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The Deliverance of Israel Begins

INTRODUCTION:  When we are in need, we prefer to think of a deliverance that works like the cavalry coming at the last minute while giving complete and immediate relief.  God does not always work this way.  Even deliverance may involve struggles and battles.

  1. MOSES AND AARON APPROACH PHARAOH (Exodus 5:1-9)
    1. Their Initial Demand (Exodus 5:1)
      1. Thus saith the Lord
      2. Let my people go
      3. That they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness
    2. Pharaohs Refusal (Exodus 5:2)
      1. I know not the Lord.
      2. I will not let Israel go.
    3. Their Detailed Demand (Exodus 5:3)
      1. Let us go.
      2. Three days journey
      3. To sacrifice to the Lord
      4. Lest He fall upon us with pestilence or the sword
    4. Pharaohs Concern (Exodus 5:4-5)
      1. The distraction of Moses and Aaron (Exodus 5:4)
      2. The people are resting from their burdens (Exodus 5:5).
    5. Pharaohs Order (Exodus 5:6-9)
      1. Cut their resources (Exodus 5:6-7).
        1. Give them no straw (Exodus 5:7).
        2. Make them gather their own straw (Exodus 5:7).
      2. Increase their labour (Exodus 5:8-9).
        1. Keep the amounts of brick required at the same level even with them gathering their own straw (Exodus 5:8).
        2. The people are idle or else they wouldnt have time to cry out to God (Exodus 5:8).
        3. Give the people more labour so they do not have time to regard vain words (probably a reference to the hope offered by Moses and Aaron) (Exodus 5:9).
  2. PHARAOHS TASKMASTERS INCREASE THE BURDENS (Exodus 5:10-19)
    1. The People Scattered to Find Stubble (Exodus 5:10-12)
      1. The taskmasters and officers inform the people of Pharaohs new demands (Exodus 5:10-11).
      2. The people scattered throughout Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw (Exodus 5:12).
    2. The Officers Pushed to Produce (Exodus 5:13-14)
      1. Note:  The officers of Israel were Israelis appointed by Pharaoh.
      2. The officers were pushed to keep their daily tasks (Exodus 5:13).
      3. The officers were beaten for failing (Exodus 5:14).
    3. The Officers Complain of Their Circumstances (Exodus 5:15-16).
      1. The officers plead their case before Pharaoh (Exodus 5:15).
      2. The officers blame the Egyptians for their inability to meet the quota of brick (Exodus 5:16).
    4. Pharaoh Responds to the Complaint (Exodus 5:17-19).
      1. He accuses them of being idle (Exodus 5:17).
      2. He reiterates his demand for production (Exodus 5:18-19).
  3. THE OFFICERS COMPLAIN TO MOSES AND AARON (Exodus 5:20-23)
    1. They Accuse Moses and Aaron (Exodus 5:20-21).
      1. The officers meet Moses and Aaron as they leave Pharaoh (Exodus 5:20).
      2. The officers rebuke Moses and Aaron (Exodus 5:21).  Note:  This is also a common practice in the wilderness wanderings.
    2. Moses Cries unto the Lord (Exodus 5:22-23).
      1. The questions of Moses (Exodus 5:22)
        1. Wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people?
        2. Why is it that thou hast sent me?
      2. The concern of Moses (Exodus 5:23)
        1. Since I came Pharaoh has done evil to this people.
        2. You have not delivered your people at all.
  4. THE LORD ASSURES MOSES OF VICTORY (Exodus 6:1-8)
    1. He Promises Deliverance (Exodus 6:1).
      1. Now Moses will see what God will do to Pharaoh.
      2. With a strong hand Pharaoh will let them go and drive them out.
    2. He Declares His Name (Exodus 6:2-3).
      1. The Lord declares Himself as Jehovah (LORD) (Exodus 6:2).
      2. The Lord appeared unto Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty (Exodus 6:3; Genesis 17:1; Genesis 35:11; Genesis 48:3).
      3. Although they used the name Jehovah, they did not know God intimately as Jehovahthe Self-Sufficient One (Exodus 3:13-15; John 5:26). As Jehovah, He does not depend on time (Isaiah 57:15), place (1 Kings 20:23, 28-29) or on belief (2 Timothy 2:13) in order to exist or work.
    3. He Keeps His Covenant (Exodus 6:4-5).
      1. He made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 6:4).
      2. He heard the cry of Israel and remembered His covenant (Exodus 6:5).
    4. He Will Make Them a People (Exodus 6:6-7).
      1. His deliverance (Exodus 6:6)
        1. He will bring them out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
        2. He will rid them out of the bondage of Egypt.
        3. He will redeem them with a stretched out arm and great judgment.
      2. His sanctification (Exodus 6:7)
        1. He will take them to Himself for a people.
        2. He will be to them a God.
    5. He Will Give Them the Land (Exodus 6:8).
  5. THE LORD SENDS MOSES BACK TO PHARAOH (Exodus 7:1-7)
    1. God Reveals His Plan to Moses (Exodus 7:1-5).
      1. Moses as a god to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:1-2)
        1. This does not insinuate that Moses is a god, but that he will seem as one to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:1).
        2. Moses and Aaron are to speak the words of God to Pharaoh so that he will let the people of God go (Exodus 7:2).
      2. Pharaohs heart to be hardened (Exodus 7:3-4)
        1. The Lord will harden Pharaohs heart (Exodus 7:3).
        2. The Lord will multiply His signs and wonders in Egypt (Exodus 7:3).
        3. Pharaoh will not hearken unto Moses and Aaron (Exodus 7:4).
      3. Gods power to be known (Exodus 7:5)
    2. Moses and Aaron Obey the Lord (Exodus 7:6-7).
  6. MOSES SHOWS PHARAOH THE SIGN OF THE ROD (Exodus 7:8-13)
    1. Aarons Rod Becomes a Serpent (Exodus 7:8-10).
    2. The Magicians Turn Their Rods to Serpents (Exodus 7:11-12a).
      1. Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers of Egypt (Exodus 7:11).
      2. The magicians were able to do the same thing as Aaron (Exodus 7:11-12a).
    3. Aarons Rod Swallows Their Rods (Exodus 7:12b).
    4. Pharaohs Heart Is Hardened (Exodus 7:13).
      1. The Lord hardened Pharaohs heart.
      2. Pharaoh hearkened not unto them.
  7. THE RIVER OF EGYPT IS TURNED TO BLOOD (Exodus 7:14-25)
    1. Moses Commanded to Meet Pharaoh at the River (Exodus 7:14-18)
      1. Moses is to meet Pharaoh at the river in the morning (Exodus 7:14-15).
      2. Moses is to smite the waters of the river with the rod and they will be turned to blood (Exodus 7:15-17).
      3. The fish will die, the river will stink and the Egyptians will loathe to drink of the water (Exodus 7:18).
    2. The Waters of Egypt Turned to Blood (Exodus 7:19-21)
    3. The Egyptians Respond to the Plague (Exodus 7:22-25).
      1. The magicians duplicate the miracle (Exodus 7:22a).
      2. Pharaohs heart is hardened (Exodus 7:22b-23).
      3. The Egyptians dig for water (Exodus 7:24-25).

