No straw…

 No straw….

 So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw. Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.’” 

They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; 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.” 

Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”

Exod.5.10,Exod.5.11,Exod.5.20,Exod.5.21,Exod.5.22,Exod.5.23

Years ago, in some Sunday school class, or sermon, there was an illustration of a circle…the concept was that we are convicted/encouraged to do something by the Holy Spirit, we do it or we don’t - the test-  obedience in some area of our lives…some change we should make….I can say that I wasn’t always immediately obedient…but it laid on my heart until I finally followed through…

Back to the circle…conviction, test, obedience or not, and round in round the learning process would go…there were outside forces that could make it harder and harder to follow through…

God was going to deliver these people from their oppressors…but there were some other lessons to be had first…some hard…and the blame game starts…no straw…more hard work, more oppression…and no delivery!

Don’t we still want things to be easy? With no hard lessons?

Reading Colossians 1….this is the goal…but, even Paul acknowledged endurance and patience…through the “no straw” times….

 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking …

*that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 

*so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, 

*fully pleasing to him: 

*bearing fruit in every good work and 

*increasing in the knowledge of God; 

*being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, 

*for all endurance and patience with joy;

Col.1.9-11

Thank YOU….

God help me….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_pgGgHVxPg