Exodus Segment 2

Moses: From Pharaoh’s Palace to Midian and Back Again 

In this segment we will be studying how God worked in the life of the man Moses. Moses became the standard in which all prophets were to be judged, even Jesus Christ was liken unto him. 

Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;  

2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.   

5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;  

It’s a good thing to be faithful in one’s own house, but to willingly be a servant, be faithful, by your own freedom of will, in the Master’s house, in God’s house, speaks volumes. Being faithful means that one believes consistently. It’s someone who day after day after day after day believes God. 

Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;  

This is a prophecy pertaining to the Lord Jesus Christ. The standard of excellence that Jesus Christ was compared against regarding the ministry of a prophet, as a spokesman for God, was that of Moses. 

This shows us the caliber of Moses’ faithfulness to consistently believe God and to consistently speak for God. 

Deuteronomy 34:10 And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,  

Exodus 33:11a  And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.  

Moses and God talked. They communicated with one another. Moses trusted God. 

Psalm 103:7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.  

How was Moses able to get to know God this well? He did it the old fashioned way, he earned it. Many times he had to intercede for Israel. 

Read all of Psalm 106 to get a good concise overview of what he had to go through in order to  accomplish what he did on behalf of God’s people. 

During Moses’ lifetime he had many run-ins with individuals who thought they could do it better.  

Psalm 106:16 They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD. 

Sure Moses had fears, inadequacies, shortcomings. He was a man. But he developed a relationship and a willingness to do the Will of the Lord. 

Numbers 12:3 offers us some insight into this great man. Numbers 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek [humble], above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)  

Moses built a relationship with God, it wasn’t automatic. Too many times people dwell on the end greatness of a man forgetting that it took a lifetime to deliver that kind of result. As we continue with Exodus we will see how Moses earned the reputation God gives him. 

Exodus 2:1 And there went a man [Amram] of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter [Jochebed] of Levi.  

2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, [beautiful to God] she hid him three months.  

Levi was five years older than his brother Joseph and lived to be 137. Levi outlived Joseph by 22 years. He had only died 37 years previously to his great grandson Moses being born.  

Moses was the seventh from Abraham. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Levi, Kohath, Amram, Moses. The study of genealogy helps with the dating of how long the children of Israel were in bondage in Egypt. From God’s calling of Abraham in Ur, to the Exodus was a total of 430 years. 

3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes [papyrus], and daubed it with slime [bitumen] and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.  

Similar instruction given to Noah for the ark. Papyrus {11. Show papyrus} is a reedy plant which grew plentifully on the banks of the Nile. It was used by the Egyptians for cords and ropes on ships, baskets, boats, sails, writing material, and a myriad of other purposes, even food at times. 

The slime or bitumen, is coated on the plaited papyrus with tar and when hardened, becomes firm and water-proof. 

Hebrews 11 gives us more insight as to why Moses’ parents did this. 

Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper [God’s] child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.  

By believing Moses’ parents hid him 3 months. When that became too dangerous, they put him in a basket and floated him on the Nile. There is nowhere in God’s Word that tells us to do this when the government threatens to kill children. 

So where did this information come from? God. It was by the manifestation of believing, divine revelation, that Amram and Jochebed built a little basket boat and set Moses afloat in it in front of Pharaoh’s daughter. 

Moses’ parents with the spirit of God upon them, must have had some lasting effect on how Moses’ formative years were spent. 

Exodus 2:4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit [know] what would be done to him.  

Moses’ sister was Miriam. Aaron, his brother, was 3 years older than Moses. He must have been born before this decree of Pharaoh’s. 

5 And the daughter of Pharaoh [Josephus names her Thermuthis] came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.  

Bathing in the Nile since it was a sacred river was permissible in Egypt, even by royalty.  

6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.  

If you were trying to keep a baby alive, who would be better to find him than Pharaoh’s daughter? That’s cutting through all the red tape in a hurry. What luck! Pharaoh’s daughter.

Then Miriam, the older sister, splendidly performs her role in this Godly scheme. 

7 Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?  

8 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother.  

9 And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.  

Nursed the child in the knowledge and ways of God also. 

10 And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.  

Quite a change of events. A short time before, they and the whole family were in peril for having gone against the commandments of Pharaoh by keeping their son alive. And now, she was to be paid for keeping and nursing that very same son. What a God!

