If you’ve ever obeyed God and then watched life get harder instead of easier, Exodus 5 will feel familiar. Moses steps out in faith, confronts Pharaoh, and instead of freedom, the Israelites face heavier burdens. The pressure increases. The workload doubles. And everyone starts asking, “Why, Lord?” This chapter exposes something important: the real battle isn’t political or personal—it’s spiritual. And the enemy has a strategy.
First, the enemy denies the Lord. Pharaoh’s response is simple: “Who is the Lord?” He refuses to recognize God’s authority. Denial still happens today when people mock truth, ignore Scripture, or live as if God doesn’t matter. Our response is to anchor ourselves in what is true. God is still God whether the world acknowledges Him or not.
Second, the enemy defies the Lord and makes obedience painful. Pharaoh removes the straw but keeps the brick quota the same. In other words, he increases the pressure. This is a common tactic: if the enemy can’t silence God’s Word, he tries to make obedience feel costly. When that happens, the answer is not to compromise but to stand firm.
Third, the enemy divides God’s people. The Israelite overseers, beaten and afraid, turn on Moses and Aaron. Pain leads to blame. Division weakens the mission and distracts from what matters most. When this happens, believers must choose unity, humility, and love instead of sides and bitterness.
Fourth, the enemy discourages faithful people. Moses goes back to God and asks, “Why did You send me? You haven’t rescued them at all.” Discouragement whispers that obedience isn’t working and that we should quit. But Moses does one thing right—he brings his frustration to the Lord. When we feel worn down, we don’t walk away; we pray and keep going.
The lesson is clear: the enemy denies, defies, divides, and discourages. But the battle does not belong to Pharaoh, and it does not belong to Satan. The battle belongs to the Lord. When pressure rises, we stand firm, stay faithful, and trust that God is still writing the story.