Please forgive this rough draft format, as these are my raw study notes on the book of Exodus. I felt a great sense of urgency to publish them rather than waiting until I had the time to pretty them up. Thank you and I pray that God blesses you through this material.
Stacey
Take a few minutes to savor Exodus Chapter 5. Then return here and ponder the thoughts, answer the questions, and be sure to leave comments about your own revelations…
5:1 – How did they get an audience with Pharaoh? Was Moses remembered in that house? Did the Israelite elders facilitate it?
Why is Moses asking for permission to go to the desert and worship? Isn’t he supposed to completely liberate the people? This request sounds like he wants to arrange a field trip. He is saying exactly what God told him to in 3:18.
5:2 – Pharaoh’s words drip with sarcasm and scorn.
5:4 – When Pharaoh says “get back to your labor,” does this mean the elders accompanied Moses and Aaron? Yes. See 3:18.
5:5 – Pharaoh mentions how numerous the Israelite population is. It would seem that he is worried about more than losing slave labor. Perhaps they would regroup in the desert and attack Egypt.
5:6-14 – Pharaoh takes away the straw to make bricks, but doesn’t reduce the quota, making the Israelites’ life even more difficult and bitter.
5:15 – The only explanation for why a Hebrew slave would approach Pharaoh is that God’s message to the elders is now know and it has strengthened the people.
5:19 – Weren’t they in trouble back in 5:14 when Pharaoh was beating them?
5:20-21 – The foremen rebuke Moses and Aaron – another clue that they heard God’s message.
5:22-23 – If God told Moses that obedience to His instruction of 3:18 would lead to greater suffering of the Israelites, Moses may have refused the assignment completely. God empowered Moses by withholding information from him.
When was the last time God dealt with you in this way?
5:22 – When Moses “returned” to the Lord, where did he go? Certainly not back to Midian! Where do you think Moses would go to meet with God in Egypt?
What attributes of God have you observed in your study today? How will this change your relationship with Him?
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