Moses First Confronts Pharaoh (MP 41)

“Let my people go, that they worship me,
Says the Lord God of Israel.” Moses said,
When first he faced Pharaoh, Israel to free,
After he’d convinced Hebrews that God led!
Answered Pharaoh, “This Lord God I’ve not known;
I will not let these lazy people go!
What’s more, now they must find straw on their own,
Making as many bricks, to keep the flow!”
The people were worked harder than before,
And Moses they blamed for making things worse;
“You put a sword in Pharaoh’s hand,” they swore,
Greeting Moses and Aaron with a curse!
God’s Plan purposely hardened Pharaoh’s heart,
So God’s mighty power He could impart!

Scripture Quoted (NIV) [Brackets added)
Exodus 5:6-8—“That same day [when Moses first confronted him] Pharaoh gave the order to the slave drivers … ‘You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ “

Exodus 5:20-21—“When they [the Israelites appointed foremen] left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them, and they said, ‘May the Lord look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hands to kill us.’ “

Exodus 6:1—“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘ Now you will see what I will do with Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.’ “

Commentary on “Moses First Confronts Pharaoh”
God’s Master Plan, complete before creation, provided that Egypt, an ancient nation that refused to comply with God’s desire to set His Chosen nation Israel free, would receive a calamitous judgment. Had Pharaoh complied with Moses’ demand to let the Hebrews go, God would not have sent ten horrible plagues upon Egypt that left them in ruins. God actually hardened Pharaoh’s heart on purpose, so that He could reveal His stupendous power to the world; Egypt was to be an example forever to any nation that ignored God and refused to comply with His commandments. Even today, the United States (and all nations) needs to be fearful of the retribution of God upon it for defying Him and His teachings. Our national leaders should read the Bible and realize that abortion, euthanasia, approval of homosexuality, promiscuity, persecution of Christianity, abandonment of Israel, and many other worldly pursuits that God detests is certain to bring His wrath upon us as it did to Egypt. Revealing His mighty power to the world also induce God’s people Israel to a stronger belief in Him and brings non-believers to belief. As I write this, Dec. 31, 2010, news reports announce that President Obama has issued an executive order for his health care officials to set up a panel whose duties will include setting medical conditions at which human lives may be terminated when all reasonable hope of survival is gone; a “death panel”, in other words. Had such a panel existed in 1982, I would not be alive today. God still performs miracles.

Moses was 80 years old when he first confronted Pharaoh. It was a sort of homecoming for him, because as a three-month old baby he had first come to the royal palace, a Hebrew adopted by the former Pharaoh’s daughter. It would be interesting to know what Moses was thinking on this occasion, or whether the current Pharaoh or any of his officials remembered Moses. We can be sure that he spoke the Egyptian language fluently; since he had been out of the country in Midian 40 or more years, it is doubtful if his rearing in the palace was helpful in his present task. It is obvious that Pharaoh hated to lose the Israelites, for they were extremely helpful in the building of pyramids, cities, and other government structures, many of which still exist.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)