SCRIPTURE: EXODUS 5
BIBLE VERSES:
“Afterward 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 festival to me in the wilderness.’”Pharaoh said, “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.” Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword.”” (Exodus 5:1-3)
That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people: “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own 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, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.” (Exodus 5:6-9)
“Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on 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 rescued your people at all.” (Exodus 5:22-23)
BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW (vs. 1-22)
When Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said the the Lord said: “Let my people go so that they may hold a festival to me in the desert” (v. 1) Pharaoh said: “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” (v. 2). Then Pharaoh gave order to the slave drivers and foreman in charge not to supply the people with straw for making bricks. But they are required to make the same number of bricks as before. When the people were not able to meet the quota, Pharach accused them of being lazy. When the Israelites foremen realized that they were in trouble because Moses and Aaron told Pharaoh to let them go, they blamed MOses and Aaron for causing them trouble.
GOD PROMISES DELIVERANCE (vs. 22-23)
Moses returned to the Lord and told him that he had brought trouble to the people. But God promised to rescue and deliver them out of Egypt.
THOUGHTS:
When Moses and Aaron took the task to deliver the people out of Egypt, they encountered the following problems: (1) Pharaoh refused to let the people leave Egypt. He made the work more difficult for the people to accomplish. Most often, hardship comes as a result of obeying God’s word and the people you help the most appreciate the least.
When Moses was discouraged, he took his problem to the Lord. God encouraged Moses by his assurances. When we encounter problems, hardships and discouragement, talk to God and entrust everything to Him. Let Him do it and give you comfort.