Israel’s Trouble, God’s Promises Series

“Oh what a beautiful morning, Oh what a beautiful day, I have a wonderful feeling, everything’s going my way.” After what we find in Exodus chapter 4, Moses may have been able to sing that song.

After Moses made multiple excuses not to answer the call of God at the burning bush, he did respond to the call of God. That in itself would have brought joy to Moses.

• After his call Moses informs his father in law Jethro, he is going to Egypt with his wife Zipporah and their son.

• Moses is reunited with his brother Aaron, and they weep with joy. He is reunited with his sister who helped save his life as a baby in put in a basket in the Nile.

• Moses is reunited with his people. He performs a miracle as conformation that God has called him to be their deliverer.

• The Hebrew people believe Moses and bow down and worship God.

There is a confidence in Moses as he and his brother approach Pharaoh on behalf of the people. Moses is on a roll. Everything is going right for him. It is like he is on fire as a leader. Now suddenly cold water is poured on Moses. Moses is insulted by Pharaoh. He tells Moses he considers him insignificant.

Not only did Pharaoh belittle Moses, but now the people have lost their confidence in Moses. They view him as someone doing more harm that good. They are like an alumni association reacting to their coach who lost the homecoming game. They are behind the coach when he wins, but when the team loses, they turn on their coach. They are behind him until the first roadblock emerges. Moses has already experienced the bitter side of spiritual leadership.

There are spiritual leadership lessons here that apply to anyone in spiritual leadership. If you have suddenly seen the tide turn against you in your leadership, then you will identify with Moses here. Leaders today, like Moses, often find themselves on a rollercoaster going quickly from highs to lows.

After the great victory rally in Exodus 4:30-31 where there were celebration, tears of joy, worship and holding on to the promises of God.

Moses and Aaron went to the king of Egypt and told him, "The LORD God says, 'Let my people go into the desert, so they can honor me with a celebration there.'" (Exodus 5:1)

Following this there was a low. Moses and Aaron went boldly to Pharaoh but were disrespected by Pharaoh. This did not match the script that Moses was expecting. Then with this response form Pharaoh the support from the Hebrew people wavered.

What a negative response from Pharaoh.

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.” (Exodus 5:2)

Pharaoh basically wants to know, if the Hebrew God is so mighty, why are the Hebrew people so oppressed. Suddenly it seems even the Hebrew people are asking this question. It the Egyptian religion, with their system of gods, they considered Pharaoh the chief manifestation of these gods. The Egyptians worshipped Pharaoh. In their mind Pharaoh was a god.

The Hebrews were building these elaborate temples for Pharaoh to dwell after his death (the pyramids). Moses and Aaron make another appeal to Pharaoh.

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 5:2)

Pharaoh replies, you want to worship your God, but you need to work for me. Get back to work. Pharaoh humiliates Moses and Aaron. Not only this he wanted to ruin their credibility among their people, so he ordered the foreman to increase their workload without diminishing the required output.

You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. (Exodus 5:7)

And Pharaoh’s slave drivers beat the Israelite overseers they had appointed, demanding, “Why haven’t you met your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?” (Exodus 5:14)

Pharaoh said, “Lazy, that’s what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ 18 Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks.” (Exodus 5:17-18)

Pharaoh's cruel strategy worked to turn the Hebrew people against Moses. Pharaoh made an example of what would happen if anyone Israelite who would bring up this idea of stopping work to worship the Hebrew God. Lord God Almighty.

and they said, “May the LORD look on you and judge you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” (Exodus 5:21)