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| Exodus 5:1-2 |
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Lesson # Exodus 5:1-2 Study Material - Exodus 5:1-2 You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth. Ex. 5:1-2 1 And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.' 2 But Pharaoh said, 'Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go.' In Gen. 33:20 the term 'God of Israel' is used but it is in reference to the person of God, here there is a slight twist on the Hebrew, and this is in reference to the 'people' of Israel. Moses and Aaron appeared before Pharaoh. Now not just anyone can appear before Pharaoh. Just try to gain an audience with the president of your country. Unless you are a person of substantial means and influence, a head of state, a politician, an extremely wealthy type, a business tycoon, someone with a high office in a nation organization, or some such thing, your chances are slim to none to getting to appear before the Pharaoh. And so it was with Moses. Moses requested an audience. 'Afterward', this was granted. The means of granting is not mentioned, but someone recalled Moses, and probably in a favorable light. His indictment for murder never came up, and never will. That event was past and lost to history. The opportunity to meet Pharaoh, let alone have a conversation with him is in itself a miracle. Moses makes his request and is met with ridicule. 'Who is Jehovah? Is that someone whom I should know? Does he serve Pharaoh or Pharaoh's interests?' Pharaoh's remarks were trite and sarcastic. Of course he has heard of the God of the Hebrews. The Hebrew problem is one of the highest pieces of conversation in the inner political circles. They are building the cities and such things. But they are looked upon as a resource of labor, expendable labor, and nothing more. In Isa. 52:4 and following we learn that the enemies of the Jews, howl at their victories over the Jews. Here in effect Pharaoh is howling. Who is this shepherd, who now represents the spokesman for this labor force? He doesn't even speak for himself, but through another (Aaron). The elders of the Hebrews have been notoriously weak in the past. They are but slaves and as such have no rights. The fact that Pharaoh is even speaking to their representative should be reason enough for them to be grateful to Pharaoh. But there is more. Moses, through Aaron, states the request clearly, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, Let My people go...'. God states this. There is no other God but 'THE GOD' And this is the distinction of God verses the gods of Egypt. Moses is clear that 'THE' God, the one and only God, the God of Israel. The nation is stated here for the first time. This is not now a resource of slaves of Hebrew descent, but a nation. Not the God of the Hebrew people. Not the God of the Jews. But, the God of Israel with emphasis on Israel. Recall that earlier as Moses was in training he was told that God would tell him to tell Pharaoh that he was to release His first born son, Israel. This is the nation. And in so refusing that God would kill Pharaoh's first born son. This will be the last plague. The nation is introduced. Pharaoh responds with the same language. 'I will not let 'Israel' go'. Pharaoh caught the comment and returned it with rejection of God as well as the reference to the people as a nation. Who can command Pharaoh? In the next chapter God will reassure Moses that Pharaoh will not only release them but he will drive them out just to get rid of them. God has a plan, and that plan includes the most insignificant of details in everyone's life (things not seen by the public), as well as the grand public events that we all see in the news. When we are met with good news and good circumstances in our lives we are ecstatic. We ride on a cloud. But in contrast when our lives are hit with difficulties, we should have that same degree of faith and happiness. We might pray a little harder and faster, but our faith should be strong enough to not slip into self pity and complaint. He Israelites have just been given a new name. Remember that in Revelation we learned that we would all receive a new name in heaven. Here they received a new classification. They were now a nation. The reality of the nation was not yet, but the statement is such that it is a certainty. When God makes this statement, then it will be so, and no one, not even Pharaoh can change it. 'Who is this Jehovah.' Negative people reject truth, even when it strikes them in the face. This is typical of alcoholics, of drug abusers, smokers and such. These people make good examples of ones that refuse to see the truth and dangers of their habit. But it is also true of normal people who are simply negative toward God. That is an even greater danger. Drugs and such can make you life miserable here on earth, but rejecting God and a daily study of His Word, will with certainty really mess up your present life as well as your eternal life. Negative people state the same thing that Pharaoh states. 'What is life in eternity? What is there to know of it?' The same attitude will end up driving them into a deep pit of misery. Who is to blame? Do we blame the communicator of our spiritual study? Zipporah blamed Moses and she held on to her resentment, which only resulted in her own demise in life. Was Moses harmed by her resentment? No. Negative people would like to see others injured. The terrorists in Afghanistan want nothing but harm to come to everyone they hate. They are sick people. But like the rats that they are, when the water begins to rise they abandon ship leaving even their own kind to sink. I just heard on the news that those eight foreigners, who were arrested for preaching Christianity, have just been rescued. When things begin to go right, those who are supported by God cannot be harmed. Those who hate God or life in general cannot avoid harm. The guilty over there will get their due. It will be interesting to see just what end God has awaiting them. As for each on of us. We are not to imitate evil people. That is, do not follow their pattern of self pity, or hate against others you blame, etc. But grit your pride and tough it out in your Bible study. Too much is at stake for any of us to lose our life over bad feelings about our life or others. 
Now is the time to post a prayer. End Of Lesson Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth. |
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