Redemption Out Of Egyptian Bondage (5:1-18:27)
Egyptian Bondage (1:1-7:7)
A Deliverer (2:1-7:7)
FAITH: FRUSTRATING OBSTACLES
Exodus 5:1-23
Reading:
Songs:
Theme: continuing in faithful trust to God’s promises, even when the obstacles placed in front of us seem to encourage us to the contrary; whom will we serve
INTRODUCTION
A. There are a number of things which can shake our confidence in people. Wondering if they are faithful to us is probably number one. In our spiritual lives obstacles to faith can lead us to question God’s commitment to us.
B. In the Book of Exodus, chapter 4 of verses 27 and 28 we read that God provided tremendous encouragement to Moses at the outset, by sending Aaron as a helper for the difficult task they laid ahead. In verses 29 through 31, Moses and Aaron taught the people of Israel of God’s compassion for them. They responded by believing the evidence, and worshipped God. However, as the Moses' account of the whole matter in the Book of Exodus continued, we realize that the greatest challenge that faced the people of Israel was not Pharaoh’s agreement to allow them to go free but to continue to believe that God’s word, by continuing to continue in trusting faith in spite of the obstacles placed in the way of their faith. In that exercise, both Egypt and Israel were going to learn that God is the Lord. Egypt was going to learn through God’s sovereign judgment. Israel was going to learn through his merciful redemption. In Exodus chapter 5, Moses and Aaron moved from speaking with the elders and the people of Israel, to an audience before Pharaoh, himself.
Discussion
I. PHARAOH’S SPEECH AND SCHEME (5:1-14).
Pharaoh’s Statement
A. Moses and Aaron ... told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD ... Let my people go ... And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD ... (5:1-5).
1 ¶ And afterward <0310> Moses <04872> and Aaron <0175> went in <0935> (8804), and told <0559> (8799) Pharaoh <06547>, Thus saith <0559> (8804) the LORD <03068> God <0430> of Israel <03478>, Let my people <05971> go <07971> (8761), that they may hold a feast <02287> (8799) unto me in the wilderness <04057>.
2 And Pharaoh <06547> said <0559> (8799), Who is the LORD <03068>, that I should obey <08085> (8799) his voice <06963> to let Israel <03478> go <07971> (8763)? I know <03045> (8804) not the LORD <03068>, neither will I let Israel <03478> go <07971> (8762).
1. Pharaoh made a very important statement regarding obedience to God - “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice ... I know not the LORD ....”
a. Pharaoh’s statement was made out of ignorance to who is God.
b. A similar attitude is taken by our courts, in our classrooms and in our halls of government where people not only refuse to "obey his voice" but encourage others to refuse.
c. Frequently the faith we have as children, is received, usually from our parents.
(1) However, until we study the Bible, for ourselves, particularly the New Testament, to build a personal faith (Rom 10:17) we probably will not know God and understand why we should obey God always, in whatever situation we live.
(2) If you don’t know God well, if your trust in him is a little weak, particularly because of an obstacle in the way of your faith, then perhaps the place to begin is to start reading his word from cover to cover. Perhaps by so doing you will be encouraged and strengthened from learning that he has always brought the faithful, successfully through their trials.
(3) God bringing the faithful successfully through their trials is what we will see as we go through the Book of Exodus.
d. Pharaoh eventually obeyed God’ command the hard way at much cost. It is much better havig developed a faith in the evidence, to obey him willingly (Psa 32:8-9).
3 ¶ And they said <0559> (8799), The God <0430> of the Hebrews <05680> hath met <07122> (8738) with us: let us go <03212> (8799), we pray thee, three <07969> days <03117>‘ journey <01870> into the desert <04057>, and sacrifice <02076> (8799) unto the LORD <03068> our God <0430>; lest he fall <06293> (8799) upon us with pestilence <01698>, or with the sword <02719>.
4 And the king <04428> of Egypt <04714> said <0559> (8799) unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses <04872> and Aaron <0175>, let <06544> (8686) the people <05971> from their works <04639>? get <03212> (8798) you unto your burdens <05450>.
5 And Pharaoh <06547> said <0559> (8799), Behold, the people <05971> of the land <0776> now are many <07227>, and ye make them rest <07673> (86819) from their burdens <05450>.
