Hold On to Faith During Distress (Exodus 5:22–23)

2026 Bible Reading: Exodus 5–8

PRINCIPLE: When obedience brings greater distress, hold on to your faith in the LORD. (Exodus 5:22–23)

“Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, ‘O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.’” – Exodus 5:22–23

Exodus 5 records Moses and Aaron’s first confrontation with Pharaoh. As the LORD’s emissaries, they told him, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go’” (Exodus 5:1). Pharaoh rejected the LORD’s authority, refused their request, and viewed Israel mainly as a labor force whose productivity must not be interrupted (Exodus 5:2–5).

That same day, Pharaoh increased Israel’s burden by requiring the same quota of bricks while no longer providing straw (Exodus 5:6–9). When the people could not meet the demand, the Israelite foremen were beaten and accused of laziness (Exodus 5:10–14).

The foremen appealed to Pharaoh, but he refused to change his order (Exodus 5:15–19). Afterward, they blamed Moses and Aaron for making Israel offensive in Pharaoh’s sight and for placing them in greater danger (Exodus 5:20–21).

Moses then turned immediately to the LORD in lament. He could not understand why obedience to God’s command had resulted in deeper suffering for God’s people. He asked why the LORD had sent him, why harm had come upon Israel, and why deliverance had not yet appeared.

At this point, “Moses turned to the LORD and said” (Exodus 5:22a). This signified Moses did not abandon his calling. He did not turn away from God. He turned to God even with his confusion.

When Moses asked, “Why have you done evil to this people?” (Exodus 5:22b) his language sounds troubling. However, the word “evil” must be understood carefully in this context. Moses was not accusing the LORD of moral evil. He was asking why the LORD had allowed harm and distress to come upon His people after sending him to Pharaoh.

The word “evil” (Hebrew: rāʿaʿ) can mean to be evil, to do evil, to harm, or to treat someone badly. In Exodus 5:22–23, the word appears in the Hiphil form, which carries the sense of causing harm or inflicting injury. Moses could see that Israel’s condition had become worse, and from his limited perspective, he could not understand why obedience had led to greater suffering.

This is made even more striking by the contrast within the passage. Moses first asked why the LORD had allowed harm to come upon His people. Then he said that Pharaoh had “done evil to this people” (Exodus 5:23b). The same Hiphil idea is used, but with a different emphasis. In relation to Pharaoh, it describes the actual harm he inflicted on Israel through harsher oppression. In relation to the LORD, it expresses Moses’ troubled perception: he could not understand why God had permitted such harm instead of bringing immediate deliverance.

Moses also asked, “Why did you ever send me?” (Exodus 5:22c). The word “send” (Hebrew: šālaḥ) is significant. It means to send, dispatch, or commission. Moses was not acting on his own initiative. He had been sent by the LORD to speak in His name. This made the situation more painful for Moses, because the mission God gave him seemed to have resulted in greater harm for the very people God promised to deliver.

Moses then said, “and you have not delivered your people at all” (Exodus 5:23c). The word “delivered” (Hebrew: nāṣal) is also significant. It means to rescue, deliver, pull out, or snatch away from danger. Here again, the verb appears in the Hiphil form, emphasizing the idea of causing or bringing about deliverance. This creates a strong contrast with the earlier Hiphil verb for “done evil.” Pharaoh had caused harm, but the LORD had not yet caused rescue. Moses could see the suffering of the people, but he could not yet see the deliverance.

Moses was struggling to understand why obedience to God seemed to bring greater suffering instead of immediate deliverance. He could see Pharaoh’s oppression, but he could not yet see God’s purpose. Moses’ lament in these verses reminds us that God’s promises are not measured by present circumstances, because His deliverance comes according to His covenant faithfulness and mighty power, not according to what we can immediately see.

