Chapter 5 of Exodus takes us into a bricks without straw and
a shaky ground for Moses. After a great start for Aaron and Moses things go downhill
for the two quickly. Have you notice that this is typically how things go when
you are on your purpose. You are flying high after some doubts, maybe some
insecurities, but you push past them riding the wave of greatness. Maybe you
finally get some people to support you and back you then you hit your first obstacle
and WHAM BAM THANK YA MA’AM you start to slide down back into the whoopsie
maybe this wasn’t a good idea and end it on a question to God of, “are you sure
this was where we were trying to go? Was this really the plan?”
That’s exactly
what chapter 5 is all about.
We start off with flying high after the elders bowing down
and worshiping God being happy he heard their plea to walking right up to
Pharaoh and letting him know the plan in v. 1 “This is what the God of Israel,
says, ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the
wilderness.”
Instead of Pharaoh saying, “yep sounds like a great idea to
me should we schedule it for next Thursday.” He responds with, v. 2 “Who is the
Lord that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I
will not let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go?”
Moses and Aaron respond back not with explaining who he is,
but with their request again and state that if Pharaoh doesn’t let them go he
will be struck with plagues or with the sword. Fair point and they were told to
say that, and the Lord did state he would harden Pharaoh’s heart, but clearly
Moses and Aaron could use some diplomat skills cause maybe they could’ve
started with well Pharaoh this is our Lord and this is what He does and He is AWESOME
so can we have 3 days? (read more about how to do just that here) NO cool so now He is going to do this? But alas they
didn’t feel the need to do all that they just jumped to the chase and went
right to the plagues and sword (hence the whole I am not eloquent doubt and
fear Moses clearly has might be slightly justified (doubt 4 can read about it
here).
v. 5 shows us why diplomats are important “But the king of
Egypt said ‘Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their
labor? Get back to your work!’ Then Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land
are now numerous and you are stopping them from working.” V. 6 That same day
Pharaoh gave this order to slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people
v. 7 “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let
them go and gather their won straw. But require them to make the same number of
bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota. They
are lazy; that is why they are crying out.”
Ouch He thought they didn’t have enough work to do which is
why they had time to complain (clearly Pharaoh has never worked. Because as
someone who does work it doesn’t matter how much work you have you always have
time to complain just saying.) Because the straw wasn’t provided the people
were unable to make their quota in this day when you didn’t make your quota you
didn’t just get written up you got a beating and still had to work. It wasn’t
pretty. What was worse is the overseers and workers didn’t understand what was
happening or why this was coming down? What was happening and why? So they
asked Pharaoh in v. 15-16 Why are you doing this? “Your servants are given no
straw, yet we are told ‘Make bricks!’ Your servants are being beaten, but the
fault is with your own people.” AKA how can we do this if you do not provide us
materials (take that boss!)
Pharaoh response back with “Lazy that’s what you are – lazy!
That is why you keep saying ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord’ Now get to
work. You will not be given any straw.” As far as Pharaoh saw things they just
wanted a 3 day holiday to drink and be merrier (AKA 4th of July and
I’m not saying they didn’t deserve it and shouldn’t have had it. I’m just
saying that’s what he thought it was).
v. 19 is when it all comes to a head, “The Israelite
overseers realized they were in trouble when they were told “You are not to
reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day.” When they left
Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, and they said ‘May
the Lord look on you and judge you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and
his officials have put a sword in their hands to kills us.”
It’s also hard when the same people who were supporting you turn on you. Opposition from within the ranks of God’s people is often harder to bear than persecution from without (which is why being hurt by a church or members of a church family hurt 10 times worse than when it is by just someone else). How much do you think that sting/blow had to hurt? How bad do you think Moses questioned God in that moment? Well let’s see in v. 22-23 he turns to God and says, “Why Lord?” Oh how quickly do we go there when things go south? Why why why is this happening? First signs of trouble first thing we ask is Why Lord?
But let’s see what else Moses asks, “Why Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? (woe is me is this the only reason I was brought here to do nothing, but bring trouble? What’s the point?) Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all (like you promised what gives? Why did we even bother? So what’s the point? Why come here if nothing was going to happen and all we were going to do was cause trouble? And now no one likes great this is going real well Lord, now what?)
I love Moses and what I really love about Moses is he isn’t
afraid to ask the Lord the tough rough hard questions of seriously Lord now
what? What are we going to do now? Why did we come here? Is this it? Do you do
that? Do you feel comfortable enough to be that honest with God to ask those
questions?
Don’t worry if you are wondering if God answers the
questions are coming up in Chapter 6!
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