Exodus Chapters 5-6

For Further Study

INTRODUCTION:

Good morning church family. Today, we continue our journey through the Book of Exodus. 

If you have been traveling with us the past couple of weeks, you might have noticed that Moses is a bit of a doubter, BUT he is also obedient...eventually.  Can you relate to that?  Doubting, then becoming obedient?  When it comes to walking with the Lord, I am often reminded that He can accomplish a lot in my weakness.  Funny how that works out right?  When we reflect on God’s faithfulness, we see that over and over again.

To remind us what the word exodus means…  The word "Exodus" itself means "departure" or "exit," and this book chronicles the Israelites' departure from slavery in Egypt, their journey through the wilderness, and their preparation to enter the Promised Land. 

Exodus is the second book of the bible and challenges us to consider our obedience to God's commands and our commitment to being His covenant people. This week, we are going to be focusing on Moses’ and Aaron’s travels back to confront Pharaoh but as we will see Pharaoh will tighten his grip and not give in so easily.  BUT, we will see a counterpoint of hope reassuring God’s plan to liberate His people. 

Exodus 5:1-3

Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’” But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” Then they said, “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, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” 

• The chapter begins with Moses and Aaron obeying God's command to confront Pharaoh and deliver His message: "Let my people go."

• Despite the inherent danger and uncertainty, Moses and Aaron demonstrate remarkable courage and faith.  Imagine going to “the guy” who is punishing your people and confronting him?  Yup.  Sounds dangerous to me.

Take Away - Obey God's call with courage 

In our own lives, we are often called to step out in faith and follow God's commands, even when the path ahead is unclear or daunting. Remember that God equips and strengthens those who obey His call.

Exodus 5:4-9

But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.” And Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!” The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, “You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’ Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.”

• How in the world do you make straw into bricks? Why was it a big deal to remove access to the straw?  Well, straw is a binding material that was needed to act like a reinforcement and now Pharaoh made the decision to remove access to the straw which greatly increased the workload for the Israelites further punishing them.

• Pharaoh's response is one of defiance and rejection. He questions who the Lord is and refuses to let the Israelites go.

• Pharaoh's hardened heart leads to increased oppression and suffering for the Israelites.

Take Away - Believe God is still in control in the face of resistance

We may encounter resistance and rejection when following God's will. It's crucial to remain steadfast and trust that God is in control, even when immediate results are discouraging. Faithfulness in the face of opposition is a testament to our trust in God.

Exodus 5:10-14

So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw. Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.’” So the people were scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. The taskmasters were urgent, saying, “Complete your work, your daily task each day, as when there was straw.” And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday, as in the past?”

• Let’s talk about a couple characters involved in the story here real quick. You have Pharaoh’s taskmasters and the people of Israel’s foreman.

  • Taskmasters - Egyptian officials appointed by Pharaoh and were in charge of enforcing harsh conditions and ensuring quotas were met.

  • Formen - Israelites selected to supervise fellow Israelites but also bore the burden of the quota needing to be met.

• Pharaoh retaliates by increasing the workload for the Israelite slaves. They are forced to gather their own straw for brick-making while maintaining the same quota.

• The Israelites' suffering intensifies, leading to frustration and despair. 

Take Away - Trials and suffering can increase our faith and refine our character 

Often, when we take steps of faith, our circumstances may initially seem to worsen. This teaches us the importance of perseverance and trusting in God's greater plan. 

Exodus 5:15-24

Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, “Why do you treat your servants like this? No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.” But he said, “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.” The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said, “You shall by no means reduce your number of bricks, your daily task each day.” They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; and they said to them, “The Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”

• Instead of going to God, the Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh when their workload increased. 

• The foreman also blamed Aaron and Moses. People who are discouraged are always looking for someone to put the blame on.

• They were so bogged down by their circumstances that they couldn’t believe.

• Moses and Aaron, in turn, seek God's guidance, questioning why the situation has worsened. Even though God told them Pharaoh would not let them go at first, they still came back and questioned God and asked why.

  
  

Take Away - Take your doubts, fears, questions to The Lord. He is patient with us.  

