Exodus 5: Pharaoh Increases Israel's Burden

Exodus 5: Pharaoh Increases Israel's Burden

Chapter With Audio

Making Bricks Without Straw

5 Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’” 2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” 3 Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” 4 But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.” 5 And Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!” 6 The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, 7 “You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’ 9 Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.”

10 So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw. 11 Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.’” 12 So the people were scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 The taskmasters were urgent, saying, “Complete your work, your daily task each day, as when there was straw.” 14 And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday, as in the past?”

15 Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, “Why do you treat your servants like this? 16 No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.” 17 But he said, “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18 Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.” 19 The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said, “You shall by no means reduce your number of bricks, your daily task each day.” 20 They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; 21 and they said to them, “The Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”

22 Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”

Chapter Analysis

Exodus 5: Pharaoh Rejects God's Command and Increases Israel's Burden

Overview

Exodus 5 records Moses' and Aaron's first confrontation with Pharaoh. They faithfully delivered God's command to let Israel go into the wilderness to worship Him, but Pharaoh refused. Instead of releasing the Israelites, he accused them of laziness and made their labor even more difficult.

The Israelites blamed Moses and Aaron for making their situation worse, and Moses questioned why God had sent him. Although this chapter ends without deliverance, it prepares the way for God to display His power through the plagues that follow.

I. Verses 1–5: Moses and Aaron Appeared Before Pharaoh

Moses and Aaron came before Pharaoh with God's message:

"Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.'"

Pharaoh answered:

"Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice...?"

He declared that he neither knew the Lord nor would he let Israel go.

Moses and Aaron explained that the God of the Hebrews had met with them and requested a three-day journey into the wilderness to worship Him.

Pharaoh rejected their request and accused them of distracting the people from their work.

This confrontation revealed the conflict between the authority of the living God and the pride of a pagan king.

II. Verses 6–14: Pharaoh Increased Israel's Oppression

The same day, Pharaoh ordered the taskmasters and officers to stop supplying straw for making bricks.

The Israelites now had to gather their own straw while producing the same number of bricks.

If they failed to meet the quota, they were beaten.

Pharaoh believed the people had too much free time and that their desire to worship God proved they were lazy.

Rather than softening his heart, Pharaoh responded to God's command with greater cruelty.

The oppression became even more severe.

III. Verses 15–19: Israel's Officers Appealed to Pharaoh

The Israelite officers came before Pharaoh to plead for mercy.

They explained that they were no longer given straw, yet were expected to produce the same number of bricks.

Pharaoh refused to listen.

He repeated his accusation:

"You are idle! You are idle!"

He ordered them back to work without reducing their quota.

The officers realized their situation had become much worse.

Pharaoh's heart remained hard despite their appeal.

IV. Verses 20–21: The Israelites Blamed Moses and Aaron

After leaving Pharaoh, the Israelite officers met Moses and Aaron.

Instead of encouraging them, they accused them of causing their suffering.

They said Moses and Aaron had made them offensive in Pharaoh's sight and had given him an excuse to kill them.

The people judged God's work by their present circumstances rather than by His promises.

Although God had begun His work of deliverance, the situation initially became more difficult.

V. Verses 22–23: Moses Took His Complaint to God

Moses returned to the Lord and prayed.

He asked:

  • Why have You brought trouble on this people?
  • Why did You send me?
  • Ever since I spoke to Pharaoh, he has done evil to this people.
  • You have not delivered Your people at all.

Moses honestly expressed his confusion.

Although he did not yet understand God's timing, he brought his questions directly to God rather than abandoning his calling.

God would answer Moses in the next chapter by revealing His power and reaffirming His covenant promises.

Major Lessons in Exodus 5

Obedience Does Not Always Produce Immediate Results

Moses faithfully obeyed God, yet the circumstances became worse before they became better. God's purposes often unfold according to His timing rather than ours.

The World Resists God's Authority

Pharaoh rejected God's command because he refused to acknowledge the Lord's authority. Human pride continues to oppose God's rule today.

Following God May Bring Greater Opposition

When God begins to work, opposition often increases. Difficult circumstances do not mean God has abandoned His people.

Bring Your Questions to God

Moses honestly poured out his confusion before the Lord. God invites His people to bring their burdens and questions to Him in faith.

God's Deliverance Comes in His Time

Although Israel saw only increased suffering, God was preparing to reveal His power through the judgments upon Egypt and the Exodus itself.

Overall Summary

Exodus 5 records the first confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh. Pharaoh rejected God's command to release Israel and instead increased the people's burdens by requiring them to gather their own straw while maintaining the same brick quota. The Israelites blamed Moses and Aaron for their worsening conditions, and Moses questioned God about the apparent failure of his mission. Although the chapter ends in disappointment, it sets the stage for God to demonstrate His sovereign power and faithfulness in delivering His people from Egypt.