When Jerusalem was ransacked and burned in 70 AD, the scrolls that were in the Temple were given to an ex-Jewish general turned Roman ally, named Flavius Josephus. Josephus then wrote two books, The Antiquities of the Jews and The Wars of the Jews utilizing the Bible texts he had. 

{12. Read Josephus section, page 57.6 “Now Moses’ understanding…” and all of 7.} 

There are details given by Josephus recorded next in his book, that explain Moses, as head general of Pharaoh’s army, leading an Egyptian army south to subdue the Ethiopians. Irenaeus gives a good concise overview of the conquest. 

Irenaeus quotes Josephus: “Josephus says, that when Moses was nourished in the king’s palace, he was appointed general of the army against the Ethiopians, and conquered them, when he married that king’s daughter; because out of her affection for him, she delivered the city up to him.” [fragments of Irenaeus, ap. Edit. Grab. P. 472.] 

Moses received quite an education in the palace of Pharaoh, both in mind and body, in leadership and in training. He had money, power, and the prestige that the great Egyptian court had; but he refused it all because he believed God and had a ministry. 

11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown [40 years old], that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.  

12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.  

13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?  

14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.  

15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.  

He left Egypt in a hurry. He wouldn’t stay in the Sinai Peninsula, which was under Egyptian rule. He fled across it past the right finger of the Red Sea into the land of Midian; current day Saudi Arabia; called in the Bible “Arabia.” {13. Map: show Moses’ flight to Midian.} 

This event marks the second of three phases of Moses’ life on earth. Not much is written about the next 40 years. However, his believing parents upbringing and his schooling in the courts of Egypt, two of the best education’s one could get at that time, would pay off. 

The bondage and cruelty of the Egyptians continued through these 40 years. We in this country haven’t lived through anything resembling this. If we want to remain free we need to continue to read God’s Word, rightly divide it, live it, speak it boldly, and teach it to others. This country is very much like the time of Jeremiah, plenty of religion but very little truth. 

16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.  

17 And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.  

The shepherds didn’t show the priest’s daughters much respect, even though as a priest he had gained the trust of the people. There was little water in the land of Midian. Shepherds would seize on the wells before others came, lest their flocks should want water and it run out before they could get enough. 

18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?  

Reuel in Hebrew means “friend of God.” Jethro, another name for this man, according to Lamsa was a priestly title like “His Excellency,” or “Reverend.”  

19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.  

An Egyptian. This is clear then, that the land of Midian was not in Egypt, not even in the Sinai Peninsula. One would not be surprised to find an Egyptian in Egypt. However, in Midian one would. The daughters of Reuel refer to Moses as an Egyptian, as someone from another country. 

Midian was a descendant of Abraham by Keturah. 

20 And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.  

21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.  

He probably didn’t give his daughter to Moses for some time. Forty years later when Moses is  ready to travel with his family back to Egypt, they are riding an animal, indicating that they were young at that time. 

22 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.  

For the next 40 years of Moses’ life he is content to stay with Reuel or Raguel as Josephus spells it; marry his daughter, have 2 sons, and be the guardian and superintendent over his cattle. 

23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.  

24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.  

25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them. 

Exodus 3:1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert [“wilderness” and “desert” are the same Hebrew word], and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.  

2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.  

God had moved in the burning bush. Now Moses needed to respond. God cannot move again until man moves by free will. He has to wait on Moses’ response.  

Today God has moved in Christ Jesus. Once we get born again, God has the opportunity to move again. When we respond to His call He can go into action as we manifest His power. 

If we are to stay in fellowship with him, we need to move with Him. Once God moves, then we move, but we wait for God to move. God may be moving in other areas of our life before moving again in an area we think He should move in. Probably though God is waiting for us to catch up to Him, so He can move again. 

3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.  

Moses responds to God’s moving with, “I will see.” 

4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.  

I’m your man. I’m the greatest. Moses’ arrogance is about to get humbled. 

5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.  

Holy ground because God was there and His Word was there. 

6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, [Amram]. 

Amram, Moses’ father, had listened to God and saved Moses’ life when he was an infant.  

Amram must have had the spirit upon him because of the believing action he had taken. Moses’ parents had laid the great foundation of believing and set the pattern for the growth of believing in the life of Moses while he was still living with them. 

