#139 The Bricks Exodus 5

1 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.

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.

3 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.

And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.

5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.

And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

7 Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

8 And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.

10 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.

11 Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.

12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.

13 And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfill your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.

14 And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?

15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

16 There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.

17 But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.

18 Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks. Exodus 5:1-18 KJV

It is difficult in comfort to see the need to leave, and we are fickle in our view of God when it appears that under our own will and guidance things are working well. It is not the case for the Hebrew inhabitants of Egypt. Moses and Aaron approach the new Pharaoh with a request to take the people to worship in the wilderness. They come as messengers, not with their own words, but with the words of God, and it is fair that this should be tested, but Pharaoh answers by way of arrogance. Who is this God? If I don't know Him, then what's He to me? Men often suppose that because they have not seen God, they are not responsible to seek Him. The history of Joseph and how the children of Israel arrived in Egypt was not so long ago, but the proud are easily blinded by power and prosperity. Pharaoh turns away from the wisdom that would seek to understand, and embraces the rule of force. It is the quickest way to show charge, to be feared, they knee jerk and brake the will of those beneath. He demands the same amount of product but sets them up for failure by not providing the resources to achieve it. It is insane, but it ensures that his order will not be met and that he may now hold accountable those whom he wishes to make an example of. He declares them idle, and when the officers are beaten for that which they cannot accomplish, they question it. He declares them also idle, and still demands the bricks. 

  16 A ruler without wisdom will be cruel, but the one who refuses to take dishonest money will rule a long time. 17 Don't help those who are guilty of murder; let them run until they die. 18 Innocent people will be kept safe, but those who are dishonest will suddenly be ruined. 19 Those who work their land will have plenty of food, but the ones who chase empty dreams instead will end up poor.20 A truthful person will have many blessings, but those eager to get rich will be punished. 21 It is not good for a judge to take sides, but some will sin for only a piece of bread. 22 Selfish people are in a hurry to get rich and do not realize they soon will be poor. 23 Those who correct others will later be liked more than those who give false praise. 24 Whoever robs his father or mother and says, "It's not wrong," is just like someone who destroys things. 25 A greedy person causes trouble, but the one who trusts the Lord will succeed. 26 Those who trust in themselves are foolish, but those who live wisely will be kept safe. Proverbs 28: 16-26