You may have heard the expression “Divide and Conquer.” This is a strategy that our enemy satan uses continually against people to create strife, confusion, and lack of trust. When people are fighting each other, they lose their focus on who the real enemy is. The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:10-12 that people are not the real enemy, the demonic spirits are.
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.[1] Ephesians 6:10-12.
In our story, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and spoke to him. They told him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the wilderness.” [2] Exodus 5:1. The Pharaoh was not very receptive to God’s plan and created greater hardship for the people. He made them gather their own straw for the bricks instead of supplying it. This created additional work so they could not meet their quota of bricks. As a result, people were beaten.
19 The Israelite foremen could see that they were in serious trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce the number of bricks you make each day.” 20 As they left Pharaoh’s court, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who were waiting outside for them. 21 The foremen said to them, “May the Lord judge and punish you for making us stink before Pharaoh and his officials. You have put a sword into their hands, an excuse to kill us!” [3] Exodus 5:19-21.
Moses was following God’s directions, but Pharaoh was not. Pharaoh had the authority to make the people’s lives miserable. When you read through the above verses, you can see the enemy at work creating division as the people turn against Moses.
In the middle of division and strife, we need to humble ourselves and seek the Lord in prayer for wisdom and understanding. As mentioned earlier, Paul tells us we must rely on the Lord and His Mighty Power and put on the full armor of God. When we depend on ourselves, we are easily defeated, but when we depend on God, He gives us strength to win the battle. The Apostle Paul writes in Phil. 4:13, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”[4]
To hear more of the story of Moses, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/the-footsteps-of-moses/following-god-brings-challenges
[1,2,3,4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.