Exodus 5: “When Obedience Makes Things Worse”
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.’” (Ex 5:1)
This is the first direct confrontation between the word of God and worldly power.
Moses does not negotiate on his own authority — he speaks “Thus says the LORD.”
Key point
The demand is not political freedom but worship.
Israel is enslaved because Pharaoh claims ownership of what belongs to God.
St Augustine explains:
“God does not ask release for rest, but for sacrifice; for true freedom is found in worship.”
(City of God X.6)
The request for a feast (ḥag) anticipates the Passover and ultimately the Eucharist.
2. Pharaoh’s First Response: Denial of God
“Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice and let Israel go?’” (v. 2)
This is the core sin of Pharaoh: practical atheism.
He does not deny that gods exist; he denies this God’s authority over him.
St Gregory of Nyssa:
“Pharaoh’s question is the voice of pride: ‘Who is God that He should rule me?’”
(Life of Moses, II.25)
Pharaoh’s statement is the opposite of faith.
Faith says, “Who am I, that God should choose me?”
Pride says, “Who is God, that He should command me?”
3. “I Do Not Know the LORD, and Moreover I Will Not Let Israel Go”
Pharaoh’s “not knowing” is moral refusal, not ignorance.
To “know the LORD” in Scripture means to acknowledge His sovereignty.
This foreshadows John 19:15: “We have no king but Caesar.”
4. Moses and Aaron Repeat the Request
“The God of the Hebrews has met with us; let us go three days’ journey… lest He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” (v. 3)
They speak gently, appealing even to Pharaoh’s self-interest.
God does not begin with force; He begins with mercy.
St Ambrose:
“God warns before He strikes; He asks before He commands.”
(On the Duties of the Clergy I.24)
5. Pharaoh Accuses Them of Disruption
“Why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.” (v. 4)
Pharaoh reframes liberation as laziness.
This is a classic tactic of oppression: to call freedom irresponsibility.
St John Chrysostom:
“Tyranny always calls obedience to God idleness.”
(Homilies on Exodus, frag.)
6. “Behold, the People of the Land Are Now Many”
“And you make them rest from their burdens!” (v. 5)
Irony: Pharaoh admits Israel’s strength while resenting it.
The word “rest” (shabath) is linked to Sabbath — Pharaoh instinctively hates what belongs to God.
7. Pharaoh’s Counterattack: Increased Oppression
“You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks… let them go and gather straw for themselves.” (vv. 7–8)
This is calculated cruelty.
Straw was essential to brick-making.
Pharaoh removes help while increasing expectations — a picture of sin’s tyranny.
St Augustine:
“The devil never lightens the burden of those he enslaves; he increases labour while mocking the weary.”
(Enarrations on the Psalms 95)
8. “For They Are Idle; Therefore They Cry, ‘Let Us Go and Offer Sacrifice’”
Pharaoh interprets worship as escapism.
This reveals the worldly mindset: prayer is seen as avoidance rather than truth.
Spiritually, this shows how the world resists any call to holiness.
9. “Let Heavier Work Be Laid upon the Men”
“That they may labour at it and pay no regard to lying words.” (v. 9)
God’s word is dismissed as lies.
This is the world’s judgment on revelation.
St Gregory the Great:
“What God speaks truth, pride calls falsehood.”
(Moralia in Job XXIII)
10. The Taskmasters Enforce the New Command
“The taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and said to the people…” (v. 10)
Note the hierarchy: Pharaoh → taskmasters (Egyptians) → foremen (Hebrews).
Oppression often forces the oppressed to police one another.
This internal division weakens resistance — a common tactic of tyranny.
11. “You Shall No Longer Be Given Straw”
“Yet your work shall not be reduced in the least.” (v. 11)
This is unjust law: impossible demands without resources.
The Fathers saw here the law of sin — command without grace.
St Augustine contrasts this with the Gospel:
“The Law commands and does not help; grace helps and commands.”
(On the Spirit and the Letter 19)
12. “So the People Were Scattered Throughout All the Land of Egypt”
“To gather stubble for straw.” (v. 12)
The people are exhausted and dispersed — no time to think, pray, or hope.
