Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Moses isn't just asking "Why is this happening?" He's grappling with the fact that his divinely appointed mission, intended for liberation, has seemingly led to worse suffering. This reveals that even God's chosen leaders can feel utterly bewildered when His actions don't immediately align with their understanding or expectations.
Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me?
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Moses and Aaron delivered God's message to Pharaoh, the Egyptian taskmasters intensified the Israelites' brick-making labor, refusing them straw and demanding the same quota. The Israelite officers, seeing their people's plight worsened by Moses' intervention, confronted him and Aaron, blaming them for Pharaoh's fury and their own increased suffering. This desperate situation leads Moses to turn directly to God in prayer, questioning why this mission seems to have brought only more hardship to his people and asking why he was sent at all.
Have you ever felt like your best efforts only made things worse? Moses, God's chosen messenger, is in that exact spot. His mission to free Israel has backfired, and the people are suffering more than ever.
A Heavy Burden
Moses' complaint to God in Exodus 5:22 isn't a sign of weak faith, but the cry of a leader overwhelmed by seemingly negative results. He had gone to Pharaoh with God's authority, expecting deliverance, but instead, Pharaoh intensified the Israelites' labor.
Misunderstood Providence
Moses' question, 'Why have you done evil to this people?' shows his struggle to reconcile God's promise with the harsh reality. He felt that his mission, intended for good, had actually become a 'scourge.' The commentaries highlight that this isn't a challenge to God's goodness, but an honest wrestling with how God's actions appear to the human eye. It's the pain of seeing those you serve suffer because of your involvement, even if that involvement is divinely ordained.
The Weight of 'Why?'
When Moses asks, 'Why did you ever send me?' he's not just questioning his own purpose but God's timing and methods. He feels the weight of the people's suffering and the apparent lack of progress, making him doubt the efficacy of his mission.
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In the face of despair, Moses doesn't abandon God. Instead, he takes his raw, honest questions straight to the Throne of Grace. This is a powerful model for us when life feels overwhelming.
Turning to the Source
Moses' act of 'returning unto the Lord' is crucial. The commentaries emphasize this isn't a return from backsliding, but a turning to God in prayer, a recourse to the 'throne of grace.' It’s a testament to the belief that God is the ultimate authority and the only one who can provide true understanding and relief.
Honest and Bold Communication
Moses' words are strikingly direct. He doesn't soften his questions or pretend everything is okay. This 'plainness of speech,' as some commentators note, is not disrespect but a reflection of a deep, trusted relationship. God allows, and even invites, such honest wrestling, as seen in the Psalms. This freedom comes from knowing God hears and cares, even when His ways are mysterious.
The Purpose of Prayer in Crisis
Turning to God isn't about finding immediate answers but about engaging with the One who holds them. It's a way to process our pain, affirm our trust, and seek a deeper understanding of God's mysterious purposes, which, as the commentaries suggest, often involve testing faith, refining hearts, and preparing for greater displays of His power.
Understand the original words
ra' · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
In this context, an expression of extreme distress, calamity, or adversity. It refers to that which causes misery, suffering, or hardship, rather than moral wickedness in this specific usage.
'asah · Hebrew Verb
To bring about, accomplish, or execute. In the context of a divine-human dialogue, it reflects the human struggle to reconcile perceived divine inactivity or contrary outcomes with God’s promises.
shalach · Hebrew Verb
To set apart, commission, or send someone on a specific mission. It implies divine authority and the responsibility of the messenger to act on behalf of the sender.
Moses' raw complaint to God highlights a crucial aspect of faith: it's not about having all the answers, but about bringing our doubts and frustrations directly to the One who holds them.
~1446 BC
Israelites Enslaved in Egypt
For generations, the Israelites lived as slaves in Egypt, facing brutal labor and oppression. Their cries for relief reached God.
c. 1446 BC
Moses Commissioned by God
God appeared to Moses at the burning bush, commissioning him to return to Egypt and lead His people out of slavery.
c. 1446 BC
First Confrontation with Pharaoh
Moses and Aaron deliver God's demand for Israel's release to Pharaoh, who responds by increasing the Israelites' workload.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Moses' Cry to God
Following Pharaoh's harsh response, Moses questions God's actions, feeling his mission has only worsened the people's suffering and deliverance seems further away.
c. 1446 BC
God Reaffirms Promises
In response to Moses' distress, God reassures him of His power and His unbreakable covenant promises to deliver and redeem Israel.
c. 1446 BC
The Ten Plagues Begin
God begins to strike Egypt with a series of devastating plagues to demonstrate His power and compel Pharaoh to let Israel go.
Like Job in his deepest despair, Moses questions his very existence and purpose when faced with overwhelming suffering, revealing a shared human experience of wrestling with God amidst pain.
Jeremiah 20:7Jeremiah echoes Moses' cry of being deceived and overpowered by God's calling, showing that even prophets can feel like victims of a divine plan that leads to hardship rather than relief.
Psalm 74:1The Psalmist's direct, almost confrontational question to God, 'Why have you rejected us forever?', mirrors Moses' bold expostulation and highlights the anguish of feeling abandoned by God in times of crisis.
Romans 9:20Paul addresses the potential human response to God's sovereignty, 'Who are you to answer back to God?', which resonates with Moses' questioning of God's actions and purpose in allowing Israel's suffering.
bensonExodus 5:22: "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?"
Exodus 5:22 . Moses returned unto the Lord — And expostulated with him. He knew not how to reconcile the providence with the promise, and the commission he had received. Is this God’s coming down to deliver Israel? Must I, who hoped to be a blessing to them, become a scourge to them? By this attempt to get them out of the pit, they are but sunk th…
gillExodus 5:22: "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?"
And Moses returned unto the Lord,.... Bishop Patrick thinks, that this not only intimates that the Lord had appeared to Moses since he came into Egypt, but that there was some settled place where he appeared, and where he might resort to him on all occasions, and therefore is said to return to him; though it may signify no more, than that, instead…
Moses isn't just asking "Why is this happening?" He's grappling with the fact that his divinely appointed mission, intended for liberation, has seemingly led to worse suffering. This reveals that even God's chosen leaders can feel utterly bewildered when His actions don't immediately align with their understanding or expectations.
After Moses and Aaron delivered God's message to Pharaoh, the Egyptian taskmasters intensified the Israelites' brick-making labor, refusing them straw and demanding the same quota. The Israelite officers, seeing their people's plight worsened by Moses' intervention, confronted him and Aaron, blaming them for Pharaoh's fury and their own increased suffering. This desperate situation leads Moses to turn directly to God in prayer, questioning why this mission seems to have brought only more hardship to his people and asking why he was sent at all.
After Moses and Aaron delivered God's message to Pharaoh, the Egyptian taskmasters intensified the Israelites' brick-making labor, refusing them straw and demanding the same quota. The Israelite officers, seeing their people's plight worsened by Moses' intervention, confronted him and Aaron, blaming them for Pharaoh's fury and their own increased suffering. This desperate situation leads Moses to turn directly to God in prayer, questioning why this mission seems to have brought only more hardship to his people and asking why he was sent at all.
"Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me?" — Moses isn't just asking "Why is this happening?" He's grappling with the fact that his divinely appointed mission, intended for liberation, has seemingly led to worse suffering. This reveals that eve…
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Last reviewed October 2026