UNROLL
A wide harvested grain field of short, broken stubble under a hazy amber evening sky, small bent figures far off gathering stalks into bundles, a low mud-brick town on the horizon.

The Book of

Exodus 5

Moses finally stands before Pharaoh with God’s message. The answer is no, and the slaves’ work is about to get much harder.

23 verses≈ 4 min3 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–6Slaves in EgyptOppression and a delivererChapter 5
  2. 7–13The plaguesThe LORD against Pharaoh
  3. 14–18Through the seaRescued and led
  4. 19–24At SinaiThe covenant and the law
  5. 25–31A place to dwellThe tabernacle planned
  6. 32–40Broken and renewedThe calf, mercy, the glory

Pharaoh’s First Refusal

After that, 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 feast to Me in the wilderness.’”

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Pharaoh
Pharaoh

But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”

I do not know the LORD

Exodus 5:2

Moses

“The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they answered. “Please let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the LORD our God, or He may strike us with plagues or with the sword.”

Pharaoh

But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labor!” Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.”

Question

Quick question

Moses and Aaron make the request God gave them at the bush, and it is a small one.

Where did Moses and Aaron ask Pharaoh to let the people go?

Bricks and Straw

The Cry of the Israelites

The Israelite foremen

So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way? No straw has been given to your servants, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”

Pharaoh

“You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.”

The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.” When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them.

“May the LORD look upon you and judge you,” the foremen said, “for you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!”

Reflect

When obeying makes it harder

Moses and Aaron did exactly what God told them. The result was no straw, beaten foremen, and their own people saying, “May the LORD look upon you and judge you.” Obeying God does not always make life easier straight away. Has doing the right thing ever made things harder for you before it made them better? Write about it, and about what you said to God, or wish you had.

An old man alone on the flat roof of a mud-brick house at night, seen from behind, kneeling with his hands open, the dark slave village below and a sky full of stars.

So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not delivered Your people in any way.”

0:15

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

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Exodus 5

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A verse to carry with you

This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’

Exodus 5:1

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