2. Notice again, the release of Israel from bondage to Egypt was directly linked to the worship of almighty God and to serve him in life.
Pharaoh’s Scheme To Discredit Moses And Aaron
B. Pharaoh commanded ... the taskmasters ... Ye shall no more give the people straw ... And the tale of the bricks, ... shall not diminish (5:6-14).
6 And Pharaoh <06547> commanded <06680> (8762) the same day <03117> the taskmasters <05065> (8802) of the people <05971>, and their officers <07860> (8802), saying <0559> (8800),
7 Ye shall no more <03254> (8686) give <05414> (8800) the people <05971> straw <08401> to make <03835> (8800) brick <03843>, as heretofore <08032> <08543>: let them go <03212> (8799) and gather <07197> (8782) straw <08401> for themselves.
8 And the tale <04971> of the bricks <03843>, which they did make <06213> (8802) heretofore <08032> <08543>, ye shall lay <07760> (8799) upon them; ye shall not diminish <01639> (8799) ought thereof: for they be idle <07503> (8737); therefore they cry <06817> (8802), saying <0559> (8800), Let us go <03212> (8799) and sacrifice <02076> (8799) to our God <0430>.
9 Let there more work <05656> be laid <03513> (8799) upon the men <0582>, that they may labour <06213> (8799) therein; and let them not regard <08159> (8799) vain <08267> words <01697>. {Let there…: Heb. Let the work be heavy upon the men}
1. Pharaoh schemed a plan to cause the people to turn on Moses and Aaron; to turn from trust in God’s promises.
a. Pharaoh’s plan was to no longer give the people straw for the brick but to force them to go gather their own straw, thereby, increasing their burden.
b. However, he also planned not to allow the people to fall back on there brick production, even though the provision for making the brick was less.
(1) tale, 04971. tnktm mathkoneth math-ko’-neth; or tnktm mathkuneth math-koo’-neth; from 08505 in the transferred sense of measuring; proportion (in size, number or ingredients):— composition, measure, state, tale.
TWOT-2511c; n f AV-composition 2, tale 1, state 1, measure 1; 5 1) measurement, proportion, tale 1a) tale, tally (of bricks) 1b) measurement, proportion
(2) The problem was that without straw or good straw, the brick would not dry well and would be brittle. That would result in less good brick and therefore, punishment.
(3) According to a man that called himself a brickologist, a ceramic engineer, and ceramic engineer, straw was needed for sun-dried bricks in order to allow the water in the center of the bricks to seep out, so there was even drying. Otherwise, you had a lot of broken bricks. Without straw, you had twice as many broken bricks as you would have had with straw. When Pharaoh stopped giving the supply of straw, it not only meant that Israel had to go out and find straw, but it also meant that they had to go out and use substandard straw, which led to substandard bricks, which led to more brick breakage. And so their labor was increased on both ends. Finding straw, they had to settle to stubble, and having to produce more bricks. No wonder they couldn’t keep up. They had far more breakage than they would have other times. Now if I’ve explained that incorrectly, Duncan, you can correct them all afterward. But that’s my short summarization about what you’ve taught me that fact.
c. All of this was to cause the people to turn from their faith in God - “let them not regard vain words.”
(1) As with all who try to discredit God’s word, the real source is the devil.
(2) It is the same tactic he used with Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3).
(3) The deliverance of Israel out of bondage, as it is for us out of bondage to sin, is really a battle between God and the devil with God’s deliverer trying to mediate the success of God’s will.
d. The trials for Israel were to get more difficult for them, not less.
(1) They were going to be tempted to discount what God had promised.
(2) A great challenge to their faith and trust in God, was to come upon them.
(3) The testing of faith through obstacles is no less true for us.
(4) We are in a better position with the struggles in our faith than were the people of Israel.
(a) Through their experience we realize God is Lord over all.
(b) The people of Israel had not yet come to that realization in our text.
(c) Learning from our past is one of the reasons it is so important for us to read the Old Testament (Rom 15:4; 1Co 10:11).
(d) No matter what circumstance you find yourself in, the primary thing you need to do is to continue with patience, to trust God’s word.
(e) Remember, the source behind obstacles to our continued trust in God is the devil, who wants to destroy our faith and lead us in a path to destruction.
i) It was the same for Israel.
ii) It is the same for you and me.
