EXODUS CHAPTER FIVE ------------------- Verse 1, If ever there was a time they might be weak in the flesh, it was now. Moses and Aaron went in to face the Pharaoh of Egypt, who had little compassion toward their people. Besides that their message was one NO compromise, but that the LORD required that the king let His people go that they might hold a feast in the wilderness. And to that, the LORD had already told Moses that He would harden Pharaoh's heart that he would not harken to their voice. Notice that the only request made to Pharaoh was that they be allowed to go into the wilderness to worship their God. Moses did not ask that Pharaoh let them depart forever, although that was God's design. The issue or grounds was over freedom to worship. Notice in verse 3 Moses asks that they be allowed to go 3 days journey, yet Mt. Sinai was much more than 3 days journey from Egypt (see 3:12 with 12:37; 14:2; 15:22 & 19:1). Before God would judge Pharaoh, He would give him opportunity for obedience, though He was not obligated to do so. But Pharaoh's disobedience to God's command would heap coals of fire upon his head. In a sense he was extending general mercy and grace toward Pharaoh. Pharaoh only had to obey the Lord's command, but he would not because of the hardness of his heart. Verse 2, The King's heart is revealed in this verse. "I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go." The cry goes out today, "Repent and believe the Gospel," but man's heart says, "Who [is] the LORD, that I should obey his voice;" and this because "I know not the Lord." This was no invitation to Pharaoh, but a command. Pink says that the Gospel, also, is no invitation, but a declarative of what God demands from the sinner. Repent and believe! 1Jo 3:23 And this is his COMMANDMENT, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. Verse 3, In verse 1 we see the divine side expressed, that is, God's heart. In this verse we see the human side expressed. The one showed God's heart and the second shows the sinners need. The feast was one of sacrifice, and sacrifice is the only remedy for man's sins. Notice that Moses acknowledges their guilt and the fact that they deserved "pestilence", or "sword" from the LORD. Sacrifice was the remedy. Moses had met the HOLY ONE of Israel, and he also knew himself and his people. When Isaiah saw the glory of the THRICE HOLY LORD, he declared, "Woe [is] me! for I am undone; because I [am] a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." Why was three days journey necessary? Pink says that three days are the number of days from death to the resurrection. And that it must be on resurrection ground that the sinner worship God. He must be made alive before he can worship. Verses 4-5, Evidently the people had stopped their work, expecting the deliverance. This, Pharaoh, must have known about, for he charges Moses and Aaron with causing the people to rest and he tells them to get back to work. It was not just a few who had ceased from their labours, but the whole multitude. Verses 6-9, Instead of letting the people go sacrifice to the LORD, Pharaoh makes their lot the harder. Pink says, "The one who refuses to repent becomes more impenitent, more defiant, more lawless, until (with rare exceptions) the Lord abandons him to his own ways and leaves him to suffer the due reward of his iniquities." Notice the UNBELIEF of Pharaoh in verse 9. He calls God's words "vain words." The word "vain" means "false" words. Words that should not be regarded. He calls Moses a liar and God a liar in a sense. He does not know the Lord and therefore does not believe his word. So too, the sinner today that does not know the Lord. This idea that men are sinners, hopelessly lost, and in need of a sacrifice. That hell awaits all who do not repent and believe the gospel. That there is only ONE WAY to the Father, and that through the propitiatory death of Jesus Christ. That men's works are but filthy rages in the sight of God. That men are in need of a substitute to die in their place. All of this talk is but "foolishness." They are not that bad, after all! Verses 10-14, Satan never gives up his prey without a fierce struggle. A man had a son who was possessed of a devil, and while the son was coming to Christ, the devil that possessed him, threw him down and tare him. Then Jesus cast the devil out. (Luke 9:42). So we see here also, that before the Lord delivers Israel from bondage, Satan, throws Israel down and tares her. Just when deliverance seemed nigh, their oppression was made the more. Pink says, that many convicted souls will find that their case gets worse before it gets better. Verses 15-16, Instead of turning to the Lord for help, they turned to Pharaoh for relief. They appealed to his piteous side. So too, the sinner under conviction will turn to men for help. Someone to tell him he is ok. But only when he is brought to the end of himself and he turns to the LORD for help and mercy, will he find rest for his soul. No preacher can remove your burden, but he can point you to the one who can! Verses 17-18, Pharaoh's response was not one of pity. He accused them of being idle. (Not that they did not have plenty to do, but it was not getting done because of their idleness). Perhaps they had thought that the taskmasters were acting without the knowledge of Pharaoh, but any such idea was immediately extinguished. He said that they wanted to go into the wilderness, not to worship God, but to get out of work. Mk 5:25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, Only Jesus could remedy her situation. READ Luke 15:11-24, That's your father! Verses 19-21, Moses must have been going into the King and here Israel's elders are coming out from the King. The LORD had told him that he would harden Pharaoh's heart, but to receive criticism from his own brethren was a real test. Verses 22-23, God was in no hurry. Here Moses questions God. God would demonstrate His power. He would bear "with much long- suffering the vessels of wrath fitted for destruction." (Ro 9:22). The iniquity of Egypt was not yet full (see Ge 15:16). Also, Israel was in need of humility. They were a stiff-necked people as was demonstrated in the previous verses by their leaders. savour = reyach {ray'-akh} AV - savour 45, smell 11, scent 2; 58 1) scent, fragrance, aroma, odour 1a) scent, odour 1b) odour of soothing (technical term for sacrifice to God) Moses was right in that God had not delivered His people and because of that they suffered more, for all things are of Him (Ro 11:36), but Moses was wrong in questioning God outworking and His counsel. It is a good thing that the Lord remembers our frame, that we are but dust; and that He is merciful and gracious, and slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy (Ps 103:14,8).