WEEKLY REFLECTION by Pastor Lap Dinh on Exodus 5:1-2

Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'" <2> But Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord, that I should heed his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover I will not let Israel go." Exodus 5:1-2

When we face great challenges, oppression, or people who are “Pharaoh-like,” it is common for us to experience struggles similar to those Moses faced. The moment we decide to put the Lord first in our lives, we should expect situations like those Moses encountered.

Both religious people and non-believers may challenge us, demanding to know who Jesus is and why they should listen to us or allow us to live a Christlike life—attending Sunday worship, joining small groups, setting aside time for prayer, and so on. They may say things like, “You must choose between Jesus and your job,” or “Does your church feed you and your family?” Others may press us with ultimatums: “Choose today whom you will obey—your career or your God?”

In romantic relationships between believers and non-believers, the pressure can sound like this: “If you choose Jesus, we will break up,” or “If you worship Jesus, you will lose your inheritance.” These are real-life situations that many who choose to follow Jesus will eventually face.

This story reminds us that following the Lord is a journey filled with challenges that are humanly impossible to overcome. How could a small group of enslaved people ever leave Egypt and be delivered from the iron grip of Pharaoh? Clearly, without trusting and obeying the Lord, no one would witness miracles, deliverance, or victory. Without Jesus Christ, no one can be freed from the bondage of sin, delivered from their former way of life, or journey toward an eternal and heavenly home.

So when someone challenges us by saying, “Who is Jesus, that I should obey His voice and let you live out your Christian practices? I do not know your God, and I will not allow you time off work to go to church on Sunday,” we do not need to become angry, discouraged, or attempt to manipulate the situation in our own strength. Instead, we are called to stand firm on God’s Word, live it out faithfully, wait for God’s timing, and quietly witness His powerful deliverance.

May we all confess and live out this truth: Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords, in every challenge we face in life.