Exodus 5:1-23

We study the Bible for a purpose. The word BIBLE in the light of today’s study stands for Basic Instruction Before Leaving Egypt, showing the essential guidance required before moving from bondage into freedom for Moses and Israel. The children of Israel, under Moses, needed this instruction to understand what God required of them. Even Pharaoh and his chariots could have benefited from basic instruction as they pursued the Israelites. If the instructions Moses gave had been truly considered, the Egyptians would not have chased the children of Israel to the Red Sea. Their failure was due to neglecting the basic instructions before leaving Egypt. The Egyptians drowned and perished, entering a lost eternity. The children of Israel were being instructed carefully, as Moses began teaching them in chapter 4, which has already been studied. Now in chapter 5, Moses continued to give them fundamental guidance, preparing them for their departure from Egypt. And then in chapter 12, the Lord gave them something very serious: the foundation, the core, and the very essence of the instruction they needed, how to kill the lamb, apply the blood, and remain in their houses so that the angel of death would not strike them. They succeeded because they listened carefully and obeyed the Basic Instructions Before Leaving Egypt.

 

 

For those of us here today, we are not in Egypt; we are on earth. The Lord, through the study of His Word, gives us Basic Instruction Before Leaving this Earth, before we die, before we depart to the great beyond. This instruction is essential because it is the Blessed Information, Bringing Life Eternal. If salvation and eternal life are to be ours, we must receive this blessed instruction, for it is what secures life eternal. This is why consistent attendance at the bible study matters. Those who have always come are blessed, and those who have just started must continue, because the teaching provides the basic instruction necessary before leaving earth. For those looking forward to the rapture, when God will take His children from this world to heaven, this instruction is vital. As it is written, “And so shall we ever be with the Lord”. We need this foundational instruction to be prepared and to make it to the rapture. The focus remains on continuing with this basic, essential instruction. “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. And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. And they said, The God of the

Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the Lord our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword” (Exodus 5:1-3). Here, Moses obeyed the Lord. He was met by Aaron, and together they spoke to the children of Israel, demonstrating the signs, wonders, and miracles that God had commanded. The children of Israel rejoiced greatly because God had remembered them, remembered Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and remembered His covenant, sending deliverance to them. Moses faithfully instructed the people, declaring that the God of mercy, power, and miracles had appeared, and the people believed. Then Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, declaring the message of the Lord: “Let my people go”. Pharaoh responded with disbelief and defiance: “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the

Lord, neither will I let Israel go”. The conflict began, a contest between the power of the Almighty and the arrogance of man. This study shows that God, the Maker and Creator, will always triumph. He won for Israel, and He will win for you. Stand on the side of the Lord and do not fear the opposition, whether from Pharaoh of old or the antichrist yet to come. In the end, God’s victory is certain, for He will prevail over all who oppose Him. Stand on the Lord’s side without fear of any earthly ruler, remembering that even the coming man of sin will exalt himself as God and seek to compel the world to worship him, yet the final victory belongs to the Lord.

1. THE APPOINTED MINISTER BY THE ALMIGHTY

Exodus 5:1,3; 3:13-15.

 

The Mandate for Moses from The Lord – Exodus 3:9-10; Psalms 103:6-7; Isaiah 63:11-12; Hosea 12:13. “Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:9–10). We must always remember that the mandate must not be overshadowed by circumstances or distractions. Even if the rod turns into a serpent, that is not the final ministry or ultimate mandate. The primary responsibility is to ensure that the children of Israel are brought out of the land of Egypt. Whether it involves providing water from the rock, bringing manna from heaven, or knowing all the names and titles of God: Jehovah, Almighty, the One before whom all must bow, these are secondary. No matter what theology is taught or what revelation is received, the ultimate task remains: bring them out. This is the mandate that remains for us today. “The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.” (Psalm 103:6– 7). Here is why God called Moses. When he goes to Pharaoh, he must deliver God’s message clearly and remain steadfast in it until the people are brought out.

