God had given Moses and Israel ironclad promises of deliverance, so Moses went to the people with the good news. He performed signs for them, and scripture says they believed. “Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. And Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had spoken to Moses. Then he did signs in the sight of the people. So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel and that he had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped” (Exodus 4:29-31, NKJV).
It was a time of hope and rejoicing. Everyone cried, “Hallelujah! We are finally free. God has heard our cry, and our bondage is over. Praise to him!”
What happened next? Things only got worse. Israel’s bondage became absolutely unbearable. They were given no straw for making bricks, and they endured heavy beatings from their taskmasters. Pharaoh raged at Israel’s leaders, “Get out of my sight. Back to work.”
Moses could not believe this terrible turn of events. He cried out, “Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it you have sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have you delivered your people at all” (Exodus 5:22-23).
You must understand that the devil knew Israel’s deliverance was right at the door, so do you think he was going to sit by and not make one last attempt to wear out God’s people? The worsening of Israel’s condition wasn’t God’s doing. Rather, it was Satan rushing about madly, hurrying his work before the hour of deliverance came.
Likewise, whenever the devil sees you driven to your knees, he knows your deliverance is at hand, and he is not going to sit by in those final moments before victory comes. Instead, he will intensify your temptations. He will enflame people against you and send lying spirits to falsely accuse you. He will lie to you that God has taken his Holy Spirit from you, that you are paying for past sins. He will try to flood you with all kinds of guilt and condemnation.
If you are praying but things are only getting worse, start rejoicing because your deliverance is at hand!