Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Exodus 5
Exodus 5:2But 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.”
Pharaoh's arrogant dismissal of God establishes the central conflict of the Exodus story: the God of slaves versus the god-king of Egypt.Exodus 5:17-18But he said, “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.”
Pharaoh not only denies the Israelites' request but cruelly increases their workload, revealing the depth of his oppressive and hard-hearted nature.Exodus 5:22-23Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, "O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? 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.”
Moses' raw and honest complaint to God shows that faith can coexist with doubt and frustration, modeling a relationship with God that is not afraid of difficult questions.
Historical & Cultural Context
The First Confrontation: A Message from an Unknown God
Fresh from his encounter with God at the burning bush in Exodus 3 and having successfully convinced the Israelite elders of his divine mission in Exodus 4, Moses is ready. Alongside his brother Aaron, he steps into the heart of Egyptian power to deliver a message from a God the king does not know. This is the moment of truth, the first test of God's promise against the seemingly absolute authority of Pharaoh.
The Fallout: From Bad to Worse
The meeting backfires spectacularly. Rather than considering the request, Pharaoh punishes the entire nation, making their slave labor even more unbearable. This crushing response immediately turns the Israelite people against their would-be deliverers. The chapter ends not with a glimmer of hope, but with the people in deeper misery and Moses questioning whether God had sent him at all.
A Breakdown of Exodus 5
The chapter unfolds in a tense sequence of confrontation and consequence, taking place in the courts of Pharaoh and the mud pits of Egypt. It begins with a bold declaration from God's messengers, which is met with immediate and harsh resistance. This initial failure sets the stage for the escalating conflict that will define the entire Exodus narrative.
The Divine Demand and Royal Rejection (Exodus 5:1-5)
1 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 Then Pharaoh said, "Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!"
Commentary:
Moses delivers God's message, but Pharaoh scoffs at this unknown God and refuses the request.
Related Verse Analysis
Pharaoh's Cruel Retaliation (Exodus 5:6-14)
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 were making before 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?"
Commentary:
Pharaoh makes the Israelites' work harder by forcing them to gather their own straw for bricks.
A Hopeless Appeal (Exodus 5:15-19)
15 Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, "Why do you treat your servants like this?
16 There is no straw 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."
Commentary:
The Israelite foremen beg Pharaoh for mercy, but he accuses them of being lazy and refuses to help.
Blame, Despair, and a Cry to God (Exodus 5:20-23)
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.”
Commentary:
The Israelites blame Moses for their increased suffering, and Moses cries out to God in frustration and doubt.
Related Verse Analysis
Core Truths Revealed in the Conflict
The Clash of Kingdoms
This chapter frames the entire Exodus story as a battle between two claims to authority. Pharaoh, a man who believes he is a god, asks, 'Who is the Lord?' The rest of the narrative is God's thunderous answer, demonstrating that His power is absolute and the authority of earthly kings is temporary and limited.
The Reality of Following God
Exodus 5 shatters the illusion that obedience to God guarantees an easy life. Moses did exactly what God told him to do, and the result was increased suffering for his people and personal despair. This teaches that faith is often tested in the gap between God's promise and its fulfillment, requiring trust even when circumstances seem to contradict His plan.
God's Sovereignty in Suffering
Pharaoh's cruelty and the Israelites' pain are not outside of God's control. While it appears that evil is winning, God is using Pharaoh's hardened heart to set the stage for a far greater display of His power. The initial failure is a necessary part of a plan that will leave no doubt about who the true God is.
Bringing Exodus 5 into Today's World
Exodus 5 shows you that opposition is a normal part of the faith journey. When you take a stand for what is right, you may face backlash, as Moses did. This chapter encourages you to trust God's ultimate plan (Exodus 5:1) even when your immediate circumstances get worse, reminding you that a temporary setback is not a final defeat.
Moses' prayer gives you permission to be completely honest with God. He doesn't pretend everything is fine. He lays out his frustration, confusion, and pain. This teaches that a strong faith isn't about suppressing doubt, but about bringing your rawest questions and emotions directly to God, trusting that He is secure enough to handle them.
Pharaoh's question, 'Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice?', forces you to examine your own heart. It challenges you to consider if there are areas in your life where you, like Pharaoh, resist God's authority because it's inconvenient or costly. True submission means obeying His voice even when you don't understand or when it leads to difficulty.
The Necessary Pain Before the Promise
Exodus 5 reveals a difficult but essential truth: the road to redemption often passes through deeper suffering. God's opening move is met with defiant human power, resulting in pain for His people and doubt in their leader. The message is that God's plan is not fragile. It is not derailed by our pain or by the arrogance of earthly rulers. In fact, these very things become the dark canvas upon which He will paint the masterpiece of His deliverance.
What This Means for Us Today
This chapter serves as a powerful reality check that obedience does not always bring immediate relief. When Moses and Aaron followed God's instructions to the letter, things got worse, not better. Exodus 5 invites us to anchor our faith in God's ultimate promise, not in our immediate circumstances, and to hold on even when everything around us screams for us to let go.
- Where in your life does it feel like your obedience has only made things harder?
- How can you follow Moses' example and bring your honest frustrations to God instead of turning away in silence?
- Who do you know that is in a 'worse before it gets better' season and needs encouragement to trust in God's unseen plan?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Connections Across Scripture
Paul reflects on this very story, explaining that God sovereignly allowed Pharaoh's resistance to demonstrate His own power to the world.
Job's lament after his own suffering provides a powerful parallel to Moses' cry of despair, exploring the deep mystery of pain in the life of the faithful.
This passage encourages believers not to be surprised by fiery trials, framing suffering for one's faith as a reason for rejoicing, a perspective that sheds light on the Israelites' ordeal.
Historical and Cultural Context
Understanding the labor-intensive process of making mud bricks with straw helps clarify the cruelty of Pharaoh's command and the physical toll it took on the Israelites.
Recognizing that Pharaoh was considered a divine being in Egyptian culture explains the arrogance and shock behind his question, 'Who is the Lord?'
Discussion Questions
- Pharaoh dismisses the request to worship God as 'idleness.' In what ways does our modern culture sometimes view spiritual devotion or taking a stand for faith as unproductive or a waste of time?
- The Israelite foremen blamed Moses and Aaron when their suffering increased. When you face hardship after trying to do the right thing, what is your first reaction? Who or what are you tempted to blame?
- Moses took his complaint directly to God in verses 22-23. What does his raw, honest prayer teach us about how we can approach God when we feel let down or confused by His plan?
Glossary
figures
Pharaoh
The title for the king of Egypt, who was worshipped as a god and held absolute power.
Taskmasters
Egyptian officials who were in charge of overseeing the Israelite slave laborers.
Foremen
Israelites who were appointed as supervisors over their own people, making them accountable to the Egyptian taskmasters.