 

The mission is to lead them out of the furnace of affliction. “Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?” (Isaiah 63:11). And Moses needed to keep in mind, in his prayers, in his ministry, in his preaching, and in all he did with Pharaoh, the Egyptians, and the magicians. He had to recognise that God is the shepherd of His flock and the one who put His Holy Spirit within him. Nothing was done by Moses’ own strength. Likewise, no one can bring sinners out of the world, unto God, and establish them in the kingdom by human strength alone. God gave the Holy Spirit. Salvation comes with the Spirit bearing witness with our hearts that we are children of God. The Holy Spirit sanctifies, establishes holiness in the spirit, and empowers through baptism in the Holy Ghost. The Spirit overflows, encourages, counsels, and equips, enabling believers to fulfil the assignments God has given them. “He led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name” (Isaiah 63:12). “And by a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved” (Hosea 12:13). God’s servants are called not only to lead people out of sin, corruption, and bondage but also to preserve them from returning to the old life, since true ministry continues beyond conversion into lifelong guidance, discipleship, and preservation.

 

The Ministry of Moses Throughout His Life – Exodus 3:17; 6:13,26-27; John 15:19; 2 Corinthians 6:15-18. If the Lord has called you, the call is for a lifetime of ministry. When His Spirit is placed within you, and a mandate is given to lead people out of the world, out of sin, and out of evil into the kingdom of God, this is not a oneyear assignment, nor a matter of decades; it is a calling that lasts throughout life. “And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.” (Exodus 3:17). It is not enough to preach and see sinners delivered from sin; they must come to Christ, the source of eternal life, everlasting life, abundant life, victorious life, and conquering life for all who are brought out. The ministry continues, and salvation is available. Discipleship follows, guiding people as they walk with the Lord, teaching them their rights and the fullness of the abundance to “And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt” (Exodus 6:13). A charge was given by God unto Moses and Aaron to bring them out. Believers are similarly charged to preach the word in season and out of season. “These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the Lord said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies” (Exodus 6:26). Aaron and Moses were not sent to the children of Israel to entertain them. The people had been under oppression; they were weary, tired, in despair, and discouraged. The task was not to amuse or comfort them, but to speak to them and preach to them. They were to stir the hearts of the people to desire deliverance from Egypt, to go serve the Lord, and to prepare a feast unto the Lord.

 

God’s ministers are not sent to entertain people in their oppression but to proclaim deliverance from sin, call them out of bondage, lead them to serve the Lord, and continue faithfully in the work of evangelism, instruction, correction, and encouragement so that those brought out of sin remain steadfast, grow in holiness, and fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. Those called to serve as pastors, preachers, and teachers are appointed to build up the body of Christ, to perfect the saints, and to prepare believers for the work of the ministry. The ministry is not for entertainment or for lifting up any human leader, but for leading people out of sin and out of the world. “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” (John 15:19). Christ’s mission was to bring sinners out of the corruption, practices, and sins of the world into a transformed life in Himself. The same divine purpose given in the past, to bring people out, remains the heart of true ministry today. Any preaching, teaching, or program that does not lead people away from sin and separation from the world fails to fulfil the call of God upon our lives. The messages by the evangelists, preachers, or soulwinners must stress separation from sin and obedience to God. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” (2 Corinthians 6:17). The promise that follows is for those who truly repent and turn from sin with a changed life. “And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:18). Genuine salvation produces a clear break from former sinful habits, worldly ways, and ungodly practices, showing the reality of a new life.

