LESSON 5
MOSES AND AARON BEFORE PHARAOH
Exodus 5:1-23
—by E. L. Bynum
Memory Verse: v. 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 unto me in the wilderness.”
Introduction:
Later on we shall find that Israel was redeemed by the blood of the Passover lamb. This was a TYPE of our SALVATION by the BLOOD OF CHRIST.
They were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the Red Sea (1 Corinthians 10:2, “And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;”) a TYPE of our BAPTISM after salvation. “The immersion was complete for all of them in the sea around them and the cloud over them. Moses was their leader then as Christ is now and so Paul uses [the Greek word] “eis” concerning the relation of the Israelites to Moses as he does of our baptism in relation to Christ. A. T. Robertson’s Word Pictures. Galatians 3:27, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Therefore, BEFORE the Passover lamb was slain, and BEFORE they were delivered from Egypt, they are a TYPE of the SINNER today, BEFORE his salvation.
Many of the experiences here in Egypt PARALLEL the experiences of sinners BEFORE their salvation. We need to remember that Egypt is a type of the world, and that Pharaoh is a type of Satan.
I. PHARAOH REPUDIATES MOSES' REQUEST. vv. 1-9
A. The Unbelieving King Defies God, vv. 1-5.
1. God's will for His people stated, v. 1.
a. "Let my people go" was God's demand of Pharaoh, v. 1;
b. This took courage and faith on the part of Moses and Aaron, Matthew 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
c. God made DEMANDS of Pharaoh seven times. They are stated in 5:1; 7:16; 8:1; 8:20; 9:1; 9:13; and 10:3.
2. Pharaoh's ignorance and disobedience, v. 2; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8, “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
a. He did not know or obey the LORD (Jehovah), Exodus 3:19, “And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.”
Note: If Pharaoh could have heard the following words, and believed them, his decision would have been entirely different. "All the kings of the earth, before God, are as grasshoppers; they are nothing, and less than nothing: both their love and their hatred is to be despised. The wrath of the great King of kings, is as much more terrible than theirs, as his majesty is greater." From Jonathan Edwards sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.
b. He was determined NOT to let Israel go.
Note: Pharaoh said, “I will not let them go,” and this put him in direct opposition to the will of God. In effect, he declared war on the LORD. If he had let them go, he would have been acknowledging a deity greater than himself.
c. He is a TYPE OF SATAN, who NEVER GIVES UP any of his people without a struggle.
d. God now COMMANDS SINNERS TO…
1) Repent, Acts 17:30, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.”
2) Believe, Acts 16:31, “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
3. God's will for Israel spoken, v. 3.
a. They were to go into the wilderness and sacrifice to God.
1) A sacrifice is the ONLY BASIS on which God meets with sinners:
i. The life of the flesh is in the blood, Leviticus 17:11, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
ii. Almost all things are by the law purged with blood, Hebrews 9:22, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”
2) It is STILL the ONLY WAY to God:
i. Redemption is through the blood of Christ, Colossians 1:14, 20, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”
ii. Jesus washed us from our sins in his own blood, Revelation 1:5, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.”
b. If they did not obey, judgment would follow upon them, v. 3; 2 Chronicles 30:8, “Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.”
c. We should carefully note that God had a PURPOSE in ONLY requesting a THREE-DAY journey and a sacrifice.
Note: We know that God intended to take them out of Egypt for good and and bring them to the place for building the Tabernacle. God knew Pharaoh would not even allow this reasonable three day journey. God will do battle with Egypt upon the terms and conditions that He sets.
4. Pharaoh's insulting remarks, vv. 4-5;
a. Pharaoh viewed the Israelites as a commodity (slaves), v. 4.
b. He saw the value their services, v. 5.
B. The Unjust King Determines to Punish God's People, vv. 6-9.
1. He commands that Israel gather their own straw, vv. 6-7.
a. Their taskmaster were Egyptians, Exodus 1:11, “Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.”
b. Their officers were Hebrews, v. 14, “And the officers 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?”
