Exodus chapter 5 picks up immediately after the Hebrew people heard, believed and worshiped God. Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘Let My people go so they may worship me in the desert’.” Pharaoh answers, “Who is the Lord that I should obey Him?” In Egypt, Pharaoh was not just king, but he was worshiped as god. He did not recognize any god above himself. Just as Satan desires to be worshiped as god, Pharaoh’s pride could not allow him to acknowledge the True God. In Genesis 3:1, the first recorded words of Satan question God’s Word. Pharaoh continues, “I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go“. I am never surprised when non-believers ACT like non-believers! God had even told Moses that Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go at first (Gen 3:19). The reaction of Pharaoh is not that different from how many of us first reacted when told about the Lordship of Christ. I thought, “I’m not a bad-guy… I try to do the right thing… I believe in God in my own way”. It was not until I read God’s Word, experienced God’s love and accepted God’s forgiveness that I could worship God “in Sprit and in truth“. Are you prepared to answer when people ask you “who is God that I should worship Him?”
Pharaoh becomes angry and punishes the Hebrews; “You are taking the people away from their labor…get back to work“. Pharaoh adds, “you will no longer 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“. The foremen appeal to Pharaoh, “Why have you treated your servants this way?” But Pharaoh said, “Lazy! That’s what you are- lazy! Now get back to work!” When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron and complained, “May the Lord look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh“. They are actually saying they prefer the slavery they know to the freedom they no longer remember. How blind we can become to our own sin. We become so comfortable with its bondage that we prefer it to the freedom we have in Christ. How many new believers sadly go back to their old lifestyle at the first obstacle Satan tosses at them. Our bodies have been programmed to react as a slave to sin, but Romans 6:6-14 explains that when we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are born of the Spirit. “Our old self was crucified with Christ that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin“. It is only when we embrace this truth; when we accept Christ as our Savior, we are purchased and the debt of our sin is paid. “For the death He died, He died to sin, once and for all…So consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.” By God’s grace we are given His mercy and God’s Holy Spirit to guide our hearts.
Moses returned to the Lord and complained, “Oh Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? You have not rescued Your people at all“. Once again Moses questions God’s nature. Which is the same thing we do when we question God on His motives. Moses essentially accuses God of being cruel. God’s timing is not our timing. Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “And do not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary“. Lord, help us not to grow weary.