Study notes

Exodus 5

Introducing ExodusWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

3:1–6:30 Section

The Israelites were God’s people. When Moses was in Midian, God told him to lead his people out of slavery.

Moses was to lead them to the land of Canaan. That would fulfil God’s second promise in his covenant with Abraham. Moses had many questions about who God was. Moses also had many doubts. He didn’t think he had the ability to do the work God gave him.

God explained that he is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He used the words I am as his name.

God gave Moses the power to perform signs and miracles. This would help the Israelites trust that what Moses said was true. It would help them trust that his authority came from God. God also gave Moses his brother Aaron as a helper.

The elders of Israel listened to Aaron speak and saw the miracles Moses performed. They believed that God would save them from slavery and they worshipped him.

Pharaoh also listened to Aaron and saw Moses’s signs. But he didn’t believe that the Lord is the true God. He refused to obey God’s instructions. Instead, he treated the Israelites even worse.

Life for the Israelites was full of suffering. This made it hard for them to believe Moses and Aaron. They didn’t believe that God would bring judgement against Egypt.

4:29–5:23

In this section, the Lord promised to rescue the Israelites. He said that he would bring them out of slavery.

At first, the people responded in a positive way. They believed what God said. However, later they faced a crisis of faith. They began to doubt God’s promise and struggled to trust him.

5:1–14

Pharaoh not only rejected the request of Moses to release the Hebrew slaves, he also retaliated by making their work harder. The arrival of the rescuer had actually made the situation worse.

5:2

Pharaoh quickly addressed the main issue. What god could be greater than Pharaoh? What god could make him do something against his will? This is a key question for all people. Is there anyone or anything more important than my own interests?

5:3

He may strike us: God had not said this. Perhaps Moses and Aaron were trying to strengthen their case by saying that they had to obey God or die.

5:4–5

It seems that the people expected the freedom God had promised. Because of this, they stopped their work.

5:6–14

Pharaoh increased the workload to punish their disobedience. He thought they had too much free time (5:8). He could not imagine a god revealing himself outside the royal worship system. He believed they invented their unusual religious ideas instead of working (see also 5:17).

5:7

Straw is a binder to help clay and mud bricks retain their form while drying in the sun.

5:22

The phrase brought trouble upon this people could be translated more strongly as caused evil for this people.

Is God truly good? God did not rescue the people from their difficult situations as he promised. It seems he has made things worse. Is he faithful or not? Is he powerful or not? (compare Psalm 105:25–27).

5:22–23

This moment was a turning point. After the first strong response of hope (4:29–31), the promise of rescue led to doubt and anger. The people faced even harsher oppression than before.

Moses, who was called to rescue them, also began to doubt. The situation tested his faith.

Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources