The Struggle to Overcome Bondages

 

CHAPTER 5
(1491 B.C.)

PHARAOH

AND afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told the Pharaoh (according to many authorities, the Pharaoh at that time was “Menephthap,” the son and successor of “Rameses II”; history records that he was a weak individual, but, because of certain events, had an exalted opinion of himself; the close of Chapter 4 presents the people worshipping in believing joy; the close of Chapter 5 sets before the reader the same people filled with unbelieving bitterness; the glad tidings of Salvation is one thing; the struggle against the power that tries to keep the soul in bondage is quite another), Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let My People go, that they may hold a feast unto Me in the wilderness. (If it is to be noticed, the Holy Spirit, in giving Moses direction regarding the Sacred Text, in no way recognizes the splendor of Egypt. The character of the Message that Moses was to deliver to Pharaoh was not calculated to compromise or pacify.)
2 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. (Satan will not easily allow his captives to go free; and God permits the bitter experience of Satan’s power in order to exercise and strengthen Faith. Mackintosh says: “When we contemplate Israel amid the brick kilns of Egypt, we behold a graphic figure of the condition of every child of Adam’s fallen race by nature. There they were, crushed beneath the enemy’s galling yoke, and having no power to deliver themselves. The mere mention of the word ‘liberty’ only caused the oppressor to bind his captives with a stronger fetter, and to lade them with a still more grievous burden. Consequently, it was absolutely necessary that deliverance should come from without.” Nevertheless, Pharaoh will soon find out exactly “Who is the Lord!”)
3 And they (Moses and Aaron) said, The God of the Hebrews has met with us: let us go, we pray you, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest He fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword. (This simple statement tells us, even as given to Moses by the Lord, that it is the Cross only which holds back the Judgment of God. In other words, the only thing standing between man and Hell is the Cross of Christ.)

HARDENED HEART

4 And the king of Egypt said unto them, Why do you, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens. (They will now find that the burdens are increased. As the Children of Israel, it seems that many do not too very much mind being slaves to Satan, until the burdens become so heavy that they cannot be borne. Invariably, that will happen!)
5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many (the Israelites), and you make them rest from their burdens.
6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,
7 You shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves. (Oftentimes, the setting to carry out the Will of God will result in Satan’s anger, with opposition being increased.)
8 And the tale (number) of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, you shall lay upon them; you shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God. (At the mention of Sacrifice, Pharaoh increased the pressure and the workload, almost to a killing pace. When the Believer first begins to hear the Message of the Cross, he will find the opposition of Satan greatly increasing. This will be confusing at first, but the Believer should take heart. The enemy does this because he knows the Believer has now found the source of victory; therefore, he seeks to move the Believer’s faith from the Cross to other things, by discouragement, etc.)
9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labor therein; and let them not regard vain words. (Pharaoh regarded the offering of “Sacrifices” as “vain words.” Regrettably, much of the modern Church does the same, as it regards the Cross.)
10 And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor’s Study Bible (p. 110). Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.