Theological Reflection

In Exodus 5:22–23, we learn that obedience to God does not always bring immediate relief. Moses obeyed the LORD and spoke in His name, yet the first visible result was heavier suffering for Israel. Pharaoh did evil to the people by harming them, treating them harshly, and increasing their distress. This reminds us that faithfulness cannot be measured only by quick deliverance, outward success, or immediate comfort. Sometimes obedience brings us face to face with opposition before it displays the power of God. (John 16:33; 2 Timothy 3:12)

When obedience brings distress, faith must keep turning to the LORD. Moses did not turn away from God; he turned to God with his questions, confusion, and burden. He could not understand why harm had come upon God’s people after he had obeyed God’s command. True faith does not pretend to understand everything; it keeps coming to the LORD even when His ways are painful and unclear. (Psalm 13:1–2; Habakkuk 1:2)

This also teaches us that God’s delay does not mean God has forgotten His promise. Moses said, “You have not delivered your people at all,” because he could only see Israel’s worsening condition. But God was already moving His redemptive plan forward. What looked like delay was preparing the stage for a greater display of God’s covenant faithfulness, power, and glory. (Exodus 6:6–7; Habakkuk 2:3)

Exodus 5:22–23 teaches us that when obedience brings greater distress, faith must hold on to the LORD. God’s servants may face distress while obeying God, confusion when His ways are unclear, and delay while waiting for His promise to unfold, but God remains faithful. He is still at work even when deliverance has not yet appeared, and He will accomplish His saving purpose by His power and in His time.

Applications

First, Obey God Through Suffering

“For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name” – Exodus 5:23a

Moses obeyed the LORD and spoke in His name, but Israel’s suffering became heavier. This teaches us that obedience may sometimes lead into suffering before relief comes. The hardship did not mean Moses was outside God’s will. It meant that Pharaoh’s opposition was being exposed before God’s power would be displayed.

Do what God’s Word commands even when obedience brings pressure, pain, or misunderstanding. Do not stop obeying simply because the situation becomes harder. When faithfulness becomes costly, remain faithful to the LORD. Trust that God is still working even when obedience does not yet produce visible results.

Second, Pray to God Through Confusion

“Then Moses turned to the LORD and said…” – Exodus 5:22a

Moses could not understand why harm came upon God’s people after he obeyed God’s command. But he did not turn away from the LORD in disappointment. He turned to God with his burden. This teaches us that confusion should lead us to prayer, not to distance ourselves from God.

Bring your questions, pain, and confusion before the LORD. Do not pretend that everything is clear when your heart is troubled. Tell Him where you are hurting and where you are struggling to understand. Let your distress drive you nearer to the LORD, not farther from Him.

Third, Wait on God Through His Delays

“and you have not delivered your people at all.” – Exodus 5:23c

Moses could not yet see deliverance, but God had not forgotten His promise. What looked like delay was part of God’s greater work of redemption. The LORD was already preparing to show His covenant faithfulness and mighty power. This teaches us that God may be working even when His answer has not yet appeared.

Do not give up when God’s timing is different from yours. Wait with trust when deliverance has not yet come. Hold on to His promise even when circumstances seem unchanged or worse. God is still working, and He will accomplish His will in His time.

Prayer

Father God, thank You for reminding us that when obedience brings greater distress, we must hold on to our faith in You. Forgive us for the times we quickly doubt Your goodness when obedience becomes costly, circumstances become harder, or deliverance does not come according to our timing.

Lord, teach us to obey You through suffering. Help us to do what Your Word commands even when it brings pressure, pain, misunderstanding, or opposition. Do not allow hardship to make us turn back from faithfulness. Strengthen our hearts to trust that You are still working even when obedience does not yet produce visible results.

Teach us to pray to You through confusion and wait on You through Your delays. When we do not understand Your ways, help us to turn to You honestly. When Your answer has not yet appeared, remind us that You have not forgotten Your promise. Keep us faithful, patient, and hopeful, knowing that You will accomplish Your saving purpose by Your power and in Your time.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.