WHO IS THE LORD?

After Moses had demonstrated the Lord’s powerful signs in the presence of the Hebrew slaves, he and Aaron marched into Pharoah’s castle.

This was the place that Moses had been raised. He knew every hallway, every room, every nook and cranny. He played inside these walls as a boy. He had been educated by Egyptian tutors in these extravagant halls. He had become a man here.

Now, forty years later, he was unknown to the new Pharaoh and to his court. Emboldened, not by memories, but by the promised presence of Almighty God, he marched into the throne room of the most powerful sovereign in the world.

Seemingly without any introduction, and certainly without any small-talk or chitchat, Moses declared, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival for me in the wilderness” (Exodus 5:1).

Pharoah, probably seated on an elevated throne, looked down at the shabbily clothed Hebrews, one a shepherd, the other a common slave. The king wasn’t accustomed to being told what to do. He didn’t appreciate the brash talk from these poverty-stricken foreigners.

With his ornate scepter pointed at them, the Pharoah boomed, “Who is the Lord that I should obey him by letting Israel go? I don’t know the Lord, and besides, I will not let Israel go’ ” (Exodus 5:2).

Pharoah wasn’t admitting his ignorance when he asked, “Who is the Lord?” Rather, he was insulting the Almighty! His words dripped with disdain, derision, and disrespect. In Egypt, whatever the Pharoah said was always so. He could do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. “I will not let Israel go!”

Oh, but wait. Pharoah (nor me or you) have the final say. God always, and forever, gets the final word!

“The Lord does whatever he pleases in heaven and on earth!” (Psalm 135:6).

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).