Page 43 - Pentateuch - Student Textbook

of grain and animals, and beautiful, healthy children. For them sex was one of the most holy parts of life,
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and they integrated the act into their worship.

Moses and the entire nation of Israel were to be different, unlike all the other nations because their God
is different. Infant circumcision of all male children was quite different from the practices of the nations.
“From its inception, infant circumcision was the distinctive Israelite custom, not derived from Egyptian
or other practice, and contrasting sharply with the puberty rites of other nations: the latter points to
social acknowledgement of adult status, the former to a status before God and a prevenience [going
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before] of divine grace.” So if Moses was to lead Israel out of bondage to God, he must respond to the
holiness of God. Circumcision was one of the most basic responses to this great God.

The stakes are high. God views Israel as his “firstborn son” (4:21). In refusing to let God’s firstborn son
go, the Egyptians would lose their “firstborn sons” (4:23). We are forced to connect the memory of
Abraham’s firstborn and only son offered as sacrifice. We cannot help but see God teaching Israel more
about their eternal deliverance through the Messiah.

Moses makes it back to Egypt, meeting with Aaron on the way and discussing all that had happened
(4:27-38). They inform the elders of Israel of God’s intention to intervene
(4:29-31). They then have an interview with Pharaoh requesting time to hold a
festival to YHWH in the wilderness. Pharaoh refuses with the mocking words,
“Who is the LORD that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the
LORD and will not let Israel go” (5:2). Pharaoh decides to make their slave
labor even harder by requiring them to gather materials to make bricks. (5:6-
19). The increased work load causes the Israelite overseers to complain
bitterly to Moses and Aaron, “May the LORD look on you and judge you Fig. 24: Brick making
(5:21)!”

Moses returns to God and questions him, “Why, LORD, why have you brought trouble on this people
(5:22).” God responds by reaffirming his intention to rescue Israel. He also reveals his plan to judge
Egypt in the process and show Israel more of himself (6:1-8). God’s renewed promise is reported to the
nation, but they are not interested due to their increased work load (6:9). Again, God speaks to Moses in
command form, “Bring the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions (6:26).” Again, Moses protests, “Why
would Pharaoh listen to me (6:30)?”

Israel has been living in Egypt for some time. They have not yet received the law or any other revelation
from God. All they might know are the stories handed down to them, from one generation to the next,
about God’s interventions in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Otherwise they know only
about the gods of Egypt. They have lived among the Egyptians, although in their own assigned area, and
have observed Egyptian worship practices. So the exodus experience is for them and for the Egyptians.

45 We cannot take space to thoroughly document the religious practices of the nations in and around
Canaan in ancient days. Many examples can be given. “The worshippers of these deities, through the
use of imitative magic, engaged in sexual intercourse with the devotees of the shrine, in the belief that
this would encourage the gods and goddesses to do likewise” (O.J. Baab, “Prostitution,” Interpreter’s
Bible Dictionary (1984), 3:932).
46 J. A. Motyer, “Circumcision,” The New Bible Dictionary, ed. J. D. Douglas (Wheaton: Tyndale, 1982), p.
210.

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