Moses returned to Yahweh, and said, “Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me?
Parallel translations
- KJV And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, LORD, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?
- BSB So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me?
- NKJV So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me?
- NASB Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me?
- NLT Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Moses returns to God and asks why He has brought trouble on the people and sent him at all. Even the prophet wrestles honestly with God in confusion.
Overview
Burdened by the people's worsened suffering and their blame, Moses turns to God with searching, even reproachful questions. His honest lament shows that faith can voice perplexity to God rather than abandon Him. Moses' wrestling models how God's servants may bring their bewilderment directly to the Lord, trusting Him even when His ways are not yet clear.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Jer 20:7Yahweh, you have persuaded me, and I was persuaded; you are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I have become a laughing-stock all day. Every one mocks me.
- Num 11:14–15I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.
- 1 Kgs 19:10He said, “I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”
- Num 11:11Moses said to Yahweh, “Why have you treated with your servant so badly? Why haven’t I found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?
- Exod 17:4Moses cried to Yahweh, saying, “What shall I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”
- Hab 2:3For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hurries toward the end, and won’t prove false. Though it takes time, wait for it; because it will surely come. It won’t delay.
- Ps 73:25Whom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.
- 1 Kgs 19:4But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree. Then he requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is enough. Now, O Yahweh, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”
- 1 Sam 30:6David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the souls of all the people were grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters; but David strengthened himself in Yahweh his God.
- Jer 12:1You are righteous, Yahweh, when I contend with you; yet I would reason the cause with you: why does the way of the wicked prosper? why are all they at ease who deal very treacherously?
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 5:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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