Weighty Hope

God spoke to Moses and said to him, “... Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God...” Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery. (From Exo. 5, ESV) 

Great and mighty promises rush in to the people of slavery: “I am the Lord! I will save! You will be mine!”

But—the Israelites "did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery" (Exo. 5). Suffering. Did God seem far away, he who came to them? Hope too light-filled to touch in their darkness? He spoke--did they only hear his silence? Where is God when he seems far away? 

God saw, God named, God diagnosed why they would not listen. Too broken, too crushed. His heart stooped to hear why. The compassionate God here does not rebuke, but saw beneath their deaf ears to their heart. Years later, to grieving disciples, Jesus would say, "I have much to say to you, but I will not say it now, for I see it is too much for you to bear" (Jn. 14, Jn. 16). He saw their hearts, and accommodated his revelation, his working. 

Where is God? A Savior of failure, a Savior for little-faithed. Sometimes, God’s promises seem too good to be true, too distant, too heavenly to be of now-in-this-moment-good. Our bodies are too broken by the slavery and oppression of whatever pharaoh is still trying to lay claim on our life. Oh, Spirit, give us faith! This was a lack of faith on the Israelites' part. They had more “faith” in their circumstances and in Pharaoh then they did in their God at that time. Do not let us excuse our weak faith! But do see a God that is bigger than our lack. Cling to a Christ who is even now your Savior, saving you from your moments of failure and littleness.

Where is God? Behind the scenes, working in faithfulness. In his grace, he still followed through on his promises. The Israelites' circumstances didn't change overnight. They may not have seen or felt it the next morning (although in their case, unlike Job's, it did change soon. But even for Job, God was listening for thirty-eight chapters, with Job.) The Israelites' lack of faith didn’t change his promise nor his plan for them. Even more, he brought them to a point where they could hear of his promises.

Sunrise from Mt. Sinai

 The Lord” found [Israel] in a desert land,    and in the howling waste of the wilderness;he encircled him, he cared for him,    he kept him as the apple of his eye. Like an eagle that stirs up its nest,    that flutters over its young,spreading out its wings, catching them,    bearing them on its pinions, the Lord alone guided him” (Deut. 32:10-12).

Like Elijah, so hungry, depressed, tired he despaired of life after Mt. Carmel, the angel came and nourished him with food. So, here God nourished them with freedom, with his wonders and judgments, with his deliverance until they could hear his promises, until they could bear the great weight of his hope.

Where was God? Renewing his promise when they were ready. Then, then before Mount Exodus, he repeated his great promises, his great calling to a people who had free ears to hear, and hearts still beating with liberty, with eyes uplooking to the shaking mountain (Exo. 19). Your Mount Exodus may seem too far away, unpicturable—but he is already there, and preparing it for you. He already sees it, sees you there. All that you need between here and there is seen and in his hand. He will be the Lifter of Your Head (Ps. 3:3).

When the slavery of the pharaoh, of our pharaohs, is too dark and ominous to lift up our heads, our God is still working behind the scenes. With your dropped head, if you look carefully, you will see his footstep pressed in the mud before you, with you.

When hope is too much,

He heard, saw, knew their heart.

He carried through in grace and faithfulness.

He nourished, brought them to a place where they could hear his hope.

He worked behind the scenes, before them.

Before you.