The Not-So-Easy Route

Exodus 4:27-5:9 confronts us with an uncomfortable truth: obedience to God doesn't guarantee an easy life—in fact, it often invites opposition. We witness the Israelites' emotional rollercoaster as they move from jubilant hope to crushing disappointment when Pharaoh responds to Moses' request by making their slavery even harsher. This passage dismantles our modern expectation that following God's instructions will lead to smooth sailing. Instead, it reveals that stepping out in faith means entering a spiritual battlefield that's been raging since the beginning of time. The setbacks we experience aren't signs of God's absence but often the very soil where He grows our faith. We're challenged to stop letting hypothetical 'what ifs' and 'if onlys' paralyze our faith, and instead trust that breakthrough comes after obedience, not before it.