The local TV meteorologist occasionally points to a map and says something like this: "I'm afraid that things are going to get worse before they get better."
Such a forecast could very well have applied to Israel when God sent Moses
to free His people from slavery in Egypt in this week’s Torah portion Shemot.
The barometer of events was falling rapidly, and the dark, ominous sky of
oppression would soon break forth into a churning, flashing storm of cruelty
unleashed by Pharaoh.
Moses had appealed to Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go into the desert to
worship God, but the king accused them of loafing on the job (Exodus 5:1,17).
So he multiplied their workload, and the situation went from bad to horrible
(v.18). Moses cried out in bitterness to the Lord for an explanation
(vv.22-23). He found it hard to believe that a glorious exodus could be just
around the corner.
The plans of the Lord were not being frustrated, however. Parashat Shemot
ends “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘You shall soon see what I will do to
Pharaoh: he shall let them go because of a greater might; indeed, because of a
greater might he shall drive them from his land.’” (6:1) “Note the irony.
Pharaoh not only will let you go; he will force you to go.” (Etz Hayim commentary, page 341)
Even when we are good people, the skies of adversity may not always clear
immediately. Circumstances may get worse before they improve. But thank God,
His love for us will sustain us, and the storm will pass.
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