Message Notes

12 August 2014

Text: Exodus 5

(I) THE FIRST AUDIENCE WITH THE PHARAOH

1. Moses and Aaron

Representing the children of Israel (Exodus 5:1)

2. Presentation of God’s Message to the Pharaoh

a) Thus says the LORD God of Israel

b) Let My people Go

c) That they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness (Exodus 5:1)

3. Understanding this Message

a) Thus says the LORD God of Israel

i) This is a formal statement

ii) It is in fact a demand

iii) It is not a request

b) The Author of the Statement

i) He is the Lord

ii) He is God

iii) He is the LORD God of Israel- specifically

c) Content of the Statement

i) Pharaoh is to let Israel go

ii) Israel is to hold a feast to the Lord God in the wilderness

iii) Polite “court language”

iv) The meaning however is clear

v) God demands that the Pharaoh release the children of Israel from bondage

(II) PHARAOH’S INITIAL RESPONSE

1. Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? (Exodus 5:2)

a) Haughty response

b) He does not acknowledge the Person of the Lord

c) He does not recognise His power and authority

d) He refuses to comply

2. I do not know the LORD

a) He denies

b) He rejects

3. Nor will I let Israel go

a) The demand of Moses is rejected outright

b) There is no attempt to understand and consider

(III) AN ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN

1. The God of the Hebrews has met with us (Exodus 5:3)

a) Merely “The God of the Hebrews”

b) Steep learning curve for Moses and Aaron

2. Please, let us go three days’ journey into the desert and sacrifice to the LORD our God (Exodus 5:3)

a) From demand to asking for permission

b) From command to negotiation

3. Lest He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword (Exodus 5:3)

a) Was this called for?

b) Was this an overstatement?

(IV) PHAROAH’S WORD TO MOSES AND AARON

1. He accuses Moses and Aaron of causing the people to take time out of their work (Exodus 5:4)

2. He demands that they return to their tasks (Exodus 5:4)

3. He emphasises that all of them should continue to work hard (Exodus 5:5)

(V) THE FIRST AUDIENCE WITH THE PHARAOH

1. Moses and Aaron did not succeed

2. Pharaoh reveals that he would not yield to any requests from the children of Israel