Read with Me
Exodus 5:15-19 (HCSB)
So the Israelite foremen went in and cried for help to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way? No straw has been given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but it is your own people who are at fault.”
But he said, “You are slackers. Slackers! That is why you are saying, ‘Let us go sacrifice to the LORD.’ Now get to work. No straw will be given to you, but you must produce the same quantity of bricks.”
The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, “You cannot reduce your daily quota of bricks.”
Listen with Me
The leaders of the Israelites were genuinely confused by the change in their circumstances. They had not participated in Moses’ interaction with Pharaoh, or even given their approval to the plan. They had been excited by the prospect of being released from slavery, but they had not rebelled against Pharaoh or against the work they were doing.
But now, because of the actions of Moses, who was definitely seen as an outsider, assisted by Aaron, their lives had instantly become much harder than they had been. They saw themselves as victims, and they sent representatives to Pharaoh to seek redress, or at least to return to the previous rules.
The words used by the leaders expressed that Pharaoh was at fault in the situation. He had neglected to give them the straw that they needed to make their quota of bricks, that their quota had not been reduced to compensate for the added workload. This had even resulted in some of them being beaten. Even after only a couple of days, the people had become frustrated and discouraged.
The solution they were requesting was an either/or situation: either provide the needed straw as had formerly been done, or reduced the quota. Either one would be fine, but something had to be done to remedy the situation.
But Pharaoh’s reply alarmed them. Nothing would change. No straw would be given to them, their quotas would not be reduced, and they could expect to be punished severely if they did not produce what was expected. But then Pharaoh told them the reason for the change: it was Moses’ demand that the people be set free to go and sacrifice to the Lord in the wilderness. It proved to Pharaoh that they had too much free time if they felt they could do that. The leaders went away terrified by these new requirements, and resentful of Moses’ and Aaron’s interference in their lives.
Pray with Me
Father, the road to Your Promised Land never has been easy. The structures of our world, let alone the enemy of our souls, militate against any change to the status quo, any promise of freedom. But the secret is not to just keep our heads down and comply. Instead, it is to trust in You and to follow Your lead, even, or maybe especially, when the journey seems hard. Help me to keep following you, Lord, even when the path grows steep, even when obstacles arise, even when the enemy rants and screams. Amen.