Israel’s Accusation and Moses’ Discouragement                      (Exodus 5:19-23)

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19 The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, “You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks.” 

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 20 When they left Pharaoh’s presence, they met Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them. 

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 21 They said to them, “May the LORD look upon you and judge you, for you have made us odious in Pharaoh’s sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.” 

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 22 Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, “O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me? 

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 23 “Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all.”

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           Introduction

A Steady Downward Progression

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* ++First: Who is really Lord? (God vs. Pharaoh)

* ++Then: Where do you run when life gets harder?

* ++Now: What do you do when God’s ways don’t meet your expectations?

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     First, Pharaoh questioned God.

* ++ Then the people questioned Moses.

* ++ Now Moses begins questioning God.

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  Everything seems to be unraveling:

     ++• Relationships are strained.

     ++• Expectations have collapsed.

     ++• Hope appears to be slipping away.

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  Discouragement Turns Us Against Others

             (Exodus 5:19-21)

“When the foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble… they met Moses and Aaron… ‘May the LORD look upon you and judge you…’”

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  Discouragement Turns Us Against Others

* ++The foremen had just left Pharaoh’s palace discouraged, humiliated, defeated.

* ++They turned on the very men (Moses & Aaron) who had brought them hope.

* ++Days earlier they worshiped God because of Moses now they ask God to judge him.

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       Pain Looks for a Target

* ++We see it in marriages, families, and churches.

* ++Instead of asking “What is God doing?” they asked “Whose fault is this?”

* ++Discouragement clouds our vision and distorts relationships.

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  Discouragement Distorts Our View of God

  (Exodus 5:22-23)

  “Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, ‘O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me?… You have not delivered Your people at all.’”

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  Discouragement Distorts Our View of God

* ++Moses ran to God with honest questions - good!

* ++But he began drawing wrong conclusions.

* ++He interpreted God’s promises through his circumstances

    instead of the reverse.

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     Which Sermon Will We Believe?

* ++Circumstances preach: “You’re alone… This is pointless.”

* ++God’s promises declare: “I will never leave you… I am working all things for good.”

* ++Moses reached a verdict before God finished His case.

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     From Moses’ Perspective…Nothing is happening.

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     From God’s Perspective…Everything is happening.

* * * God is exposing hearts.

* God is preparing His people.

* God is setting the stage for redemption.

     Friday looked like defeat—Sunday was coming.

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     Discouragement Gives God an

     Opportunity to Reveal Himself

* ++Pharaoh, taskmasters, foremen, people, Moses all had their say.

* ++Their words only increased oppression, conflict, and discouragement.

* ++Human explanations and complaints accomplished nothing.

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  God Brings Us to the End of Ourselves

* * Pharaoh’s arrogance exposed.

* Israel’s slave mentality exposed.

* Moses’ discouragement exposed.

++Before God reveals His power, He exposes our inability.

++Before He becomes our only hope, He removes every false hope.

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