Shemot (Exodus)
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Meaning
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Day Six
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Haftara
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B'rit Hadashah
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1 Our Father, we receive Your Words and hide Your commandments with us; 2 we incline our ear unto wisdom, and apply our hearts to understanding; 3 We cry after knowledge and lift up our voices for understanding; 4 we seek it as silver; and search for it as for hidden treasures; 5 We declare that we shall understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. Declaration of Proverbs 2:1-5.
Exodus 5:1-6:1 (NASB)1
1 And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.'" 2 But Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go."
3 Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, otherwise He will fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword." 4 But the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labors!" 5 Again Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!" 6 So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying, 7 "You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously; let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 "But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall impose on them; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, therefore they cry out, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' 9 "Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words." 10 So the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, "Thus says Pharaoh, 'I am not going to give you any straw. 11 'You go and get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but none of your labor will be reduced.'" 12 So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 The taskmasters pressed them, saying, "Complete your work quota, your daily amount, just as when you had straw." 14 Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, "Why have you not completed your required amount either yesterday or today in making brick as previously?" 15 Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants? 16 "There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, 'Make bricks!' And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people." 17 But he said, "You are lazy, very lazy; therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.' 18 "So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks." 19 The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, "You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks." 20 When they left Pharaoh's presence, they met Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them. 21 They said to them, "May the LORD look upon you and judge you, for you have made us odious in Pharaoh's sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us." 22 Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me? 23 "Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all."
6 1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for under compulsion he will let them go, and under compulsion he will drive them out of his land."
3 Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, otherwise He will fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword." 4 But the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labors!" 5 Again Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!" 6 So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying, 7 "You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously; let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 "But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall impose on them; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, therefore they cry out, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' 9 "Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words." 10 So the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, "Thus says Pharaoh, 'I am not going to give you any straw. 11 'You go and get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but none of your labor will be reduced.'" 12 So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 The taskmasters pressed them, saying, "Complete your work quota, your daily amount, just as when you had straw." 14 Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, "Why have you not completed your required amount either yesterday or today in making brick as previously?" 15 Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants? 16 "There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, 'Make bricks!' And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people." 17 But he said, "You are lazy, very lazy; therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.' 18 "So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks." 19 The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, "You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks." 20 When they left Pharaoh's presence, they met Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them. 21 They said to them, "May the LORD look upon you and judge you, for you have made us odious in Pharaoh's sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us." 22 Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me? 23 "Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all."
6 1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for under compulsion he will let them go, and under compulsion he will drive them out of his land."
We had that lovely little winter respite several days ago, and now the skies are back to the 'winter effect'. They're completely obscured by that grayish shield with light, but light that is without that toasty aspect of that beautiful sun that our Father God made for us on that fourth day of creation. This sort of helps me understand a wee bit better how there could be light in the world in Genesis 3: 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. Then later, on that fourth day, only AFTER the light was made, the sun came into existence as we know the sun—that big beautiful ball of yellow brightness that warms us gently in the winters and then can come on pretty strong in the summers and can fry the greenery and our skin if we stay out long enough. It disturbs me how men have now said, “Sun bad! Buy sunblock products!” If we partake in moderation, the sun can only be our friend. When I did the shopping for the senior's Monday gig a few weeks ago I checked out their special showcases where you can buy vegetables in bulk just upon entering the store. For the first time since I've been using that store I noted the name that they use on these products: “Naturally Imperfect”. Suddenly, the question came to mind: What does our Father God think of that? That could be considered an insult to our Father God to say that the 'natural' that He made for us is 'imperfect'. On the other side of the store you can buy all the veggies that are perfectly shaped and some are even sculpted (like those baby carrots that are all exactly shaped and sized the very same).
At first I blanked on that name and was piqued with myself that I couldn't remember it and thought, “Well, if I must finish the Torah for the day and then when I go to the store I'll confirm the name and then edit it into the copy and then send it out. If it's late, it's late, but it will be out for the day. I tried entering a phrase in the search engine and Bob's yer uncle, there it was. The link I found right off is at the end of the edition today. Apparently it started in 2015, but it wasn't until 2025 that I rolled my cart past the kiosks and I had that 'explosive thought', “Well that's an insult! I wonder what Father God thinks of that?” It's just like men to call what God has made 'imperfect'. When my earthly father planted his garden he always had carrots and they were perfectly natural. Some were a little odd shaped and some you could see had grown together but they all tasted fantastic after you rinsed them off in the rain barrel and snacked on them. No store bought carrot has tasted as good as those of my childhood. Even my daughters remember because they were able to partake of those same home-grown carrots in their childhood before my Dad died in 1989.
