Exodus 5

15–18 The Israelite foremen (appointed by Pharaoh’s slave drivers) appealed to Pharaoh; they accused his own servants of not providing straw. They evidently hadn’t heard that it was Pharaoh himself who had given the order to stop providing straw to the Israelites.

19–21 Then the Israelite foremen realized that Moses and Aaron had been responsible for the hardening of Pharaoh’s attitude, and they called upon God to judge them. They considered Moses and Aaron to be enemies; instead of helping, they were in effect putting a sword in the Egyptians’ hand to kill the Israelites (verse 21).

22–23 It’s hard enough being attacked by your enemies; it’s much harder being attacked by your friends—especially friends you were sent to help. Moses felt his whole mission was a failure; he and Aaron were only making things worse for the Israelites. Moses said to God: “Why are you allowing this? Why aren’t you doing something?” Moses had forgotten that God had already warned him this would happen. He was also forgetting to place his trust in God rather than in himself.

Yet Moses was right to take his concerns to the Lord and to express them freely. When things don’t go as we expect, we usually look around for someone to blame; that is not helpful. We should go to the Lord instead, as Moses did. Moses needed to cast his cares upon the Lord (1 Peter 5:7). He needed to learn to wait upon the Lord. Often the Lord will delay acting until He is sure we will recognize that, when His action comes, it is indeed the Lord who has acted. If things always go as we expect, we are likely to lose sight of God and stop depending on Him.