July 28 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 46–48; Acts 28

The Long Game

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh.” Exodus 6:1

READ Exodus 5:1–9

When Tun’s country suffered a coup, the military began terrorising believers in Jesus and killing their farm animals. Having lost their livelihood, Tun’s family scattered to various countries. For nine years, Tun existed in a refugee camp far from his family. He knew God was with him, but during the separation, two family members died. Tun grew despondent.

Long ago, another people group faced brutal oppression. So God appointed Moses to lead those people—the Israelites—out of Egypt. Moses reluctantly agreed. But when he approached Pharaoh, the Egyptian ruler only intensified the oppression (Exodus 5:6–9). “I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go,” he said (v. 2). The people complained to Moses, who complained to God (vv. 20–23).

In the end, God freed the Israelites and they got the freedom they wanted—but in God’s way and timing. He plays a long game, teaching us about His character and preparing us for something greater.

Tun made good use of his years in a refugee camp, earning a master’s degree from a New Delhi Bible college. Now he’s a pastor to his own people—refugees like him who have found a new home. “My story as a refugee forms the crucible for leading as a servant,” he says. In his testimony, Tun cites Moses’ song in Exodus 15:2: “The Lord is my strength and my defence.” And today, He’s ours as well.

By Tim Gustafson

What questions do you have for God? How will you trust Him to keep His word?

Heavenly Father, I can always rely on You. Forgive me when I lose sight of that truth.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

Scripture gives us the reasons God commissioned Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian servitude: “so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness” (Exodus 5:1), so they may “offer sacrifices to the Lord” (3:18), and so they “may worship [Hebrew ‘avad] me” (4:23; 7:16; 8:1, 20; 9:1, 13; 10:3). ‘Avad can also be translated “to serve” or “to be a slave,” as in the ESV: “Let my people go, that they may serve me” ( 7:16). To worship God is to serve Him. Having been forced to serve as slaves to the Egyptians, Israel was now set free to serve Yahweh.