7166. 'Why is this, that You have sent me?' means when yet the law going forth from God seems to promise something different. This is clear from the meaning of 'Why is this?' as, Why is this so when something different is said? from the representation of Moses, who uses these words in reference to himself, as the law from God, dealt with just above in 7164; and from the meaning of 'being sent' as going forth, dealt with in 4710, 6831. Consequently 'Why is this, [that] you have sent me?' means that the law going forth from God seems to promise something different. Because these words are spoken by one complaining about the molestation by falsities, the law from God appears to promise something different. This is why the expression 'seems to promise something different' is used, though in actual fact it does not promise anything different. For the law from God is the law of order, and the law of order so far as those passing through a state of molestations by falsities are concerned is that they must be molested until they reach the point of despair. Unless they reach the point of despair the final advantage to be gained from molestation is lost. The fact that temptation grows ever stronger until a person reaches the point of despair is plainly evident from the Lord's temptation in Gethsemane, Matthew 26:38-39; Mark 14:33-36; Luke 22:44, and also after that on the Cross, Matthew 27:46, when it was made to reach the state of despair. Now the Lord's temptation is the pattern which the temptation of faithful believers follows, which is why the Lord says that those who wish to follow Him must take up their cross, Matthew 10:38; 16:24. For the glorification of the Lord is the pattern that the regeneration of man follows, 3138, 3212, 3296, 3490, 4402, 5688; and regeneration is effected chiefly by means of temptations.

7163. Verses 22-23 And Moses returned to Jehovah and said, Lord, why have You done ill to this people? Why is this, that You have sent me? And since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done ill to this people; and You have not delivered Your people at all.

'And Moses returned to Jehovah and said' means complaint from the law of God. 'Lord, why have You done ill to this people?' means that those governed by truths and forms of good are molested excessively by falsities. 'Why is this, that You have sent me?' means when yet the law going forth from God seems to promise something different. 'And since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name' means when the command based on matters contained in the law of God presented itself to those steeped in falsities. 'He has done ill to this people' means that at that time those governed by the Church's truths and forms of good seemingly suffered harm from the falsities that had been introduced. 'And You have not delivered Your people at all' means that they have not been released from the state of molestations by falsities.