10 ¶ And the taskmasters <05065> (8802) of the people <05971> b<03318> (8799), and their officers <07860> (8802), and they spake <0559> (8799) to the people <05971>, saying <0559> (8800), Thus saith <0559> (8804) Pharaoh <06547>, I will not give <05414> (8802) you straw <08401>.
2. The taskmasters and the officers explained Pharaoh’s word for the people.
11 Go <03212> (8798) ye, get <03947> (8798) you straw <08401> where <0834> ye can find <04672> (8799) it: yet <03588> not ought <01697> of your work <05656> shall be diminished <01639> (8737).
12 So the people <05971> were scattered abroad <06327> (8686) throughout all the land <0776> of Egypt <04714> to gather <07197> (8780) stubble <07179> instead of straw <08401>.
3. The taskmasters commanded the people to go gather their own straw.
13 And the taskmasters <05065> (8802) hasted <0213> (8801) them, saying <0559> (8800), Fulfil <03615> (8761) your works <04639>, your daily <03117> tasks <01697>, as when there was <01961> (8800) straw <08401>. {your daily…: Heb. a matter of a day in his day}
14 And the officers <07860> (8802) of the children <01121> of Israel <03478>, which Pharaoh’s <06547> taskmasters <05065> (8802) had set <07760> (8804) over them, were beaten <05221> (8714), and demanded <0559> (8800), Wherefore have ye not fulfilled <03615> (8765) your task <02706> in making brick <03835> (8800) both yesterday <08543> and to day <03117>, as heretofore <08032> <08543>?
4. The taskmasters hurried the people to their work and beat the officers or overseers of the people of Israel because brick production falling.
Transition: Sometimes we view our faith like starting a car. We feel as though we should be able to turn the key and everything should work. Often that is not reality.
II. PHARAOH’S SUCCESSFUL SCHEME (5:15-23).
The Complaint
A. ... the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh ... (5:15-18).
15 ¶ Then the officers <07860> (8802) of the children <01121> of Israel <03478> came <0935> (8799) and cried <06817> (8799) unto Pharaoh <06547>, saying <0559> (8800), Wherefore dealest <06213> (8799) thou thus with thy servants <05650>?
16 There is no straw <08401> given <05414> (8737) unto thy servants <05650>, and they say <0559> (8802) to us, Make <06213> (8798) brick <03843>: and, behold, thy servants <05650> are beaten <05221> (8716); but the fault <02398> (8804) is in thine own people <05971>.
17 But he said <0559> (8799), Ye are idle <07503> (8737), ye are idle <07503> (8737): therefore ye say <0559> (8802), Let us go <03212> (8799) and do sacrifice <02076> (8799) to the LORD <03068>.
18 Go <03212> (8798) therefore now, and work <05647> (8798); for there shall no straw <08401> be given <05414> (8735) you, yet shall ye deliver <05414> (8799) the tale <08506> of bricks <03843>.
1. Though it was certainly civic protocol at this time, to refer to oneself in a subservient way to the king, the foreman of the children of Israel repeatedly (three times in v 15, twice in v 16) referred to as Pharaoh’s servants (Mat 6:24).
The Reactions
B. ... they met Moses and Aaron ... And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred ... (5:19-23).
Reaction Of The Officers
19 And the officers <07860> (8802) of the children <01121> of Israel <03478> did see <07200> (8799) that they were in evil <07451> case, after it was said <0559> (8800), Ye shall not minish <01639> (8799) ought from your bricks <03843> of your daily <03117> <03117> task <01697>.
20 And they met <06293> (8799) Moses <04872> and Aaron <0175>, who stood <05324> (8737) in the way <07125> (8800), as they came forth <03318> (8800) from Pharaoh <06547>:
1. met, 06293. egp pagaæ paw-gah’; a primitive root; to impinge, by accident or violence, or (figuratively) by importunity:— come (betwixt), cause to entreat, fall (upon), make intercession, intercessor, intreat, lay, light [upon], meet (together), pray, reach, run.