 

The Message of Ministers for The Lost – Exodus 5:1,3; John 11:44; Luke 7:4750; John 17:17-18. “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” (Luke 7:47). The Lord Jesus Christ was in the house because He was invited there for supper. A woman knew that Jesus was present, and she came, deeply convicted of her sins, and she wept. She did not come smiling, laughing, or joking. She came to the awareness of her wrongdoing. When she saw Jesus, she saw His holiness, His heavenly nature, and the stark contrast to her own sinful, broken life. This realisation broke her heart, and she wept, wiping her tears upon the feet of Jesus. Because of her sorrow for sin and the recognition of the life she had lived, Jesus said, “Thy sins which are many are forgiven thee”. Deep conviction of sin leads to sorrow, humility, turning to the Lord, and forgiveness follows. “And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” (Luke 7:50).

 

 

Christ came to seek and to save the lost and to call sinners out of sin into God’s kingdom. This same mission is entrusted to His servants. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” (John 17:17-18). Jesus came to save sinners, and this remains the unchanging task of His ministers. As the Father has sent Christ into the world, even so believers are sent into the world on the same mission of rescue and separation from sin. “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” The purpose of this sending is to bring sinners out of sin, out of drunkenness, out of worldliness, out of idolatry, and out of the works of the flesh. It is not enough to claim to preach; the goal of the gospel is deliverance from sin and a clear separation unto God. “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” (John 20:21)

 

2. THE ARROGANT MAN FOR AFFLICTION

Exodus 5:2,14-18; Isaiah 48:10-11.

Affliction and oppression upon God’s people do not originate from God’s pleasure but from the cruelty of spiritual and earthly oppressors. When people choose bondage and prefer tyranny to deliverance, deception is at work. The will of God is freedom from oppression, not bondage under it. Pharaoh represents the arrogant oppressor who resists divine authority and hardens his heart against God’s command. “And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.” (Exodus 5:2). “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” (Isaiah 48:10). Afflictions come because Satan opposes righteousness and because oppressors act in rebellion, not because God delights in suffering. If oppression were God’s will, He would not judge the oppressor. Calamity carried out by wicked hands is the work of rebellion against God, not obedience to Him. The Lord will always defend His glory and refuse to share it with any proud ruler or stubborn heart. “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.” (Isaiah 48:11). A contest unfolds between the Almighty God and the arrogant man, the proud monarch who believed he could claim a share of God’s glory. God declares, “This is the way”, but Pharaoh insists, “No, that’s not the way. My own way will prevail”.

 

The Scornfulness of a Haughty Prince – Exodus 5:2,4-9; Daniel 3:15-17; Isaiah 36:20; 29:20-21. When the Word of God comes to a sinner, it calls for repentance and turning away from iniquity, warning that failure to do so will bring ruin. People often question the authority behind the message, asking, “Who is the Lord?” This mirrors Pharaoh’s response when God commanded him to release Israel, and he stated: “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go”.

 

When God commands to turn from every form of evil and warns of judgment, there is a tendency to doubt or resist, questioning the messenger rather than God Himself. Even when someone is in bondage, oppression, or suffering, and the Word declares, “Repent, and turn from that oppression”, the heart may resist, asking about the messenger instead of acknowledging God’s authority. Jesus made it clear when He sent out His disciples: “Whosoever receiveth you receiveth me; and whosoever receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth you not, receiveth me not, neither him that sent me”. Rejecting the messenger is, in truth, rejecting God. This is exactly what Pharaoh did, and many others, like Nebuchadnezzar, followed the same pattern of defiance against God’s Word. “Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” (Daniel 3:15). Such words from Nebuchadnezzar reveal the pressure to deny the Maker of heaven and earth and to bow to human power. Yet faithful hearts who truly know God refuse compromise, choose obedience to the Almighty, endure the furnace of affliction, and experience divine deliverance, for the Lord can bring His people out.

 

• Their Subjection Under Hard Pressure – Exodus 5:10-18; 1:13-14; Psalms 30:45; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. God sends His message of deliverance through Moses and Aaron, yet opposition rises when bondage is challenged. “And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw. Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.” (Exodus 5:10–11). Increased hardship follows the announcement of freedom, revealing how resistance intensifies when God’s purpose is declared. We must realise the change that comes with new life in Christ. Former practices that once seemed normal must be abandoned because Jesus Christ is both Saviour and Lord. His lordship brings direction, control, and a new way of living. Refusal to return to sinful or idolatrous ways may bring rebuke, persecution, or suffering from those who do not understand the transformation.

