The overseers turned on the two men sent to save them. If you have ever led people through hard ground before reaching promised ground, you know exactly how this feels.
“Then the Israelite overseers went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why have you treated your servants this way? 16 Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.” 17 Pharaoh said, “Lazy, that’s what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18 Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks.” 19 The Israelite overseers realised they were in trouble when they were told, “You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day.” 20 When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, 21 and they said, “May the Lord look on you and judge you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” (Exodus 5 v 15-21)
The overseers did everything right. They went through the proper channels of appealing to Pharaoh with respect. They stated the facts plainly: no straw, same quota and servants beaten for someone else’s failure.
They walked out with nothing changed. There was no merciful adjustment; it was what it was.
Then they found Moses and Aaron waiting.
And instead of anger at Pharaoh, they turned it on the men who’d come to deliver them.
But neither Moses nor Aaron had caused the suffering. They were there in support of the people.
But this is what pressure does. It makes people misdirect their pain toward whoever’s closest.
If you’ve ever led people toward something better and been resented for the discomfort it caused along the way, you can relate to this part of the story.
There are times when even though the answer to prayer is on its way, you are not feeling or seeing it yet.
Missions Paul 