Exodus 5:6-10 - Let My People Go, That They May Worship Me
Exodus 5:6–10 — When Bondage Increases Before Deliverance
Introduction
When Moses and Aaron came before Pharaoh, God's command was clear: His people were to be released so that they could go and worship Him.
But Pharaoh did not respond by making their lives easier.
He made their bondage harder.
Instead of providing straw for making bricks, Pharaoh commanded the Israelites to gather their own straw while still producing the same number of bricks.
The workload increased, but the quota remained the same.
This passage reveals the cruelty of Pharaoh's oppression, but it also introduces an important theme in Exodus: the LORD was separating His people from bondage so that they could belong to Him, serve Him, and worship Him.
Deliverance from Egypt was not merely freedom from Pharaoh.
It was freedom to serve the LORD.
Pharaoh Increases the Burden
Exodus 5:6–7 KJV
“And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,
Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.”
Pharaoh's response to God's command was increased oppression.
Straw was necessary for their brickmaking, but Pharaoh ordered that it no longer be supplied.
The Israelites now had to find the material themselves while continuing their regular labor.
Pharaoh was essentially saying:
You want time to worship your God? Then I will give you more work.
This demonstrates the hardness of Pharaoh's heart.
Rather than acknowledging the LORD, Pharaoh attempted to tighten his control over the Israelites.
The Same Work With Fewer Resources
Exodus 5:8 KJV
“And the tale 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.”
The word “tale” here refers to the required number or quota.
Pharaoh removed the resources but did not reduce the requirement.
This was deliberate oppression.
He accused Israel of being idle because they desired to go and sacrifice unto the LORD.
But they were not idle.
They were slaves.
Their desire to worship God was interpreted by Pharaoh as an excuse to escape their labor.
This reveals the conflict developing in Exodus.
Who had the rightful claim upon Israel?
Pharaoh treated Israel as his labor force.
But the LORD declared Israel to be His people.
Exodus 5:1 KJV
“Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.”
Notice God's words:
“My people.”
Israel belonged to the LORD.
Pharaoh had enslaved a people whom God claimed as His own.
Delivered to Serve God
The Exodus was not simply about escaping Egypt.
God was bringing Israel out so that Israel could serve Him.
This theme appears repeatedly throughout Exodus.
Exodus 7:16 KJV
“Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness.”
Exodus 8:1 KJV
“Let my people go, that they may serve me.”
God was changing Israel's master.
They had served Pharaoh under bondage.
Now they were being delivered to serve the LORD in covenant relationship.
This is an important biblical principle.
Biblical freedom is not freedom from God.
It is freedom to belong to God.
Pharaoh Wanted Their Time and Strength
Exodus 5:9 KJV
“Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.”
Pharaoh deliberately increased their workload.
Why?
He wanted them occupied with labor.
He called God's message “vain words.”
Pharaoh did not recognize the authority of the LORD.
Earlier he had declared:
Exodus 5:2 KJV
“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.”
That statement sets the stage for everything that follows.
Pharaoh said:
“Who is the LORD?”
The plagues would answer that question.
Throughout the coming judgments, God would repeatedly declare that His actions were occurring so that Pharaoh, Egypt, and Israel would know that He is the LORD.
The Taskmasters Deliver Pharaoh's Command
Exodus 5:10 KJV
“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.”
Notice the expression:
“Thus saith Pharaoh.”
There is a striking conflict of authority throughout this narrative.
Moses comes declaring:
“Thus saith the LORD God of Israel...”
—Exodus 5:1
Pharaoh's representatives come declaring:
“Thus saith Pharaoh...”
—Exodus 5:10
The question becomes:
Whose word will ultimately stand?
Pharaoh was king of Egypt.
But Pharaoh was not sovereign over the LORD.
Egypt had earthly power.
The LORD possessed divine authority.
By the end of Exodus, it would become unmistakably clear that the word of Pharaoh could not overturn the Word of God.
Bondage Became Harder Before Deliverance Came
There is another important lesson in this passage.
After Moses obeyed God, Israel's circumstances initially became worse.
That could have been confusing.
Moses had obeyed.
Aaron had obeyed.
They had delivered God's message.
Yet Pharaoh increased Israel's suffering.
This teaches us not to judge God's faithfulness solely by what happens immediately after we obey Him.
