about the events of the plague of frogs and gnats? Because of an early Church Father’s comparison, as you will read below.

The deep-thinking words of poetry can, certainly, be beautifully prosed. But it can also be total garbage if it goes against the Word for God. Sometimes people prefer to read poetry because they find lofty, supposedly freeing, words that bring reflective life questions. Again, it’s garbage if it throws doubt toward the surety and certainty of God’s Word. The early Church Fathers are known to allegorize when commenting on God’s Holy Scripture. But, when not working against the faith, their comments can help get a good point across.

Hear now the words of Isidore of Seville on the plague of frogs sent to Pharaoh and the Egyptian people:

“In the second plague frogs are brought forth. They are thought to stand figuratively for the songs of the poets. The poets have brought deceptive fables into this world, with their empty and conceited songs that are like the croaking of frogs. For the frog stands for empty loquacity [talking a great deal].” (Ancient Christian Commentary, OT III, pg. 45, InterVarsity Press)

Rejoice that God has brought the truth of His Law and Gospel Word to your ears, heart and mind! For His Holy Scripture is not filled with empty words, but the words of eternal life as they focus all who read it upon the author and perfecter of faith: Christ and His fully atoning merits for you!

Let us pray: O Lord, so rule and govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of the end of all things and the day of Your just judgment, we may be stirred up to holiness of living here and dwell with You forever hereafter; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Exodus 7:14-25 NKJV

¹⁴ So the Lord said to Moses: “Pharaoh’s heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go. ¹⁵ Go to Pharaoh in the morning, when he goes out to the water, and you shall stand by the river’s bank to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent you shall take in your hand. ¹⁶ And you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has sent me to you, saying, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness”; but indeed, until now you would not hear! ¹⁷ Thus says the Lord: “By this you shall know that I am the Lord. Behold, I will strike the waters which are in the river with the rod that is in my hand, and they shall be turned to blood. ¹⁸ And the fish that are in the river shall die, the river shall stink, and the Egyptians will loathe to drink the water of the river.” ’ ”

¹⁹ Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their streams, over their rivers, over their ponds, and over all their pools of water, that they may become blood. And there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in buckets of wood and pitchers of stone.’ ” ²⁰ And Moses and Aaron did so, just as the Lord commanded. So he lifted up the rod and struck the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants. And all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. ²¹ The fish that were in the river died, the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river. So there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

²² Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said. ²³ And Pharaoh turned and went into his house. Neither was his heart moved by this. ²⁴ So all the Egyptians dug all around the river for water to drink, because they could not drink the water of the river. ²⁵ And seven days passed after the Lord had struck the river.

Pharaoh is such a thorough example of the unwise sternness of man’s pride! To not gain an understanding of how great and mighty God is to be feared, and to arrogantly walk away unfazed by Moses’ words is, honestly, just astounding. After the plague of blood is carried out, Holy Scripture states: “And Pharaoh turned and went into his house. Neither was his heart moved by this.” (vs. 23) Pharaoh preferred to heed the acts of his sorcerers, who wove a mist before his eyes. Oh, how a majority, sadly, continue to fall for this mystic thinking through the centuries, to today, and will up unto the Last Day.

But this is not shocking to God, for He knew Pharaoh’s heart and plans (as He does everyone’s). Listen to the way Valerius Herberger, (an early Lutheran theologian from the 16th & 17th centuries) brings this to light:

“Who would dare say that God does not know all things? History proves it with sun-like clarity. God knew Pharaoh’s heart, mind, attitude, thoughts, plans, and aspirations. He knew when Pharaoh went out to the water. He had all his steps surrounded. Therefore stubborn, pharaonic hearts should take heed. God sees their sinister deeds with accuracy and precision. He will certainly put them to shame. We, on the other hand, may take comfort in God’s omniscience and defy our foes to draw one step closer to us than God permits. Let them be mighty, fierce, and cunning. Pharaoh too was all of these, but God thwarted his plans. What good is it for us to be told of God’s omnipotence, wisdom, and grace if we refuse to trust in them? To fear the strength and shrewdness of man more than the omniscience and wisdom of God is a faith not Christian but worse than the Turk’s.” (The Great Works of God, parts Five and Six, translation. by Matthew Carver, pg. 125, CPH)

Let us pray: Gracious, heavenly Father, kill our pride and grant us a steadfast, rightly focused faith, that we may not doubt but be brought to take comfort in Your omnipotence and wisdom against all the gates of hell. Amen.

Psalm 58:1-11 NKJV

58 Do you indeed speak righteousness, you silent ones?
Do you judge uprightly, you sons of men?
² No, in heart you work wickedness;
You weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.

³ The wicked are estranged from the womb;
They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.
⁴ Their poison is like the poison of a serpent;
They are like the deaf cobra that stops its ear,
⁵ Which will not heed the voice of charmers,
Charming ever so skillfully.

⁶ Break their teeth in their mouth, O God!
Break out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!
⁷ Let them flow away as waters which run continually;
When he bends his bow,
Let his arrows be as if cut in pieces.
⁸ Let them be like a snail which melts away as it goes,
Like a stillborn child of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

⁹ Before your pots can feel the burning thorns,
He shall take them away as with a whirlwind,
As in His living and burning wrath.
¹⁰ The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,
¹¹ So that men will say,
“Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
Surely He is God who judges in the earth.”

It can be quite frustrating when you have a clear teaching of Holy Scripture but those of a differing confession just dig their heels in and stick with their false teaching of God’s Word. For example, those who believe in a universal objective justification (i.e. that the entire human race was forgiven and justified apart from faith), when Holy Scripture makes it very clear that justification is only through faith. Or, when all of the other protestant denominations deny the real presence of Christ’s Body and Blood in the Lord’s Supper, when Holy Scripture at numerous places reveals that the Lord’s Body and Blood are truly present in, with, and under the bread and the wine.

Luther points out how the 58th psalm brings comfort against these stiffed-necked teachers, who pridefully hold to their false teachings, resist being corrected, and attempt to threaten the godly. He writes:

“Using five comparisons, the psalmist comforts himself that they will not carry out their intentions—yes, they will not accomplish half of them: (1) There comes at times a great flood with a terrible roar, as if it would carry away everything, but it flows away and does nothing. (2) A crossbow may be a severe threat, but when arrow, string, and bow are broken, it does nothing. (3) A slug stretches out its antennae, but before it moves, it is dried up or melted away. (4) A stillborn child enlarges the mother’s womb, as if it will come as a baby, but dies before it sees the light. (5) A thorn bush may stick out with many spikes and threaten with pricks and scratches, but before it becomes fully developed and hard, a raging hatchet deepens on it and summons the thorns into the oven to become ashes. Though all of these intended to be great and proceed with success, nevertheless nothing shall come from them.” (Reading the Psalms with Luther, pg. 137, CPH)

Let us pray: O Lord, protect us from false teachings, that the gift of faith You created in us may be preserved by the truth of Your Word properly proclaimed. Amen.

Psalm 57:1-11 NKJV

57 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.

² I will cry out to God Most High,
To God who performs all things for me.
³ He shall send from heaven and save me;
He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah
God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.

⁴ My soul is among lions;
I lie among the sons of men
Who are set on fire,
Whose teeth are spears and arrows,
And their tongue a sharp sword.
⁵ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.

⁶ They have prepared a net for my steps;
My soul is bowed down;
They have dug a pit before me;
Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah

⁷ My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and give praise.
⁸ Awake, my glory!
Awake, lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn.

⁹ I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing to You among the nations.
¹⁰ For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,
And Your truth unto the clouds.

¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.

In times of trouble and distress, Psalm 57 provides a profound example of how to find refuge in God. The psalmist pleads, “Be merciful to me, O God… for in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge” (v.1). This sentiment resonates with us, when our circumstances feel overwhelming. The imagery here beautifully illustrates His protective care for His people, inviting us to find safety and comfort in His presence.

David wrote this psalm during a time of great danger, likely while fleeing from Saul. Yet, he boldly declares, “I will cry out to God Most High… who performs all things for me” (v.2). Even in the darkest moments, we are called to cry out to God in faith, trusting that He alone can act on our behalf. Instead of relying solely on ourselves, we are reminded to direct our cries to the One who is sovereign overall.

David openly expresses his anguish, saying, “My soul is among lions” (v.4), but he also exalts God: “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens” (v.5). This shift in focus teaches us that worship, even in the midst of pain, brings God glory and changes our perspective. When we exalt Him, we are reminded of His greatness, which helps us see beyond our immediate struggles.

As the psalm progresses, David resolves to praise God: “I will sing and give praise” (v.7). Worship in adversity is a powerful act of faith, shifting our hearts from fear to hope. It reminds us that God is our strength, and His mercy and truth extend beyond all circumstances.

David concludes, “Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds” (v. 10). This declaration encapsulates the essence of his faith—a faith rooted in the unchanging character of God. His mercy and truth are not limited; they reach beyond our understanding, encompassing the entire universe. In our moments of doubt and fear, we can hold fast to this truth, knowing that God’s faithfulness will prevail.

Let us pray: Lord, help us to find refuge in You during our times of trouble. Teach us to trust in Your mercy and to sing Your praises even when circumstances are difficult. Remind us of Your greatness and faithfulness, that we may always find hope in You. Amen.

Exodus 6:28-30; 7:1-13 NKJV

²⁸ And it came to pass, on the day the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, ²⁹ that the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “I am the Lord. Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.”

³⁰ But Moses said before the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh heed me?”

7 So the Lord said to Moses: “See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. ² You shall speak all that I command you. And Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land. ³ And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. ⁴ But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. ⁵ And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”

⁶ Then Moses and Aaron did so; just as the Lord commanded them, so they did. ⁷ And Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh.

⁸ Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ⁹ “When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, ‘Show a miracle for yourselves,’ then you shall say to Aaron, ‘Take your rod and cast it before Pharaoh, and let it become a serpent.’ ” ¹⁰ So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the Lord commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

¹¹ But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. ¹² For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. ¹³ And Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had said.

As Moses wrestled with feelings of inadequacy, he expressed his doubts: “I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh heed me?” (6:30). Like Moses, we often feel unequipped for God’s call. Yet God did not rebuke Moses but reassured him, saying, “I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet” (7:1). Moses’ strength did not come from himself but from God’s authority. When we act on God’s behalf, it is His power, not ours, that gives us confidence.

God instructed Moses, “You shall speak all that I command you” (v.2). The task was simple: obedience. Moses was not responsible for the outcome—that was in God’s hands. His responsibility was to speak God’s words faithfully. Like Moses, our calling is not to control the outcome but to be faithful to what God has commanded us to do.

Even so, God warned Moses that Pharaoh’s heart would be hardened. “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt” (v.3). This shows that God was sovereign over the entire situation, even over Pharaoh’s resistance. Not everyone will receive His message, but that does not mean God’s plan is failing. He is at work, often in ways that we cannot see. The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart would lead to God’s greater glory being revealed in Egypt.

The first sign God commanded was simple: Aaron cast down his rod, and it became a serpent (v.10). Yet, Pharaoh’s magicians performed a similar act (v.11-12). Even so, Aaron’s rod swallowed theirs, demonstrating God’s supremacy. This reminds us that while evil may appear strong, God’s power ultimately prevails.

Despite these signs, Pharaoh’s heart hardened further (v.13). This shows us that only God can change hearts. Our role is to remain faithful, trusting that God is at work, even when we encounter resistance. Let us pray: Lord, help us to trust in Your power and authority as we carry out Your work. Strengthen us to be faithful, even in the face of opposition, knowing that You are in control. Amen.

Exodus 5:22-23; 6:1-13 NKJV

²² So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? ²³ For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.”

6 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.”

² And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the Lord. ³ I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord I was not known to them. ⁴ I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. ⁵ And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. ⁶ Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. ⁷ I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. ⁸ And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.’ ” ⁹ So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.

¹⁰ And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ¹¹ “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the children of Israel go out of his land.”

¹² And Moses spoke before the Lord, saying, “The children of Israel have not heeded me. How then shall Pharaoh heed me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?”

¹³ Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave them a command for the children of Israel and for Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

After Pharaoh’s harsh response, Moses turned to the Lord in anguish, asking, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me?” (v.22). Like Moses, we often wonder why following God’s will seems to lead to greater difficulties. Yet, Moses did not turn away in his confusion—he brought his distress to God in prayer.

God’s response was both powerful and reassuring: “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh” (6:1). Though Israel’s suffering had increased, God had not abandoned His people. He reminded Moses of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (v.2-3). In times of struggle, we are called to remember that God’s promises remain steadfast, even when the circumstances seem overwhelming.

God’s assurance to Israel was clear: “I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage” (v.6). His deliverance was not just about freeing them from slavery but fulfilling His promise to establish them as His people. God’s redemption is always complete—He rescues and redeems His people, offering hope beyond immediate suffering.