As you can see in the link below, Europe began this selling of what they call “blemished and misshapen” first and only then Canada picked up on it. Europe, has always led the west in innovative ideas. They were always ahead in medical science as well. There was a thorough history in a book I have that details the 1918 flu that was deadly in its day, that detailed, not only the flu but the timeline of medicine up until that time. It's an amazing book that must have taken years to research. Even now, Europe is at the forefront of what I might call, “good thinking and best practice”. They've banned certain foods and additives that are injurious to health. The United States has recently seen the error of red dye in foods. I was dismayed, to put it lightly, that what I now laughingly call “Health” Canada (which is not health), is telling Canadians that synthetic red food dye is safe, despite the evidence-based cancer risks. USA has initiated a ban on the red dye. The west has always followed Europe! I'm going to leave this wee rabbit trail now and we shall journey with Moses and Aaron as they take God's case to Pharaoh.
Before we get too far, we have to remember that Yah told Moses that he would have resistance!
Exodus 3:19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.
“Not by a mighty hand” in the original Hebrew might be a tad more expressive than our English. Mighty is חָזָק châzâq, khaw-zawk' from H2388; strong (usu. in a bad sense, hard, bold, violent):—harder, hottest, impudent, loud, mighty, sore, stiff(-hearted), strong(-er). The root H2388 contains meanings like force and holding fast, perhaps like a tight grip!
Exodus 4:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
Why would God 'harden' his heart against the very thing that God wanted? He had the plan that was known to Him even before Genesis 1:1! And sure enough, that is exactly what Moses, Aaron and their delegation came up against.
Exodus 5:2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
Part of the strategy of God was that Pharaoh would soon get to know this God of Israel. Part of Pharaoh's strategy was to enforce (there's the force of mighty) the workload to punish Israel for even thinking of leaving. Now what sense does that make?! First Pharaoh says they're scary because of their numbers but instead of 'making friends' and partnering with Israel in order to form a possible coalition of force against any enemies of Egypt, he decided to persecute.
6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, 7 Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God. 9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.
We don't know how long it took to put these measures in place to increase the misery of Israel but it mightn't have taken long before the elders issued “push-back” to Moses because of the “get you straw where you can find it because you won't get any more from us” decree in verse eleven. This caused the situation to evolve into further persecution with the “get your own straw but you still have to produce the same amount in the same time!” edict in verse fourteen. The elders met with Pharaoh and he was immovable. Pharaoh as much as said to the elders to “pound sand” when they met with him. So, when they saw Moses, they were red hot angry. So, they 'chewed out' Moses.
19 And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task. 20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: 21 And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us. Exodus 5:19-21.
So where did Moses go? Straight to Yahweh.
22 And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all. Exodus 5:22-23.
It sounds like Moses had completely forgotten the Word of the LORD in prior conversations. He was told at least twice that's recorded, that Pharaoh was going to be a tough nut to crack. Add to that, God was working in the heart of Pharaoh for purposes of which Moses might only know one (that is, to free Israel). I don't know about you, but I can't blame Moses for then remonstrating with God when they got the Egyptian 'push-back'. He didn't even live in the 'microwave next to instant results' era like we do and he still, at least in this instance we're looking at today, expected that getting out of Egypt would be a sort of 'slam-dunk'! I have nothing but sympathy for Moshe at this time. He's being completely human here! He's definitely one of us! So we need not think for an instant that we can't rise to the success for God that these Biblical heroes did because we aren't the Biblical heroes. We live in a different era and we all have the same potential as heroes in our own time, if we take a realistic assessment of our weaknesses and our 'can do's'. We can definitely rise to the occasions that God sets before us in our own time. So, Moses is all wound up about this first snag along the way. It was a big snag! Making bricks without straw? I think that all mankind is doing this NOW!
I used to think it was just in the nursing and medical profession where we made “bricks without straw”, but I'm hearing from other sectors, like from my daughter and others who work in book-keeping and payroll. It's a mad world and workers are all getting to feel that it's a vicious “dog eat dog” world out there and they're wearing milk bone underwear! They encounter nothing but snarls, delays, tougher work loads, and increased frustration and I call it making bricks without straw. But ultimately, God was working the plan. Road blocks, as often as we complain, can be good for us. They can toughen us up and as we need reminding that: patience is a byproduct of tribulation! Apparently, our Father God, through Scripture, tells us this. It could be at the top of the list to remember. (I want to remember this the next time I have a computer crash and I might think that it's the end of the Torah project.) It's gonna be okay Moses! You're at a low point in the record right now, but it's all gonna work out! Unknown to Moses, this first big roadblock was setting up Pharaoh in God's plan! “NOW” it's going to start, (like everything is in place) says Yahweh.