It was their operation of the manifestations, their training of young Moses and their teaching Moses to believe and reverence God that helped set the stage for what Moses is about to be called to do.  

6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.  

Little change of attitude for Moses. There would have been no reason for God to reintroduce himself here if Moses had the spirit of God upon him, already had been receiving revelation.  

7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;  

8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.  

Must be a great and fruitful land if 6 nations can live in it. It might have been a not so good place for a clan of 70 to increase to a mighty nation in a short time. The land of Goshen in Egypt was much better.  

In verses 6-8 we read of God saying, “I am,” “I have,” “I know,” “I am.” God is now involved. 

9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.  

10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.  

I will send you on My behalf. Today we minister in Christ’s stead. 

11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?  

Moses brings up his humanness. I’m not good enough.  

12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.  

The first assurance that God gives Moses is the comfort of knowing that He truly would be with him. “Moses, you’re doing this because I want it done. Also a token is established by God with Moses that he will return to this particular mountain to serve God there. 

13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?  

Moses’ heart is softening. He’s talking it over with God. 

14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.  

The capital letters mean nothing in the text, except the translators private interpretation of what they think is important.  

I AM THAT I AM is simply in Hebrew literally, “I will be what I will be” or “I will become what I need to become.” There was no pronounceable name for the true God, in contrast to the pagans who always called their gods by name.  

Dr. Lamsa in his Aramaic translation of the Bible refers to how God describes Himself here as, instead of I AM THAT I AM, it’s “THE LIVING GOD”. 

15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.  

16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:  

17 And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.  

18 And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.  

God had a plan and in it He will overcome man’s shortcomings. “Just ask Pharaoh to let you go three days into the wilderness to sacrifice. I’ll do the rest.” If you do the Will of the Lord, His Word will come to pass. 

Don’t be afraid to walk with God. This walking does include falling, but get up and move on. 

19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.  

20 And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.  

21 And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:  

22 But every woman shall borrow [ask, require] of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels [articles] of silver, and jewels [articles] of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.  

The oriental culture is that you are to look your best when you go to the sacred festivals. Put on your best jewels so as not to disgrace yourself, or be displeasing to the deities. If yours aren’t that nice, you would borrow from a richer neighbor.  

We just read that the Israelites were going into the desert to sacrifice to their God. So why not take advantage of this custom and borrow, require, all the jewels in the land. 

Nice plan God has here. It’s amazing how it always seems so simple on paper!  

Moses, you travel to Egypt, gather the elders, tell them God sent you and that you are going to lead them to the promised land of their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey. Next, go to Pharaoh, tell him you want to go sacrifice to your God in the desert, a three days journey.  

Good excuse to take all your animals with you, because you don’t know which animals your God wants sacrificed. Also, take all the articles of gold and silver so as not to disappoint the God you are going to worship. Pharaoh at first won’t let you go but eventually he will after I show him a thing or two about supernatural power.  

Sounds easy enough.   

Exodus 4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.  

Nice try God, but who is going to believe me? The human part again. 

2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. {14. Show rod but don’t throw it yet. Have snake on floor already.} 

Today we have the sign of SIT.  

3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. {15. Throw rod, pick up snake.} 

4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and it hardened, it stiffened, and it became a rod in his hand:  

The first thing you learn at snake school is to always pick up a snake by the neck, never by the tail.  

5 That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.  

6 And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.  

The first occurrence of leprous. The Bible lists 9 cases, 21 individuals leprous. 

7 And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.  

8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.  

9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.  

10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. [Thick of tongue.] 

Excuse number two in not willing to carry out what God has called him to do. At least he is talking to management. We can talk to God too. Remember Abraham and the people of Sodom. You discuss things with your children, or parents, discuss things openly and honestly with God. 

11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?  

12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.  

When you act God goes into action to fulfill it. 

13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.  

14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.  

God knows mankind, human nature. He knows our capabilities. He understands our frame. [Psalm 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.]

God still had an answer, the right answer for Moses. He has the right answer to all that we can ask. The answer may not always be what we want to hear. 

15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.  

16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.  

17 And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.  

Enough talk; all the excuses have been handled, it’s time to act on God’s Word, fulfill God’s Will. 

18 And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.  

19 And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.  

Not just Pharaoh but the whole administration, the whole court faction. 

