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JANUARY 28
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from their work? Get back to your labor.” And
Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land
are many now, and you make them rest from
their labor!” 5:22,23 Moses returned to the LORD.
6 So the same day Pharaoh commanded the Whether Moses and his brother remonstrated
taskmasters of the people and their officers, with the foremen about their strong and
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saying, “You shall no longer give the people wrong evaluation remains a moot point.
straw to make brick as before. Let them go Rather, the focus is upon Moses, who remon-
and gather straw for themselves. And you strated with the Lord in prayer. Evidently,
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shall lay on them the quota of bricks which Moses did not anticipate what effect Pharaoh’s
refusal and reaction would have upon his own
they made before. You shall not reduce it. For people.Confrontation with Pharaoh so far had
they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, provoked both angry resentment of Israel by
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‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ Let more the Egyptians and of Moses by Israel—this was
work be laid on the men, that they may labor not the expected scenario!
in it, and let them not regard false words.”
10 And the taskmasters of the people and
their officers went out and spoke to the people,
saying, “Thus says Pharaoh: ‘I will not give you Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you
straw. Go, get yourselves straw where you 6 shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For
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can find it; yet none of your work will be with a strong hand he will let them go, and
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reduced.’ ” So the people were scattered with a strong hand he will drive them out of
abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gath- his land.”
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er stubble instead of straw. And the taskmas- And God spoke to Moses and said to him:
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ters forced them to hurry, saying, “Fulfill your “I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to
work, your daily quota, as when there was Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by
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straw.” Also the officers of the children of My name LORD I was not known to them. I
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Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set have also established My covenant with them,
over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why to give them the land of Canaan, the land of
have you not fulfilled your task in making brick their pilgrimage, in which they were stran-
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both yesterday and today, as before?” gers. And I have also heard the groaning of
15 Then the officers of the children of Israel the children of Israel whom the Egyptians
came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why keep in bondage, and I have remembered My
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are you dealing thus with your servants? covenant. Therefore say to the children of
16 There is no straw given to your servants, and Israel: ‘I am the LORD; I will bring you out from
they say to us, ‘Make brick!’ And indeed your under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will res-
servants are beaten, but the fault is in your cue you from their bondage, and I will redeem
own people.” you with an outstretched arm and with great
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17 But he said, “You are idle! Idle! Therefore judgments. I will take you as My people, and
you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ I will be your God. Then you shall know that I
18 Therefore go now and work; for no straw am the LORD your God who brings you out
shall be given you, yet you shall deliver the from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
quota of bricks.” And the officers of the chil- 8 And I will bring you into the land which I
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dren of Israel saw that they were in trouble swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;
after it was said, “You shall not reduce any and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the
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bricks from your daily quota.” LORD.’ ” So Moses spoke thus to the children
20 Then, as they came out from Pharaoh, of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because
they met Moses and Aaron who stood there to of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage.
meet them. And they said to them, “Let the 10 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
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LORD look on you and judge, because you have 11 “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the
made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh children of Israel go out of his land.”
and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword 12 And Moses spoke before the LORD, saying,
in their hand to kill us.” “The children of Israel have not heeded me.
22 So Moses returned to the LORD and said, How then shall Pharaoh heed me, for I am of
“Lord, why have You brought trouble on this uncircumcised lips?”
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people? Why is it You have sent me? For 13 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron,
since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your and gave them a command for the children of
name, he has done evil to this people; neither Israel and for Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring
have You delivered Your people at all.” the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.
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