Yet when Moses delivered this message, the Israelites, burdened by anguish and cruel bondage, did not believe him (v.9). Sometimes, our suffering makes it hard to grasp God’s promises. Even when hope feels distant, God’s promises remain firm. We must trust that His deliverance will come, even if we cannot yet see it.

God reaffirmed His mission to Moses: “Go in, tell Pharaoh… to let the children of Israel go” (v.11). Though Moses doubted his own ability, saying, “How shall Pharaoh heed me?” (v.12), God’s call remained unchanged. We, too, are called to persist in our collective mission, knowing that our strength comes from God, not from ourselves. Let us pray: Lord, in our times of doubt and struggle, remind us of Your faithfulness. Strengthen us to trust Your promises and to continue in the path You have called us to, knowing that You are with us. Amen.

Exodus 5:1-21 NKJV

5 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.’ ”

² 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.”

³ So they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go three days’ journey into the desert and sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.”

⁴ Then the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people from their work? Get back to your labor.” ⁵ And Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are many now, and you make them rest from their labor!”

⁶ So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying, ⁷ “You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. ⁸ And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ ⁹ Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words.”

¹⁰ And the taskmasters of the people and their officers went out and spoke to the people, saying, “Thus says Pharaoh: ‘I will not give you straw. ¹¹ Go, get yourselves straw where you can find it; yet none of your work will be reduced.’ ” ¹² So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw. ¹³ And the taskmasters forced them to hurry, saying, “Fulfill your work, your daily quota, as when there was straw.” ¹⁴ Also the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as before?”

¹⁵ Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why are you dealing thus with your servants? ¹⁶ There is no straw given to your servants, and they say to us, ‘Make brick!’ And indeed your servants are beaten, but the fault is in your own people.”

¹⁷ But he said, “You are idle! Idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ ¹⁸ Therefore go now and work; for no straw shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the quota of bricks.” ¹⁹ And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble after it was said, “You shall not reduce any bricks from your daily quota.”

²⁰ Then, as they came out from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron who stood there to meet them. ²¹ And they said to them, “Let the Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.”

Moses and Aaron approached Pharaoh with God’s command: “Let My people go” (v.1). But Pharaoh’s defiant response, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice?” (v.2), exemplifies the world’s resistance to God’s authority. When God calls His people to worship, the world often responds with opposition. This is a reminder that following God’s commands may not result in immediate success in the eyes of the world.

Pharaoh’s refusal led to increased hardship for the Israelites. Their cries for freedom were dismissed, and their burdens intensified as they were forced to make bricks without straw (v.7-8). How often, when we try to follow God’s will, do our circumstances become more difficult? Like the Israelites, we may wonder why things worsen when we’re trying to do what’s right.

In their distress, the Israelites turned against Moses and Aaron, blaming them for their increased suffering (v.21). Even when faithfully following God’s direction, those around us may misunderstand or accuse us. Moses and Aaron were obedient, but the results didn’t meet their expectations. Leadership and obedience to God often include moments of rejection and hardship.

Yet, God’s plans are not completely thwarted by human resistance or initial failure. Pharaoh’s refusal was part of a larger plan to display God’s power and deliver His people. Just as Moses and Aaron faced opposition, we too may encounter challenges when serving God. We must hold fast to His promises, trusting that deliverance will come, even when the situation seems hopeless.

The Israelites’ suffering under Pharaoh was real, but it was not the end of the story. God had a purpose for allowing their burden to increase, for through their trials, He would reveal His mighty hand. In our own lives, the burdens we bear may seem unbearable, but God is faithful. He is present, and His plan for deliverance is always at work, even when we cannot yet see it.

Let us pray: Lord, help us to trust You in the midst of trials and to remain faithful even when the way seems hard. Strengthen us to follow Your will and wait on Your deliverance. Amen.

Exodus 4:18-31 NKJV

⁸ So Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, “Please let me go and return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive.”

And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.”

¹⁹ Now the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go, return to Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead.” ²⁰ Then Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

²¹ And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. ²² Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn. ²³ So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.” ’ ”

²⁴ And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him. ²⁵ Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” ²⁶ So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision.

²⁷ And the Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him on the mountain of God, and kissed him. ²⁸ So Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord who had sent him, and all the signs which He had commanded him. ²⁹ Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. ³⁰ And Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people. ³¹ So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.

Moses had received a divine commission from God, yet as he prepared to return to Egypt, uncertainty weighed on him. Despite God’s clear call, Moses asked his father-in-law, Jethro, for permission to go, saying, “Please let me go… and see whether they are still alive” (v.18). Although Moses knew God had sent him to deliver the Israelites, doubt still lingered, as if unsure whether God’s promises would unfold as planned. This is often the struggle of faith—knowing God’s word yet battling with our own limitations and fears.

God’s response to Moses’ uncertainties was immediate and direct. He reassured Moses that all those who sought his life in Egypt were dead (v.19), effectively removing one of the obstacles Moses may have feared. When God calls, He removes roadblocks. We are reminded that God’s timing is perfect and that His provision accompanies His commands. Moses took his wife and children and set out, holding onto the staff of God, a tangible reminder of the power and authority God had given him (v.20). In our own lives, God’s promises may seem distant, but He often places reminders in our hands—His Word, His Sacraments, His Spirit—to assure us He is with us.

A mysterious and challenging moment followed when the Lord sought to kill Moses (v.24). The reason was Moses’ failure to circumcise his son, an act of disobedience to God’s covenant with Abraham. Zipporah, Moses’ wife, intervened, circumcising their son and saying, “You are a husband of blood” (v.25). God’s grace is abundant, but He demands obedience. Before leading God’s people, Moses needed to submit fully to God’s Word.

With this act of obedience, the mission moved forward. Aaron met Moses in the wilderness, and together they embraced their calling (v.27). They returned to Egypt, gathered the elders, and as the people heard the Lord had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped (v.31). God’s presence leads not only to deliverance but to worship. Let us pray: Heavenly Father, help us to trust Your Word, walk in obedience, and recognize the signs of Your presence with us. Strengthen our faith as we follow You, that we may lead others to worship You. Amen.

Exodus 4:1-17 NKJV

4 Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’ ”

² So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

He said, “A rod.”

³ And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. ⁴ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail” (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), ⁵ “that they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

⁶ Furthermore the Lord said to him, “Now put your hand in your bosom.” And he put his hand in his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, like snow. ⁷ And He said, “Put your hand in your bosom again.” So he put his hand in his bosom again, and drew it out of his bosom, and behold, it was restored like his other flesh. ⁸ “Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign. ⁹ And it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs, or listen to your voice, that you shall take water from the river and pour it on the dry land. The water which you take from the river will become blood on the dry land.”

¹⁰ Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”

¹¹ So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? ¹² Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”

¹³ But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.”

¹⁴ So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. ¹⁵ Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do. ¹⁶ So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God. ¹⁷ And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.”

In Exodus 4, Moses is standing before God, wrestling with his calling to lead Israel out of Egypt. God had spoken clearly, but Moses was filled with doubts. “What if they do not believe me or listen to my voice?” Moses asked, fearing rejection and failure. God responded not with rebuke, but with reassurance. He gave Moses signs to perform: turning a staff into a serpent, turning his hand leprous and then healing it, and turning water into blood. These signs were not merely for Moses’ sake but for the people of Israel to know that the LORD had truly sent him.

Moses’ reluctance, however, went deeper than doubts about the people’s response. He worried about his own inadequacies. “I am not eloquent,” he told God, “But I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” Here, Moses fixated on his weaknesses rather than trusting in God’s power. How often do we do the same? We focus on our limitations, afraid that we won’t be enough for the task God has placed before us. Yet God reminded Moses, “Who has made man’s mouth? … Have not I, the LORD? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”

God equips those He calls. He didn’t need Moses to be perfect; He only needed Moses to be willing. But even after God’s assurances, Moses hesitated, saying, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.” At this, the LORD’s anger was kindled, yet even in His anger, God showed mercy. He provided Aaron, Moses’ brother, to be his spokesman, allowing Moses to fulfill his calling with the help of another.

This passage teaches us that God is patient with our doubts and fears, but He also expects us to trust Him. Our confidence is not in ourselves, but in the God who made us, who knows our weaknesses and promises to be with us. Like Moses, we may feel unqualified, but God never sends us without also providing the strength, the words, and the people we need to accomplish His will.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your patience and grace. Strengthen our faith, that we may trust in Your power, not our own abilities. Amen.