Confirmation in Resistance

Date: Friday, January 30, 2026

Here’s the part pastors don’t always tell you in the feel-good sermons: sometimes when you obey God, things get worse before they get better. Exodus 5 is a brutal reality check. Moses does exactly what God said, and the result? Pharaoh gets even more abusive, the people get more work, and Moses gets blamed. It’s the ‘bricks without straw’ moment. It challenges the ‘Prosperity Gospel’ lie that following God leads to immediate comfort. Sorry.

Theologically, this is the tension of the transition. In the grand narrative, the cross comes before the resurrection. There is often an increase in the enemy’s resistance just before a major deliverance. Pharaoh’s doubling down on oppression is a sign of his growing desperation, not God’s absence. Psalm 28 captures this cry: ‘To you, O LORD, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me.’ It’s the raw, unfiltered prayer of someone who feels the weight of the world pressing down.

The pastoral application here is about endurance. When you stand up for what’s right and the empire strikes back, don’t assume you’ve misheard God. Resistance is often confirmation that you’re headed in the right direction. The progressive revelation of God’s plan often involves a dark Saturday before a bright Sunday.

Don’t let the increased workload of life make you cynical about God’s promises. He is still the Shepherd of Israel, even when the straw is gone. This is where real faith is forged; not in the easy wins, but in the perseverance of brick making. Hold the line. The God who hears the cry of the oppressed is already moving, even if the taskmasters are shouting louder than ever.

Devotional Prompts:

Have you ever felt like things got harder after you tried to do the right thing? How did you handle that?
How do you maintain trust in God when His answers seem to lead to more conflict or struggle?
In what ways can you support others who are currently in a ‘bricks without straw’ season of life?

Prayer: Rock of Ages, do not be deaf to our cries when the weight of our work feels unbearable. Give us the perseverance to endure the transition and the faith to trust Your plan when the resistance increases. Be our strength and our shield today. Amen.