Exodus 5

Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh the first time (vs. 1-4)—The message was “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness'” (v. 1). Not surprisingly, Pharaoh scoffed at the idea: “Who is Jehovah, that I should hearken unto his voice to let Israel go? I know not Jehovah, and moreover I will not let Israel go” (v. 2). As God had told Moses, this first request was simply for a three days’ journey into the wilderness to hold a feast (v. 3). Obviously, this was not the ultimate goal, but it demonstrated Pharaoh’s intransigence. And the battle between Jehovah and Pharaoh was on. Remember that, to the Egyptians, Pharaoh was a god, so what we have here is a battle between Jehovah, Israel’s god, and Pharaoh, the god of the most powerful kingdom on earth at the time. It’s a mighty struggle, won, of course, by Jehovah.

Pharaoh adds to the Hebrews’ burden (vs. 5-14)—Pharaoh thought that Moses had made the request because the Israelites didn’t have enough to do. So, “the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying, ‘You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, “Let us go and sacrifice to our God”’” (vs. 6-8). Straw or stubble was a necessary ingredient for brick-making in ancient Egypt; we know this from sources other than the Bible. The children of Israel “were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw” (v. 12). They had great difficulty meeting the quota of required bricks; many of the Hebrews were beaten for the failure (v. 14).

The people complain to Pharaoh (vs. 15-19)—The Israelite officers went and complained to Pharaoh: “Why are you dealing thus with your servants?” (v. 15). The king told them it was because of Moses’ request: “You are idle! Idle! Therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD’” (v. 17). And he did not lighten their burden or daily quota of bricks (vs. 18-19).

The people complain to Moses (vs. 20-21)—When the leaders left their meeting with Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron, and said to them “Let the LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us" (vs. 21). They were understandably upset. The Lord had promised them deliverance, and all it had gotten them was a greater burden. It doesn’t demonstrate much faith in Jehovah, but the people hardly knew Him. There had been no communication from Him since the days of Jacob, well over 200 years previous.

Moses complains to God (vs. 22-23)—Moses didn’t have an answer for the people so he went to God: “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all” (vs. 22-23). The Lord had not revealed all of His plans to Moses, so it’s a legitimate question which is asked. Moses didn’t know Jehovah very well, either. The chapter ends here. The Lord’s response is forthcoming in chapter 6.