When you’re going through a hard time and struggling to make it through each day, it’s hard to see God’s purpose in it. You hear people encouraging you to hang on, that things will get better, but nothing seems to change. What could possibly be the purpose in the pain you’re experiencing now?
The Israelites faced the same question after hundreds of years of bondage under the Egyptians. In Exodus 4 Moses shows up with Aaron and tells the elders that God is going to finally free them. “So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD was concerned about the sons of Israel and that He had seen their affliction, then they bowed low and worshiped (Exodus 4:31, NASB).” But this excitement soon dissipated when Pharaoh refused to let them go and made their labor even harder, which prompted Moses to question God. (5:22:23).
In Exodus 6, God described what He would do to Pharaoh and Egypt and his purpose. He assured them that He would bring them out of their bondage and redeem them “with an outstretched arm and with great judgments (6:6).” In the next chapter He made a simple phrase with profound implications. “But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. (7:3).” Why? So that “the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst (7:5).”
You may never know God’s ultimate purpose for the hardships you face in life, but know that as a believer in Jesus, God has a reason for it. At times God’s purposes are contrary to our purposes, but know that He is using it so that others may know that He is Lord.
Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said. – Exodus 8:19, NASB
