Retribution

Then Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working." (Exodus 5:5 NIV)

Moses was simply doing what God told him to do.  He was confronting Pharaoh.  He didn’t just experience resistance, though.  It was going to be much worse than that.  He, and the Israelites, were going to receive retribution for even trying.

That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people: "You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don't reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies." (Exodus 5:6-9 NIV)

Sometimes, when we try to live out our faith, we experience retribution.  People try to punish us just because we believe in God, believe that Jesus is the Christ, or because we follow Jesus as our Lord.  When that happens, it doesn’t seem very fun to be a Christ-follower.

Then the slave drivers and the overseers went out and said to the people, "This is what Pharaoh says: 'I will not give you any more straw. Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.'" (Exodus 5:10-11 NIV)

God never said that following him would all be a bed of roses.  In fact, God told us that we would encounter resistance.  Our families will be divided over following Jesus.  People will persecute us for following Jesus.  When Jesus warned us about such things, he told us to pick up our crosses and follow Him.

So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble to use for straw. The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, "Complete the work required of you for each day, just as when you had straw." And Pharaoh's slave drivers beat the Israelite overseers they had appointed, demanding, "Why haven't you met your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?" (Exodus 5:12-14 NIV)

So, how about you?  Have you ever experienced retribution for your faith?  Has anyone ever tried to punish you simply because you believe and follow Jesus?  When they do, does it stop you from following Him?