 

 

You must stand firm in obedience despite family pressure, cultural expectations, or threats, because genuine conversion produces a new creature, old ways pass away, and all things become new. Remain steadfast through affliction, for the Lord who sees faithfulness will contend for His own and grant victory. No matter the persecution, misunderstanding, family pressure, or social rejection that comes because of a changed life in Christ, we must continue steadfastly without giving up. “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). The feelings of pain, confusion, oppression, and affliction that seem to strike hard are all temporary. Focus on the unseen, for those things are eternal.

 

• The Stubbornness of The Hateful Before Perishing – Exodus 5:2; 8:28-32; Proverbs 29:1; Daniel 4:37. Pharaoh thought he had the final authority. He believed he had the ultimate control over his life and the lives of others. His wrong thoughts made him stubborn. Stubborn people are often ignorant. Pharaoh did not understand what was going to happen, the plagues, the frogs that would fill every house, the swarms of flies that would cover the land, or how all the water would turn to blood. He knew nothing about how hail would fall like heavy bags of cement and destroy everything, or how darkness would cover the land, bringing suffering because of his hardheartedness. Everyone in Egypt suffered because of his strong mind, stony heart, and stubbornness, all rooted in ignorance.

 

 

Stubbornness often comes from not knowing that God is watching, that God punishes evil and sin, and that consequences will follow wrongdoing. God allows people to act freely, but ignorance makes them resist correction and remain stubborn. Stubbornness often grows from ignorance of God’s power, His watchful eye, and His righteous judgment against sin. “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (Proverbs 29:1). This is what happened to Pharaoh when Moses came repeatedly, saying, “Let my people go, that they may serve the Lord”? God created people for Himself, that they might serve Him. He did not create them to be slaves for men to exploit or build for human purposes. Yet the man hardened his heart, stiffened his neck, and in the end, he perished. “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase” (Daniel 4:37). Pride is not merely an outward display but an inward refusal to obey God’s clear instruction. We must reject the attitude that refuses truth because of resentment towards the messenger presenting the word or personal preference for people. You must turn instead in repentance from stubbornness, stiff-necked resistance, and hardness of heart. “They that walk in pride he is able to abase”.

 

3. THE AGGRIEVED MOSES IN ANGUISH.

Exodus 5:19-23; Psalms 119:143.

“And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not diminish ought from your bricks of your daily task. And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us. And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?” (Exodus 5:19-22). Moses was deeply grieved over the suffering of the children of Israel, and the children of Israel themselves were in anguish of spirit because of their circumstances. Anguish can also trouble a faithful servant, yet questioning in pain does not cancel God’s sovereignty.

 

• Anguished And Fearful Men Accused Their Leader – Exodus 5:19-21; 6:9-11; Psalms 119:143-144; 119:60-63. “And they said unto them, The Lord look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us”. Because of anguish, oppression, and affliction that came upon them more than ever before, they began to accuse their leader. It is important to examine the whole situation and consider Pharaoh’s character. Moses did not cause the affliction of the children of Israel in chapter one, as he was not even born at that time. When the Pharaoh of that generation commanded the baby boys to be thrown into the river, Moses was not responsible for that either. Pharaoh acted according to his own nature. Do not accuse the wrong person. Even in times of great anguish, it is possible to maintain a clear and better outlook. Choose a better response in seasons of trouble by delighting in God’s Word, since consider how distress can lead to misplaced blame, as seen when suffering people wrongly accused their leader, even though oppression came from a cruel ruler. “Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights. The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live” (Psalm 119:143–144). Maintain steadfast obedience regardless of opposition. “I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts” (Psalm 119:60–63). We are to keep focus on God rather than the oppressors and remain faithful in all circumstances.