20 And Moses took his wife and his sons [Gershom, and Eliezer], and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

It used to be his rod. Now it is referred to as the “rod of God.” 

Putting his sons on an ass indicates that his sons still are young. This indicates that Zipporah was probably not given to Moses for some time. 

21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.  

This is that Hebrew idiom of permission; active verbs of doing are used of suffering or permitting a thing to be done. God doesn’t do the action, rather he allows it to happen. God allows Pharaoh to harden his heart. Later God will allow the plagues to happen including the angel of death to operate freely in Egypt. 

27 And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.  

How did the Lord talk to Aaron? Spirit upon? He had the same parents. There is some evidence that Aaron may have been brought up in Pharaoh’s house along with Moses. Aaron just disappears and reappears with Moses.  

28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.  

29 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:  

Again we see God’s planning. Aaron would be able to get Moses an audience with the elders much quicker than if he was some outsider coming in declaring he was on a mission from God. 

30 And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.  

31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.  

They expected, believed, trusted that God would act on His Word. However they felt that their bondage would end immediately. When this doesn’t happen, most immediately gave up, show no patience.  

Exodus 5:1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast [a festival] unto me in the wilderness.  

Why didn’t God have Moses boldly proclaim all he knew? That these people were going to go to the land of promise many miles away and never come back; word of knowledge, word of wisdom. One of the keys to walking by the spirit of God, “Don’t tell all you know.” 

2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.  

Good point by Pharaoh. All of a sudden this guy shows up from nowhere and demands to take 2 million of your subjects into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to a God you have never seen evidence of. 

Not to mention that you are considered a god and know all the gods on a first name basis. Plus, as far as you can tell, the gods have made you the richest, most powerful nation in the world. 

3 And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.  

The Egyptians would understand a God that could send pestilence or war since their gods were agents of the adversary. 

4 And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.  

5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.  

Pharaoh’s fear keeps manifesting itself. There are too many of them. They won’t produce their share of the work. Now they’re organized, with a leader. Starting a union. 

6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,  

7 Ye shall no more give the people straw [chaff, or chopped straw] to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

8 And the tale [number, quota] of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.  

9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.  

Man’s opinion of Divine revelation, “vain words.” Same thing today. Man’s words are valued quite higher than the Word of God by most people. 

10 And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.  

11 Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.  

12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.  

The use of this crude brick was general in Egypt for dwellings, tombs, ordinary buildings, walls of towers, fortresses, and sacred enclosures of temples. {16. Mudbrick wall.} The use of stone was confined mainly to temples, docks, and reservoirs. 

13 And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.  

14 And the officers [foremen, not the elders] of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?  

15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?  

They had direct access to Pharaoh too.  

16 There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.  

17 But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: [shirkers, shirkers] therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.  

18 Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale [quota] of bricks.  

19 And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.  

20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:  

21 And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred [stink] in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.  

Was Moses doing the will of God? Moses had to be sure He was doing exactly what God had wanted him to do. Did he miss anything? Why wasn’t the desired result gotten? 

People are going to get like this. If you are convinced you are doing God’s will don’t give into the unbelief of others. God with you makes a majority. Make sure it’s God’s will not your own desire. 

Their excitement changed drastically from before when they heard the word of Moses and gave God thanks. Its tough sometimes to stand for God. Things go on His time table, not ours.  

Naaman wanted some big circus to happen with his healing. All he received was a message from the man of God via a servant to go wash in the Jordan River 7 times. 

22 And Moses returned unto the LORD. Went straight to the author of the plan, just like Jesus Christ did in the garden of Gethsemane. He too expected a quick deliverance. This whole ordeal with Pharaoh is going to take some time, months. 
 

22b and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?  

23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.  

Lord you didn’t tell me this was going to happen. You just told me the good parts. 

Exodus 6:1 Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.  

In other words, Pharaoh’s about to get too busy with other problems to worry about brick quotas. 

The justice of God demanded that Moses give Pharaoh a shot at letting Israel go before any “fireworks” could occur. Free will. God can’t condemn a man by foreknowledge alone. That would be fatalism, fate, destiny, not free will. God, because He is a just God had to allow Pharaoh to refuse His offer. 

2 And God [Elohim 430] spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD [Jehovah 3068]:  

3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty [El 410 Shaddai 7706], but by my name JEHOVAH [3068] was I not known [perceived, understood] to them.  

