How does Exodus 5:6 illustrate Pharaoh's response to Moses' request for freedom? Setting the Scene • Moses and Aaron have just relayed God’s command: “Let My people go” (Exodus 5:1). • Pharaoh dismisses the request and immediately looks for ways to re-assert control. The Verse Itself Exodus 5:6: “That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers.” What the Order Reveals • Immediate resistance—Pharaoh does not delay; “that same day” signals a swift, decisive pushback. • Delegated oppression—He mobilizes “taskmasters” and “officers,” the very machinery of slavery, to tighten the screws. • Hard heart exposed—His instant command demonstrates the hardness predicted in Exodus 4:21 and later noted in Exodus 7:13. Escalating the Burden Following verse 6, Pharaoh says, “You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks…” (Exodus 5:7-9). Verse 6 sets the stage for: • Harsher labor conditions. • Punitive measures aimed at breaking Israel’s spirit. • A calculated ploy to discredit Moses by making freedom appear costly. Contrast with God’s Character • God hears the cry of the oppressed (Exodus 3:7). • Pharaoh ignores compassion and doubles down on cruelty (Proverbs 29:2). • Romans 9:17 later cites Pharaoh’s stubbornness as the backdrop for God’s glory. Key Takeaways • Pharaoh’s first reaction to God’s demand is intensified oppression, proving that human rulers can harden their hearts when confronted with divine authority. • The verse models how unbelief quickly translates into concrete actions that oppose God’s people. • Even hardened resistance serves God’s larger plan: “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh…” (Exodus 6:1). Living It Out • Expect opposition when God’s truth confronts entrenched power. • Remember that God’s deliverance often begins when human resistance peaks. • Trust that every “same day” command against God’s people only accelerates the timetable of His redemption. |
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