It's natural to feel frustration and doubt in times of hardship. In these moments, we must turn to God for guidance and reassurance. Honest dialogue with God through prayer allows us to find strength and clarity in His presence.

Exodus 6:1-9

But the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’” Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.

• The chapter begins with God speaking to Moses, providing reassurance and reminding him of the divine covenant with the Israelites.

• God reaffirms His identity, saying, "I am the Lord." Reminding Moses of His Supremacy. He promises to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.

• These promises are not just about physical liberation but also about establishing a deep, covenantal relationship with His people.

Take Away - When facing challenges, remember who God is and what He has told you

His promises are steadfast, and His identity as our Deliverer remains unchanged. Trust in God's unchanging nature provides a solid foundation for our faith.

Exodus 6:10-13

So the Lord said to Moses, “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land.” But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh king of Egypt: to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

• God commands Moses to go to Pharaoh again and demand the release of the Israelites.

• Moses expresses his doubts, citing his lack of eloquence and the Israelites' refusal to listen.

• God reassures Moses and reiterates His command, emphasizing the importance of obedience despite doubts.

Take Away - The object of our faith is God, not ourselves

Don’t let fear of failure cripple you.  God understands our weaknesses and limitations. Instead of disqualifying us, He equips and empowers us to fulfill His purposes. Trust in God's ability to work through your imperfections and doubts.

Exodus 6:14-27 Hang on… Genealogy Incoming

These are the heads of their fathers' houses: the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the clans of Reuben. The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the clans of Simeon. These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years. The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their clans. The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, the years of the life of Kohath being 133 years. The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their generations. Amram took as his wife Jochebed his father's sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses, the years of the life of Amram being 137 years. The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri. The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri. Aaron took as his wife Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the clans of the Korahites. Eleazar, Aaron's son, took as his wife one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites by their clans. 

These are the Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said: “Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts.” It was they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the people of Israel from Egypt, this Moses and this Aaron.

• The chapter includes a brief genealogy of Moses and Aaron, highlighting their lineage from Levi.

• The author stops to record who it was that was going to Pharaoh.

• Why is it important?  This genealogy serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness to the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

  • Side note or Theology Rabbit Trail - Did anyone notice that the wife and children of Aaron are mentioned but not those of Moses?  Short answer….kind of… this focuses on the family of Levi and his descendants, emphasizing the lineage of Aaron, the first high priest. Aaron’s wife and children are specifically mentioned because of their role in establishing the priestly line, which held significant importance in Israelite religious practices.

  • Moses’ role was different, and his family did not have the same level of prominence in terms of institutional or religious leadership. While Moses' wife, Zipporah, and his two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, are mentioned in earlier and later parts of Exodus, their roles are relatively minor compared to Aaron’s descendants. The omission of Moses' family here underscores the focus on Aaron’s priestly legacy.

Take Away - God is faithful and asks us to not only believe in Him but to also BELIEVE HIM

God's faithfulness extends through generations. Reflect on how God has been faithful in your life and the lives of those who came before you. His covenantal love and commitment remain unwavering.

Conclusion:

This week we saw Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh with God’s command to let the Israelites go but Pharaoh was unmoved, to say the least.  So much so that he was even harsher on the Israelites who in turn started to blame Moses and Aaron, who then stood back and questioned God on the “worsening situation”.  But God reaffirms them of His promises and reminds them of who He is and how He will deliver the Israelites. 

As we reflect on Exodus, let us be reminded that faith is not about the absence of trials but about trusting God’s faithfulness through those trials.

When we doubt, we are encouraged to remain steadfast in our obedience. He understands our weaknesses but He remains strong.

Can I remind you that God sees your struggles, my struggles and hears our cries, just as He did with the Israelites? His plans are often beyond our understanding, but His faithfulness is unwavering.

For Further Thought and Study:

Which of the takeaways from today challenges you the most?

Find some other scriptures that speak to or support these more challenging takeaways?

Spend some time meditating, memorizing and/or journaling on these additional scriptures.