Seminary
Exodus 5–6—Doing the Lord’s Will, Regardless of the Outcome
Moses and Aaron in the court of Pharaoh

Moses and Aaron in the Court of Pharaoh, by Robert T. Barrett

Exodus 1–6; Lesson 40

Exodus 5–6

Doing the Lord’s Will, Regardless of the Outcome

Visit “Studying the Scriptures” to help prepare yourself spiritually to learn.

Does living the gospel of Jesus Christ make your life easier or harder? After the Lord called Moses to deliver Israel from Egyptian captivity, Moses asked Pharaoh to let the Lord’s people go. The outcome tested both Moses’s and the Israelite’s faith. Still, Moses continued to trust the Lord. This lesson can help you rely on the promises of the Lord regardless of the immediate outcomes.

Study the Scriptures

man with wristwatch

In the following situations, how long would it take for you to become impatient?

  1. A website isn’t loading.

  2. You are waiting in line to check out at a store.

  3. A friend you are expecting to meet up with is running late.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency, taught:

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

We live in a world offering fast food, instant messaging, on-demand movies, and immediate answers to the most trivial or profound questions. We don’t like to wait. Some even feel their blood pressure rise when their line at the grocery store moves slower than those around them. (“Continue in Patience,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 56)

mark iconRead Exodus 5:1–2. Mark Pharaoh’s response to Moses’s request to free the Israelites.

After Moses’s request, Pharaoh doubled the Israelites’ workload (see Exodus 5:6–9). Not surprisingly, this made many Israelites angry with Moses (see Exodus 5:20–21).

mark iconRead Exodus 5:22–23. Mark any phrases that show how Moses felt about this experience. Then read Exodus 7:6. Mark how Moses responded when the Lord promised again to deliver them and told them to go back to Pharaoh.

notebook iconConsider how you would have felt in this situation. Then complete the following sentence in your notebook:

  • When I don’t see immediate blessings after obeying Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, I feel …

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught this about God’s blessings:

13:17
Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Some misunderstand the promises of God to mean that obedience to Him yields specific outcomes on a fixed schedule. They might think, “If I diligently serve a full-time mission, God will bless me with a happy marriage and children” or “If I refrain from doing schoolwork on the Sabbath, God will bless me with good grades” or “If I pay tithing, God will bless me with that job I’ve been wanting.” … We ought not to think of God’s plan as a cosmic vending machine where we (1) select a desired blessing, (2) insert the required sum of good works, and (3) the order is promptly delivered.

God will indeed honor His covenants and promises to each of us. We need not worry about that. The atoning power of Jesus Christ … ensures that God can and will fulfill His promises. It is essential that we honor and obey His laws, but not every blessing predicated on obedience to law is shaped, designed, and timed according to our expectations. We do our best but must leave to Him the management of blessings, both temporal and spiritual. (“Our Relationship with God,” Liahona, May 2022, 78)

notebook iconRespond to the following question in your notebook:

  • What can you learn about trusting the Lord’s promises from the story of Moses and Aaron? from Elder Christofferson?

Review the following study options. Complete one or more.

Option A

What blessings has the Lord promised?

mark iconRead Exodus 6:1–8; 7:5. Choose one style to mark the promises God made to Moses and Aaron. Choose another style to mark what He taught them about Himself.

Just as the Lord taught Moses more about Himself by reiterating His promises, we can also better know the Lord by identifying promises He has made to us. Reviewing these promises can help us to obey Him, even if we do not receive immediate results.

Identify three promises the Lord has made to you in the scriptures or from recent teachings through His chosen servants. You might find promises in:

  • Doctrinal mastery passages or other scriptures.

  • For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices.

  • Recent general conference talks.

notebook iconRecord what you find in your notebook.

Option B

Why does the Lord sometimes delay blessings?

Waiting is an act of faith. The scriptures have many examples of people who waited patiently and received promises from the Lord.

tag iconRead two or more examples of times when the Lord asked people to wait. Consider tagging a word or phrase from each passage as “waiting” or “patience.”

  1. 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3. Paul counsels the Thessalonians about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

  2. 3 Nephi 1:5–9, 15. Nephites witness the sign prophesied by Samuel the Lamanite of Jesus’s birth.

  3. Joseph Smith—History 1:51–54. Joseph Smith attempts to get the Book of Mormon.

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency taught this about God’s delays:

President Henry B. Eyring

The Lord’s delays often seem long; some last a lifetime. But they are always calculated to bless. They need never be times of loneliness or sorrow or impatience.

Although His time is not always our time, we can be sure that the Lord keeps His promises. (“Where Is the Pavilion?,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 74)

notebook iconAnswer the following question in your journal:

  • What are some ways we can benefit by waiting to receive blessings from God?

Share Your Thoughts

Lesson Purpose: To help you rely on the promises of the Lord regardless of the immediate outcomes.

share iconShare one or more of the following with your teacher or class:

  • The promises you found from your study and how they give you confidence to move forward trusting God.

  • Your notebook entry from Option B.

  • Something specific you did to achieve the purpose of this lesson.

  • Any questions this lesson raised for you. How will you try to find answers to your questions?