2. The number of brick required is not to be diminished, v. 8.
3. He calls God's words, “VAIN WORDS,” v. 9; Malachi 3:14, “Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?”
Note: God deals with sinners in mercy, but this is still the way sinful man responds to God's word.
II. PHARAOH RETALIATES AGAINST THE HEBREWS. vv. 10-14
A. The Cruel Demands Made, vv. 10-12.
1. Straw no longer to be furnished, v. 10.
2. They were to find and gather straw, v. 11.
3. They scattered to the fields to gather stubble, v. 12.
B. The Cruel Beatings Given, vv. 13-14.
1. They were beaten for failing the impossible.
2. This is Satan's way. When God is dealing with a sinner, the devil steps in to hinder God's work, Luke 9:42, “And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.”
III. THE RENUNCIATION OF MOSES' LEADERSHIP BY THE HEBREWS vv. 15-23
A. The Hebrews Seek Relief From Pharaoh, vv. 15-18.
1. The Israelite leaders appeal to Pharaoh, v. 15.
Note: Instead of crying unto the Lord, they cry unto Pharaoh. Instead of calling themselves the servants of God, they claim to be Pharaoh's servants. This is ever the way of the flesh.
2. They blame Pharaoh's servants, instead of him, v. 16.
3. They found no help or comfort in Pharaoh, vv. 17-18.
a. Turning to Satan and the world never brings true relief.
b. The sinner will not be helped by turning to sinful man for help. Luke 15:15-16, “And he [the prodigal son] went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.”
c. Only the Lord can help, Isaiah 55:6, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.”
B. The Hebrews Seek to Renounce Moses, vv. 19-21.
1. The officers see their PREDICAMENT, v. 19.
2. They THREATEN Moses and Aaron with God's judgment, vv.20-21.
3. They are blamed FOR ALL of their problems, v. 21.
4. This is OFTEN the RESULT OF FAITHFULLY PREACHING the word.
Note: The very ones you seek to deliver, being FRUSTRATED by the CONVICTION of God and the OPPOSITION of Satan, may well TURN UPON THE DELIVERER. Every God called preacher experiences this.
C. Moses SEEKS the FACE of God, vv. 22-23.
1. Moses EXPECTED opposition from Pharaoh, BUT NOT from the people.
2. He DID RIGHT in turning to God, but his words were irreverent. How merciful God is, to tolerate such words.
Consider these helpful words from Arthur W. Pink. "We may add that what has been before us supplies a STRIKING PICTURE of that which awaits Israel in a coming day. The grievous afflictions which came upon the Hebrews in Egypt just before the Lord emancipated them from their hard and cruel bondage, did but foreshadow the awful experiences through which their descendants shall pass during the `time of Jacob's trouble,' just prior to the coming of the Deliverer to Zion. Pharaoh's conduct as described in our chapter, his defiance of Jehovah, his rejection of the testimony of God's two witnesses, his cruel treatment of the children of Israel, accurately typifies the course which will be followed by the Man of Sin. Thus may we discern once more how that these pages of Old Testament history are also PROPHETIC in their forecasting of coming events. May it please the Lord to open our eyes so that we may perceive both the application to ourselves and those who are to follow us."
—Outline by E. L. Bynum; Revision by Art Davison
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Israel, before their sprinkling of the Passover blood, was a type of who?
2. What did Pharaoh say in response to Moses' declaration of what God wanted done?
3. What did Moses request of Pharaoh at the first?
4. Why did he not tell Pharaoh what God's complete plan was?
5. What does Pharaoh say that Israel will now have to do, in addition to their regular job?
6. What does he call God's words?
7. What did Israel use for straw?
8. When the Hebrew workmen failed to do the impossible, what was done to their leaders?
9. To whom did the Israelite leaders go, to get relief from their burden
10. Who did the Israelite leaders end up denouncing?
11. To whom did Moses turn, in the midst of his distress?
12. What was wrong with the words that Moses spoke?
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