Sin isolates; grace gathers.
St Bede:
“Egypt scatters the people; God gathers them.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.48)
13. “The Taskmasters Were Urgent”
“Complete your work, your daily task each day, as when there was straw.” (v. 13)
Urgency without mercy.
This is the voice of the world: productivity without compassion.
14. “The Foremen Were Beaten”
“Why have you not made your full number of bricks?” (v. 14)
The innocent suffer for impossible standards.
Here we see collective punishment — injustice multiplied.
St John Chrysostom:
“The blows of tyranny fall first on those nearest the burden.”
(Homilies on Exodus, frag.)
15. The Foremen Appeal to Pharaoh
“Why do you deal thus with your servants?” (v. 15)
They appeal to human reason and fairness — but tyranny does not reason.
16. Pharaoh’s Contemptuous Reply
“You are idle, idle; therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice.’” (v. 17)
Pharaoh repeats the lie until it sounds true.
This is how oppression reshapes narrative.
17. “Go Now and Work”
“No straw shall be given you, yet you must deliver the same number of bricks.” (v. 18)
Absolute hardness.
Pharaoh’s heart is already revealed.
St Augustine:
“Pride doubles down when confronted with justice.”
(City of God XIV.13)
18. “The Foremen Saw That They Were in Trouble”
“When they were told, ‘You shall by no means reduce your number of bricks.’” (v. 19)
The Hebrew phrase implies despair — the situation is hopeless by human standards.
This prepares for divine intervention.
19. The People Turn Against Moses and Aaron
“May the LORD look upon you and judge!” (v. 21)
This is one of the most painful moments in Moses’ life.
The deliverer is blamed for suffering.
St Gregory of Nyssa:
“The first reward of obedience is misunderstanding.”
(Life of Moses, II.26)
This prefigures Christ: “He came to His own, and His own received Him not.” (Jn 1:11)
20. Moses Turns to God
“Then Moses turned again to the LORD and said…” (v. 22)
This is the crucial movement of faith.
Moses does not abandon God; he brings his confusion to God.
True prayer includes complaint.
St Augustine:
“To question God in faith is not rebellion but intimacy.”
(Sermon 113)
21. Moses’ Honest Lament
“O Lord, why have You done evil to this people? Why did You ever send me?” (v. 22)
This is lament, not unbelief.
Scripture permits such speech because God desires truth of heart.
22. “For Since I Came to Pharaoh… He Has Done Evil”
“And You have not delivered Your people at all.” (v. 23)
Moses measures deliverance by immediate relief.
God measures by covenant faithfulness.
The apparent failure is actually the necessary prelude to decisive action.
23. Theological Summary
| Theme | Meaning |
| First confrontation | God’s word meets worldly power |
| Pharaoh’s hardness | Pride refuses divine authority |
| Increased oppression | Sin worsens before it breaks |
| Rejection of Moses | True deliverers are misunderstood |
| Moses’ lament | Faith dares to speak honestly |
| Apparent failure | Prelude to greater redemption |
24. Patristic Insight: Why Does God Allow This?
St Augustine answers clearly:
“God allowed Pharaoh to increase oppression so that no one would doubt that deliverance came from Him alone.”
(Questions on Exodus II.14)
Redemption must be unmistakably divine.
25. Christological Reading
| Exodus 5 | Fulfilment in Christ |
| Moses rejected | Christ rejected |
| Burdens increased | Cross imposed |
| God mocked | Christ mocked |
| People despair | Disciples scatter |
| Lament to God | Christ’s agony |
26. Moral and Spiritual Application
Obedience may worsen circumstances before healing begins.
Do not judge God’s faithfulness by immediate results.
Bring confusion to prayer, not away from it.
Expect resistance when truth confronts power.
Trust that God is working when hope seems lost.
27. Closing Prayer
Lord God of deliverance,
when obedience leads us into suffering
and faith seems to fail,
teach us to trust Your hidden work.
Strengthen those who are blamed for truth,
comfort those crushed by unjust burdens,
and prepare our hearts for the freedom
that comes only by Your mighty hand.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 