 

• Aggrieved And Forgetful, Moses Asked the Lord (Why?) – Exodus 5:22-23; 3:1920; 1 Samuel 6:6; Job 9:4. When questions arise that should not be asked of the Lord, such as, “Why did you send me?” or “Why did you tell me to speak to Pharaoh?” or “Why did I come to the children of Israel to deliver this message?” it shows a forgetting of a crucial truth: God’s purposes are higher than our understanding, and His instructions demand obedience without questioning. Remember who God is. He is sovereign and may send a person on a mission without revealing every detail in advance. He gave His only begotten Son to suffer and die on the cross for the salvation of the world.

 

If such suffering by Christ was permitted for our redemption, there is no ground to challenge His wisdom over any assignments coming from Him to us. Moses was forgetful of what the Lord had told him earlier, which was why he was aggrieved. Forgetfulness of God’s nature and His prior words leads to restless questioning. “And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.” (Exodus 3:19). Moses forgot that when God called him, He had already said the ministry would not be a bed of roses. Those sent by the Lord, preachers, pastors, and evangelists, must expect challenges. Christ said He sends His servants as sheep and lambs among wolves, and persecution is to be expected. Some will think they serve God while opposing His messengers. The Lord made it clear that affliction, rejection, and pressure would come, and forgetting this produces unnecessary discouragement and repeated cries of “Why?” God made it clear that there will be persecution and affliction. Those who have accepted His Word may accept the servant’s message; those who reject Him may reject the messenger. If harm is done to the green tree, much more will be done to the dry. Forgetting this truth leads to confusion and cries of, “Oh Lord, why?” “And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand. And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go. And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians.” (Exodus 3:1921).

 

Challenges are part of the mission; affliction and persecution are not signs of failure but of obedience to God’s call. The work of God is not promised to be easy or free from resistance. Those sent by the Lord must not assume they will always be welcomed simply because their message concerns salvation and preparation for eternity. We have been sent as sheep into the midst of wolves. “Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?” (1 Samuel 6:6). Deliverance followed mighty acts of God, not before them. Therefore, do not forget what God has spoken when facing difficulty in ministry. Enter each place of assignment with peace, yet understand that not all will receive the message of the gospel. Where peace is rejected, depart without bitterness, bearing witness that the kingdom of God has been proclaimed. “He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?” (Job 9:4). No man or woman in any generation succeeds by resisting God. Pharaoh did not prosper, the Egyptians did not prosper, Herod did not prosper, and no ruler or people who set themselves against the Lord have ever prevailed.

 

• Abiding And Faithful, Our Maker Is LORD (of all) – Exodus 6:1; Numbers 23:23; 2 Chronicles 20:17,20; 2 Timothy 2:13. “Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land” (Exodus 6:1). The Lord remains in control in every situation, even in times of grief, anguish, or confusion. His power overrides opposition, and His purpose stands firm. Israel went out of Egypt by His mighty hand, regardless of Pharaoh, the magicians, or the unbelievers. In the same way, God’s redemptive plan will be fulfilled. The church will be taken out of this world, the rapture will occur, the dead in Christ will rise, and the living saints will be caught up together with them, and they shall ever be with the Lord.

Those for whom Christ died will come out of sin and out of the world. No companion in sin, no influence, and no bondage can permanently hold back those who respond to divine conviction. Light will reach those in ignorance, and they will turn away from the works of the flesh and receive salvation. The birth of Jesus in the world is not in vain, His death on the cross will not be in vain, and His consecration to save humanity will not be in vain. Satan cannot hold down anyone who truly desires to serve the Lord. Family pressures, village ties, tribal customs, or traditional religion cannot prevail against God’s saving power. “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. No tyrant, no worldly power, and no spiritual opposition has the final authority over a life surrendered to God. The call remains to come out, to separate from bondage, and to allow the Lord to rule completely over your life.