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Daily Devotions

Exodus

Exodus 
Day 
Day 41

"But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand." Exodus 3:19

Text: Exodus 5 : 1-3

AN AUDIENCE WITH THE PHARAOH

Armed with renewed faith and courage, Moses and Aaron gained an audience with the Pharaoh and presented a message as from the Lord.

“Thus says the Lord God of Israel:
‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me
in the wilderness.'”
EXODUS 5:1

The presentation was kept simple and straightforward! God wanted the Pharaoh to release the children of Israel!

THE REFUSAL OF THE PHARAOH

Pharaoh, as expected, spoke most haughtily to Moses and Aaron.

“Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice
to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord,
nor will I let Israel go.”
EXODUS 5:2

‘Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice?”

Pharaoh was asking a rhetorical question. He knew the answer that he would give himself!

‘I do not know the Lord…”

As far as Pharaoh was concerned, the only one he acknowledged as “lord” was an Egyptian deity. He did not recognize the God of the children of Israel at all! He was not declaring ignorance when he said, ‘I do not know the Lord.’

“Nor will I let Israel go.”

Did Moses and Aaron speak candidly? So would the Pharaoh speak as bluntly. He would not let Israel go from the land of Egypt!

A BOLD ATTEMPT TO SPEAK OF THE LORD

Moses and Aaron did not expect the Pharaoh to accede to their request when it was made the first time round. Seizing the opportunity, they bore testimony of their faith in God.

“The God of the Hebrews has met with us.
Please, let us go three days’ journey into the desert
and sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest He fall upon us
with pestilence or with the sword.”
EXODUS 5:3

The “fear of the Lord” was the concept that Moses and Aaron tried to communicate to Pharaoh! He was a God to be feared and obeyed!