It really couldn’t have gone any worse. The people believed Moses when he told them that “the LORD had visited the people of Israel and that He had seen their affliction” (Ex. 4:31a). They bought into the plan, Moses and Aaron would go to Pharaoh and tell him to let God’s people go. They started thinking about what they’d need to pack for their journey to the promised land. “Finally!”, they thought. “This is it!”, they thought. “Let’s get going!”, they thought. “This is going to be great!”, they thought. And so, “they bowed their heads and worshiped” (Ex. 4:31b). But things didn’t quite go as anticipated.

Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. The ask was made. The ask was refused. The ask resulted in greater hardship than anyone could have imagined. While making a daily quota of bricks for the Egyptians with the straw they provided was hard labor, being expected to make that same quota without being given straw was unfathomably ludicrous. And then to be beaten for missing quota!?! So much for the plan.

Thus, whereas before the people had believed Moses, they now berated him, “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” (Ex. 5:21).

So, you can hardly blame Moses when he has questions of his own.

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.”

(Exodus 5:22-23 ESV)

Moses was a theologically astute servant — God was sovereign and God was all-powerful and thus what had just happened with Pharaoh was God’s doing. Moses was an obedient servant — though a reluctant recruit at first, nevertheless he obediently submitted to his recruiting and went and did as he was told to do by God. Moses was a confused servant — he had gone to Pharaoh according to plan, but the plan bombed. Moses was also an honest servant — “Lord, You have not delivered. Lord, why?”

Relatable? I’m thinkin’ . . .

Not that many of us are called to confront political powers with audacious asks, but all of us are called to navigate this world with the ways of the kingdom. To walk a path which, at the least, seems often a half-bubble off plumb and which, more often than not, seems like swimming upstream. But the calling comes with a promise. A promise that deliverance is waiting. That the work begun will be the work finished. That the world we’re to leave will be replaced by a better world. But when things don’t play out how we thought they should have been planned out, can’t we relate to Moses’ confusion and to his question? ”Lord, why?”

Read also in Psalm 25 this morning. And the dots that get connected for me are that often God’s response to my “Why?” is to “Wait!”

To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for You shall be put to shame . . .

Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day long. . .

Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You. May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You.

(Psalm 25:1-3a, 5, 20-21 ESV)

Why, Lord? Wait.

Why, Lord? Hang on, linger, keep expecting. Tarry, be patient. The promise is sure. Joy comes in the morning (Ps. 30:5). You just don’t know when the morning’s gonna be.

The “what” is certain. The “how” is often a mystery. Thus the “why” is understandable. But knowing “Who” — trusting God, finding refuge in Him even as we look to Him for His deliverance — is what makes possible the “wait.”

Relatable? Like I said, I’m thinkin’ . . .

For You I wait.

By Your grace. For Your glory.