CONCLUSION:  Though Moses and Aaron are wholly following the Lord, the task is not easy. The Lord continues to harden the heart of Pharaoh so that ultimately He will be able to manifest His power and glory in the sight of all.

                         Sunday School Helps

MAIN PEOPLE

  • The Lord
  • Moses
  • Aaron
  • Pharaoh

SETTING

TIME

  1. Moses was fourscore (80) years old.
  2. Aaron was fourscore and three (83) years old.
  • This matches the details found in Acts 7:23-25 and Acts 7:30.

LOCATION OR GEOGRAPHY

  • It would appear that this lesson takes place in the land of Goshen and at least some of it is specifically located at the Nile River.

STORY

  • Moses and Aaron come before Pharaoh to ask for the freedom of Israel, but their request is denied and the burden of the people is increased. Moses questions the Lord concerning the harshness of the circumstances, but receives confirmation of Gods deliverance. So Moses and Aaron go before Pharaoh again, this time showing him a sign. When Aarons rod turns into a serpent, Pharaoh calls the magicians of Egypt who copy the miracle of Aaron. Pharaohs heart is hardened and he does not hearken to Moses and Aaron, so the Lord gives another sign when Moses turns the water of the Nile into blood. Once again, Pharaoh calls the magicians of Egypt and they are able to do likewise with their enchantments. In the end, Pharaohs heart is hardened so that he will not let the people go.

THEME

  • Following the will of God for our lives does not mean that everything will go smoothly. In this lesson we are sure that Moses and Aaron are doing right, yet they are running into troubles on every side. The important thing is to know that you are doing the will of God and that you do it until the job is complete.

RESOURCES

VISUALS

  • Discuss the burdens that were placed on the people of God and the great difficulty that came about when the burdens were increased.
  • Bring a visual that will help the students remember the first two miracles performed by Moses and Aaron.

MEMORY VERSES

  • Exodus 7:12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
  • Exodus 6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
  • Exodus 6:7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

APPLICATION

PRACTICAL

  • Moses was trying to follow the Lords will to the best of his ability, yet he continually ran into troubles. What should this teach us to expect when we attempt to follow the will of the Lord?
  • The officers of Israel complained to Moses and Aaron about the additional burdens that were placed upon the people. Was it really the fault of Moses and Aaron? Why were Moses and Aaron in Egypt? What does this teach us about our frustrations and complaints in life?

TYPOLOGY

  • Exodus 5:1-23 is an excellent picture of Satans strategy against those who would leave the world.
  • He removes the comforts to which they are accustomed (Exodus 5:7; Jonah 4:6-8).
  • He continues the demands on your time and effort (Exodus 5:8; Ecclesiastes 1:1-3, 8).
  • He adds burdens to your already heavy load (Exodus 5:9; Matthew 11:28).
  • He removes or neutralizes those who could help you most (Exodus 5:12; Job 19:13-19; Psalm 73:25).
  • He brings direct attacks on you from some source (Exodus 5:14; 1 Peter 5:8).
  • He finds someone to falsely accuse you (Exodus 5:17; Psalm 35:13-16).
  • He gets you caught in blame games (Exodus 5:20-21; Genesis 3:12-13).

REVIEW

  • Pharaoh told the taskmasters that they were no longer to give the people ____________ to make brick.
  • The Lord appeared unto Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by the name of ___________, but by His name ___________ was He not known to them.
  • Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and it became a _____________.
  • Moses lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, and the waters were turned to ____________.
David Reagan
and Andrew Ray

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