The Way
Before Pharaoh
Make bricks without straw
Story
Moses and Aaron entered Pharaoh's palace. Aaron spoke. Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel. Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival for me in the wilderness. The king laughed coldly. Who is the Lord, that I should obey him? I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go. That same day Pharaoh gave the taskmasters a new order.
From now on, do not give them straw for the bricks. Let them go and gather it themselves. But hold them to the same number of bricks as before. They are lazy, and that is why they clamour to go and offer sacrifices. The people scattered across the whole land of Egypt to gather stubble in place of straw. The taskmasters drove them day after day, and the Israelite foremen were beaten when the quota went unmet.
The foremen came out from their beating and stood in the way of Moses and Aaron. You have put a sword in Pharaoh's hand to kill us. Heartbroken, Moses went back to the Lord. Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Ever since I spoke to Pharaoh in your name, he has only grown harsher. The Lord promised again. I am the Lord. I will bring you out from under your heavy burdens and take you as my own people. Moses told them this, but broken in spirit by their cruel slavery, the people could not listen.
Walk this scene on the map →God's Words
I am the Lord. I will bring you out from under the heavy burdens of Egypt and rescue you with an outstretched arm. I will take you as my people, and I will be your God.
Now you will see what I do to Pharaoh. Pressed by a mighty hand, he will let the people go.
Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Ex 5:1–6:13
Background
Egyptian bricks were made by mixing straw into Nile mud and drying it in the sun. The straw held the bricks together so they would not crack. A wall painting in the tomb of Rekhmire at Thebes shows foreign labourers shaping bricks.
Pause and Reflect
When I have obeyed and things only get harder, do I blame God?