Scripture Focus: Exodus 1:13–14
“So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor... and made their lives bitter with harsh labor... in all kinds of work in the fields.”
Devotional
Life doesn't always go as expected. There are times when we feel unseen, overlooked, or even opposed. The Israelites faced this deeply in Exodus 1. A new Pharaoh rose to power, one who didn’t know Joseph or the legacy of favor Israel once enjoyed. The Israelites suddenly found themselves enslaved, working hard, treated harshly, and stripped of dignity. But even in the bitterness of oppression, God’s covenant with them hadn’t changed.
God had promised Abraham that his descendants would become a great nation (Genesis 15:5), and despite Pharaoh’s best efforts, that promise was unfolding. The more Israel was afflicted, the more they multiplied (Exodus 1:12). Oppression didn’t stop the covenant. If anything, it made it more visible.
Modern-Day Pharaohs and Delays
I know what it means to walk through a season where favor seems to vanish and voices rise against you. Back in 2011, I sensed God’s call to ministry so clearly. I was then the organist of my church, actively involved and hopeful. But when a new priest was transferred in, someone who didn’t know my heart or my journey, it felt like everything changed. My intentions were misunderstood, my efforts dismissed, and my spiritual journey delayed. At one point, I even lost someone deeply precious to me because of the emotional weight of that season.
There were days I questioned if I heard God right. But one truth anchored me: God is the One who calls, and He is the One who brings it to pass. Years later, I stand to be ordained in the Anglican Church not because the road was smooth, but because the covenant-keeping God never let go.
Encouragement for You
Maybe you’re in a similar place. Maybe you feel unseen by those in power or unheard by those you hoped would support you. Maybe it seems like God’s promise to you is delayed or even denied. But hear this:
No opposition can override God’s will. No human voice can silence the voice of heaven.
His covenant with you, whether it's a promise of ministry, healing, restoration, or purpose still stands. God does not withdraw what He has spoken over your life just because the circumstances turn dark.
Keep These Truths Close
- God’s silence is not His absence.
- Delays don’t mean denials.
- God honors His word even when others don’t.
- Your pain is not wasted; it prepares you for purpose.
A Prayer for Today
Faithful Father, thank You that Your promises are stronger than my pain. Remind me today that You are not limited by what others do or say. Help me trust in Your timing and cling to Your covenant. Like the Israelites, may I grow even in hard places, knowing You are with me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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