Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Our reading titled The Long Game was written by Tim Gustafson.

When believers in Jesus and David's country suffered oppression, their farm animals were killed.

Having lost their livelihood, David's family

scattered to various countries. For nine years, he existed in a refugee camp, far from his family.

He knew God was with him, but during the separation, two family members died, and he grew despondent.

Long ago, another people group faced brutal oppression, so God appointed Moses to lead those people,

the Israelites, out of Egypt. Moses reluctantly agreed, but when he approached Pharaoh,

the Egyptian ruler only intensified the oppression. I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel

go, he said in Exodus chapter 5. The people complained to Moses, who complained to God. In the end,

God freed the Israelites, and they got the freedom they wanted, but in God's way and timing.

He plays a long game,

teaching us about his character and preparing us for something greater. David made good use of his years in a refugee camp, earning a master's degree from a New Delhi seminary. Now he's a pastor

to his own people, refugees like him who have found a new home.

My story as a refugee forms the crucible for leading as a servant, he says.

In his testimony, David cites Moses' song in Exodus 152.

The Lord is my strength and my defense. And today, he's ours as well.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Exodus chapter 5, verses 1 through 9.

Afterward, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said,

This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says,

Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.

Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord,

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