Courage in Confrontation | Exodus 5-11

How many of you love confrontation? Some are thinking, “I don’t just dislike confrontation, but I avoid it all costs.” You let the call go to voicemail. You ignore the text. You change the subject. You avoid the person. You tell yourself, “It’s just not worth it.” Some are like, “I love confrontation…as long as I’m right.” But the truth is this: most of us don’t hate confrontation, we hate the COST of confrontation. Confrontation risks relationships, comfort and control. Yet, some of the most loving moments in our lives came through confrontation: from a parent, a friend or even a doctor. A doctor who delivered the bad news that ultimately saved your life. How many of you want a doctor who is too scared to tell you the truth? The doctor says, “Oh, your fine.” While you are quietly dying. They would be a terrible and dangerous doctor. Confrontation is uncomfortable, but avoidance can be deadly. Sometimes the kindest thing you can do is lovingly confront someone with truth; often the kindest thing that God can do for us is to confront us.

Exodus is one of the most referenced events in the Bible. It is the defining moment where God does not just rescue His people but reveals Himself to His people. Exodus is where God gives His Name (YHWH): His character. The more we learn who God is, sometimes comforting, because it confirms what we already imagined Him to be. But at other times it’s confronting, because God is not who we’ve reduced Him to be. That is what Moses is learning. At the burning bush, God answers Moses’ objections with His name and his promises. Now Moses is sent to stand before Pharaoh and demand the release His people. It was not a political showdown, but a spiritual showdown. Moses will stand before Pharaoh 15 times, and every time God is going to show WHO HE IS to Pharaoh, the Egyptians, His people and to us. In Exodus 5-11, God confronts the evil in the world and the idols in our hearts through His justice and kindness.