TWOT-1731; v AV-fall 12, meet 11, reach 7, intercession 4, intreat 2, entreat 1, misc 9; 46 1) to encounter, meet, reach, entreat, make intercession 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to meet, light upon, join 1a2) to meet (of kindness) 1a3) to encounter, fall upon (of hostility) 1a4) to encounter, entreat (of request) 1a5) to strike, touch (of boundary) 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to light upon 1b2) to cause to entreat 1b3) to make entreaty, interpose 1b4) to make attack 1b5) to reach the mark
Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions - H6293 פּגע, Definition: 1) to encounter, meet, reach, entreat, make intercession 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to meet, light upon, join 1a2) to meet (of kindness) 1a3) to encounter, fall upon (of hostility) 1a4) to encounter, entreat (of request) 1a5) to strike, touch (of boundary) 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to light upon 1b2) to cause to entreat 1b3) to make entreaty, interpose 1b4) to make attack 1b5) to reach the mark Part of Speech: verb A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root Same Word by TWOT Number: 1731
a. The word can have the force of 'falling upon someone'.
b. It can even mean, 'to assault someone.
c. The foremen didn’t necessarily physically, assaulted Moses and Aaron. But “met” is probably too mild a word.
d. When Moses and Aaron showed them the miracles, when they first told them that God was concerned about them, that he was going to deliver them, the elders with the people, believed and bowed down in worship. (Exo 4:29-31) .
(1) When trouble came the elders seemed to lack faith.
(2) They were just like the rocky soil (Mat 13:20f).
(3) True faith rises above troubles and disappointments.
(4) Is your faith like Job’s Abraham’s who against hope believed (Rom 4:18 )?
(5) Is your faith like Job’s whose faith under great conflict persevered (Job 13:15).
(6) Will it stand the test?
(7)
(8) Remain confident in your faith and God will deliver you (Php 1:6).
2. Realizing they were between a rock and a hard place with Pharaoh, the officers turned against Moses and Aaron.
21 And they said <0559> (8799) unto them, The LORD <03068> look <07200> (8799) upon you, and judge <08199> (8799); because ye have made our savour <07381> to be abhorred <0887> (8689) in the eyes <05869> of Pharaoh <06547>, and in the eyes <05869> of his servants <05650>, to put <05414> (8800) a sword <02719> in their hand <03027> to slay <02026> (8800) us. {to be…: Heb. to stink}
3. As Ahab claimed with Elijah (), so the officers claimed the troubler of Israel was Moses and Aaron rather then not Pharaoh or the taskmasters.
a. The officers claimed that Moses and Aaron had caused them literally to stink in the eyes of Pharaoh.
b. Though Moses and Aaron were faithful, they received rejection and the opposition of the people.
Reaction Of Moses
22 And Moses <04872> returned <07725> (8799) unto the LORD <03068>, and said <0559> (8799), Lord <0136>, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated <07489> (8689) this people <05971>? why is it that thou hast sent <07971> (8804) me?
23 For since I came <0935> (8804) to Pharaoh <06547> to speak <01696> (8763) in thy name <08034>, he hath done evil <07489> (8689) to this people <05971>; neither hast thou delivered <05337> (8689) thy people <05971> at all <05337> (8687). {neither…: Heb. delivering thou hast not delivered}
4. So great was the affect of the rejection that Moses returned to the Lord crushed.
a. In so many words, Moses accused the Lord of the evil that had come upon the people of Israel (v 22).
b. Moses wondered why he was even sent to Pharaoh (v 22).
c. Moses expressed doubts about the Lord’s ability to deliver Israel out of bondage (v 23).
d. When we begin to doubt in our service to God let’s remember what Paul wrote (Gal 6:9).
Conclusion:
It would seem that Pharaoh’s scheme was winning. The scheme had begun to turn Israel from devotion to God. As with Israel, in our own difficulties and trials, we must never, ever forget that there is one who prowls about like a roaring lion who seeks to devour us (1Pe 5:8). As with Israel and Pharaoh’s scheme, the who works behind the scenes to devour us is the devil. But the one who is in us through faith (Eph 1:13) is greater than he who is in the world (1Jo 4:4). The message of the Book of Exodus was that the Lord was concerned about Israel, and was going to deliver them from their bondage. It is interesting that the core of the Exodus message is also the core of the gospel message, of the Lord Jesus Christ, that is, he came to deliver us from bondage.
Sources:
in charity through Christ, Ra mond Wis eman