The words “Almighty God,” El Shaddai, indicate that He is a God Who is an all-powerful God with every resource for every believer. God Almighty blesses, makes fruitful, and causes seed to multiply.  

God when He appeared unto Abraham as God Almighty, El Shaddai, appeared as a God Who was going to be bountiful unto him. A God who would bless, support, defend, and supply every need that Abraham would have. This same blessing was available for the other patriarchs. 

God had worked in Abraham’s life as Jehovah. Abraham just didn’t perceive, understand how God functioned in regards to what He has created.

Genesis 15:7 And he said unto him, I am the LORD [Jehovah] that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.  

God is revealing Himself to Abraham. Abraham didn’t perceive all of what that meant. Jehovah is God, denoting His relationship to what He created. Elohim is God the creator. El Shaddai is the God who blesses, supports, defends, and supplies every need.  

All are available to God’s children today. Perhaps the one title God wants us to know Him by the most today is, “Father.”

Exodus 6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known, perceived, understood to them.

God is revealing himself to Moses as a God who cares about what He has created, as a God who cares about His people. He revealed Himself to Abraham as a God Who would take care of him during his wanderings to a promised, yet unknown land. 

Since Elohim is the first word in the Bible, and it refers to God as the creator, He didn’t have anyone around to originally reveal that side of Himself to. One need only look around, to witness Elohim, the sun, stars, planets, the splendidness of the earth. God as Elohim, the Creator.   

4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage [sojourning], wherein they were strangers.  

5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.  

All Israel’s blessings are based on this, “remember God’s covenant.” 

6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:  

7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.  

8 And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.  

God’s response hadn’t changed. “I am” or “I will become what I need to become” is still going to do as “I said I would.”  

It’s only going to take a little time. Have some patience and confidence in Me God Jehovah El Shaddai and watch and marvel at what I am about to do on your behalf. I will take care of you. I am Jehovah, the real Lord, not one of the gods of the Egyptians. 

From verses 1-8 the word “I” as a pronoun used for God is repeated 18 times. Answers Pharaoh’s question of 5:2 “Who is the Lord.” 

9 And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.  

They certainly gave up quickly. They gave into the pressures of this world immediately. One would think that after praying so hard, and complaining so long, that at least the elders of Israel would have hung in there and showed more believing in the promises of God.  

They rejected God and God’s messenger Moses. God though did not forsake them. Little did Moses realize then that this nature was what he was going to have to deal with for the next 40 years. 

10 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [Time for God to go to work.] 

11 Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.  

12 And Moses spake before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?  

I’ve lost my backing, on whose behalf will I be speaking for? I want to quit too! The people don’t believe in me. 

13 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.  

God charged Moses and Aaron. They were working for Him, not the people. They had a mission to do for God. Even if people give up around you, you still do what God wants done, what He expects from you, what He has called you to do. 

If Moses had given up at this point, then it would all have been over—the coming saviour, the nation of Israel, the deliverance of God’s people.

This chapter continues with bloodlines to illustrate that Moses and Aaron were the crown of their pedigrees. 

20 And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years.  

23 And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.  

What happened to Aaron’s two oldest sons? 

Numbers 26:61 And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange [improper, unholy, unlawful] fire before the LORD.  

They had bypassed the brazen altar. Only fire from the brazen altar of burnt offering, where atonement had been made, could be used for kindling the incense on the golden altar in the holy place; all other was considered strange fire. 

If the punishment had not been so severe, the priests would have signified by their actions that men did not need the sacrifice to worship God. God let Aaron and all the children of Israel know that such worship was totally unacceptable.  

All religions try to approach God apart from the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. They bring all types of sacrifices and offerings, but all are in the category of strange fire, unlawful worship. All approaches to God except through Christ’s sacrifice is unlawful. He was the perfect sacrifice for mankind.  

I Corinthians 5:7b …for even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. 

One must be purified by the sacrifice Jesus made, then we can approach God.  

Exodus 6:23 And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife.  

It is never a mistake when God includes a person in His Word. 

Ruth 4:19 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,  

20 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,  

21 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,

22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

This Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, whose sister Aaron married, from the tribe of Judah, was  the Christline. Aaron was Nahshon’s brother-in-law.