Sometimes obedience is followed by resistance.
Sometimes circumstances temporarily become harder.
That does not mean God has abandoned His purpose.
Israel was still going to come out of Egypt.
God's promise had not changed.
A Spiritual Application for Believers
We should be careful not to make Pharaoh or Egypt mean something Scripture never explicitly says. Nevertheless, the New Testament does teach that believers have been delivered from the dominion of sin and brought into a new life of service to God.
Romans 6:17–18 KJV
“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
Notice the movement:
Servants of sin → made free from sin → servants of righteousness.
This resembles an important principle demonstrated in Exodus.
God does not deliver His people so that they can live without Him.
He delivers His people so that they may belong to Him.
Freedom Has a Purpose
Romans 6:22 KJV
“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”
We have been made free from sin and become servants to God.
Therefore Christian freedom should never be understood as independence from God's authority.
Jesus Christ did not redeem us so that we could become our own masters.
We belong to Him.
1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV
“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”
Redemption establishes ownership.
We are His.
Do Not Let the Pressures of Life Crowd Out Worship
There is also a practical lesson in Pharaoh's strategy.
Pharaoh increased Israel's workload until their lives became consumed with labor.
While we should not equate ordinary responsibilities with Pharaoh's oppression, believers should still examine whether the pressures of life are consuming the time and attention that should be given to God.
Work is necessary.
Family responsibilities are necessary.
Ministry responsibilities are necessary.
But none of them should replace fellowship with God.
We can become so busy doing things that we neglect the One for whom we are supposed to be living.
Jesus said:
Matthew 6:33 KJV
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
God must remain first.
Observation
Exodus 5:6–10 teaches us several important truths:
Pharaoh increased Israel's burden after Moses demanded their release.
Israel was required to produce the same number of bricks without being supplied straw.
Pharaoh interpreted their desire to worship as idleness.
Pharaoh attempted to maintain control over people whom God called “my people.”
God's purpose was not simply to remove Israel from Egypt but to bring Israel into service and worship of Himself.
The worsening circumstances did not mean God's promise had failed.
And ultimately, Pharaoh's word could not defeat the Word of the LORD.
Personal Application
This passage causes me to examine what has authority over my life.
God has redeemed me for Himself.
Therefore I should ask:
What occupies most of my time, attention, and strength?
Have the pressures of everyday life crowded out prayer, worship, and the Word of God?
When circumstances become more difficult after I obey God, do I immediately assume something has gone wrong?
Do I understand that being delivered by Christ means that I now belong to Him?
I must remember that my freedom in Christ is not freedom to live independently of God.
I have been made free to serve Him.
Reflection Questions
Why did Pharaoh stop supplying straw to the Israelites?
What did Pharaoh refuse to reduce even after taking away their straw?
Why did Pharaoh accuse Israel of being idle?
What does God's statement “Let my people go” reveal about Israel's relationship to Him?
What contrast do you see between “Thus saith the LORD” in Exodus 5:1 and “Thus saith Pharaoh” in Exodus 5:10?
Why is it important not to interpret temporary difficulty as evidence that God has abandoned His purpose?
According to Romans 6:22, what happens after believers are made free from sin?
What things in your life compete for the time and attention that belong to God?
Are you merely asking God to deliver you from difficulties, or do you desire to serve Him after He brings you through them?
What practical change can you make to put God's kingdom first?
Closing Thought
Pharaoh wanted Israel's labor.
God wanted Israel.
Pharaoh wanted to keep them enslaved.
God intended to redeem them.
Pharaoh increased their burdens.
God was preparing their deliverance.
And when God finally brought Israel out of Egypt, they would learn that freedom was not merely about leaving something behind.
They had been brought out so that they could belong to the LORD.
The same principle is beautifully expressed for believers in Christ:
“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God...”
—Romans 6:22 KJV
We have been redeemed for a purpose.
We belong to God.
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for delivering us from the bondage of sin through Jesus Christ. Teach us to understand that our freedom has a purpose. We have been redeemed to belong to You, worship You, obey You, and serve You.
Help us not to become so consumed with the pressures and responsibilities of life that we neglect Your presence and Your Word. When obedience becomes difficult, strengthen our faith so that we do not mistake resistance for defeat.
Teach us to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness. Let our lives declare that we belong to You.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment