Exodus 5:1-23
Q.1. What request did Moses and Aaron make? For what purpose? How did Pharaoh react? What instruction did he give the taskmasters? How was it enforced? – (Ex.5:1-14)
After the promising start, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said – … “The Lord, the God of Israel says, Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.'” (Ex.5:1 c.f. Ex.4:31; 3:10; 4:22-23). The Egyptians were polytheists, so God wanted the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses and Aaron relayed God’s request – … The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, otherwise He will fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword (Ex.5:3). Pharaoh indicated that their God meant nothing to him (Ex.5:2). He retaliated by accusing them of distracting his labour force. As a consequence, he would increase the people’s workload, to teach them a lesson (Ex.3:2, 4-9). Israel’s taskmasters enforced greater demands, while withholding the straw to make the bricks. When the people failed, the taskmasters began to beat the foremen (Ex.5:10-14).
Q.2. What did Israel’s foremen do? How did they respond to Moses and Aaron? What did Moses do about the impasse? What was his complaint to God? – (Ex.5:15-23)
The Israeli foremen went to Pharaoh to complain about their unfair treatment (Ex.5:15-16). Their pleas fell on deaf ears, and Pharaoh accused them – … “You are lazy, very lazy; Therefore, you say,Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ (Ex.5:17). He reinforced the quotas required, without the previous provision of straw (Ex.5:18-19). In their despair, the people attacked Moses and Aaron saying – … May the Lord look upon you and judge you, for you have made us odious in Pharaoh’s sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us (Ex.5:21). As so often happens, they turned on Moses and Aaron rather than the enemy. To his credit, Moses went straight to God with his complaint – 22 … O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me? 23 Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all (Ex.5:22-23). Moses was ever the reluctant leader but opened his heart up to God. This is the best way to go.