At first I blanked on that name and was piqued with myself that I couldn't remember it and thought, “Well, if I must finish the Torah for the day and then when I go to the store I'll confirm the name and then edit it into the copy and then send it out. If it's late, it's late, but it will be out for the day. I tried entering a phrase in the search engine and Bob's yer uncle, there it was. The link I found right off is at the end of the edition today. Apparently it started in 2015, but it wasn't until 2025 that I rolled my cart past the kiosks and I had that 'explosive thought', “Well that's an insult! I wonder what Father God thinks of that?” It's just like men to call what God has made 'imperfect'. When my earthly father planted his garden he always had carrots and they were perfectly natural. Some were a little odd shaped and some you could see had grown together but they all tasted fantastic after you rinsed them off in the rain barrel and snacked on them. No store bought carrot has tasted as good as those of my childhood. Even my daughters remember because they were able to partake of those same home-grown carrots in their childhood before my Dad died in 1989.
As you can see in the link below, Europe began this selling of what they call “blemished and misshapen” first and only then Canada picked up on it. Europe, has always led the west in innovative ideas. They were always ahead in medical science as well. There was a thorough history in a book I have that details the 1918 flu that was deadly in its day, that detailed, not only the flu but the timeline of medicine up until that time. It's an amazing book that must have taken years to research. Even now, Europe is at the forefront of what I might call, “good thinking and best practice”. They've banned certain foods and additives that are injurious to health. The United States has recently seen the error of red dye in foods. I was dismayed, to put it lightly, that what I now laughingly call “Health” Canada (which is not health), is telling Canadians that synthetic red food dye is safe, despite the evidence-based cancer risks. USA has initiated a ban on the red dye. The west has always followed Europe! I'm going to leave this wee rabbit trail now and we shall journey with Moses and Aaron as they take God's case to Pharaoh.
Before we get too far, we have to remember that Yah told Moses that he would have resistance!
Exodus 3:19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.
“Not by a mighty hand” in the original Hebrew might be a tad more expressive than our English. Mighty is חָזָק châzâq, khaw-zawk' from H2388; strong (usu. in a bad sense, hard, bold, violent):—harder, hottest, impudent, loud, mighty, sore, stiff(-hearted), strong(-er). The root H2388 contains meanings like force and holding fast, perhaps like a tight grip!
Exodus 4:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
Why would God 'harden' his heart against the very thing that God wanted? He had the plan that was known to Him even before Genesis 1:1! And sure enough, that is exactly what Moses, Aaron and their delegation came up against.
Exodus 5:2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
Part of the strategy of God was that Pharaoh would soon get to know this God of Israel. Part of Pharaoh's strategy was to enforce (there's the force of mighty) the workload to punish Israel for even thinking of leaving. Now what sense does that make?! First Pharaoh says they're scary because of their numbers but instead of 'making friends' and partnering with Israel in order to form a possible coalition of force against any enemies of Egypt, he decided to persecute.
6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, 7 Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God. 9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.
We don't know how long it took to put these measures in place to increase the misery of Israel but it mightn't have taken long before the elders issued “push-back” to Moses because of the “get you straw where you can find it because you won't get any more from us” decree in verse eleven. This caused the situation to evolve into further persecution with the “get your own straw but you still have to produce the same amount in the same time!” edict in verse fourteen. The elders met with Pharaoh and he was immovable. Pharaoh as much as said to the elders to “pound sand” when they met with him. So, when they saw Moses, they were red hot angry. So, they 'chewed out' Moses.
19 And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task. 20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: 21 And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us. Exodus 5:19-21.
So where did Moses go? Straight to Yahweh.
22 And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all. Exodus 5:22-23.
It sounds like Moses had completely forgotten the Word of the LORD in prior conversations. He was told at least twice that's recorded, that Pharaoh was going to be a tough nut to crack. Add to that, God was working in the heart of Pharaoh for purposes of which Moses might only know one (that is, to free Israel). I don't know about you, but I can't blame Moses for then remonstrating with God when they got the Egyptian 'push-back'. He didn't even live in the 'microwave next to instant results' era like we do and he still, at least in this instance we're looking at today, expected that getting out of Egypt would be a sort of 'slam-dunk'! I have nothing but sympathy for Moshe at this time. He's being completely human here! He's definitely one of us! So we need not think for an instant that we can't rise to the success for God that these Biblical heroes did because we aren't the Biblical heroes. We live in a different era and we all have the same potential as heroes in our own time, if we take a realistic assessment of our weaknesses and our 'can do's'. We can definitely rise to the occasions that God sets before us in our own time. So, Moses is all wound up about this first snag along the way. It was a big snag! Making bricks without straw? I think that all mankind is doing this NOW!
I used to think it was just in the nursing and medical profession where we made “bricks without straw”, but I'm hearing from other sectors, like from my daughter and others who work in book-keeping and payroll. It's a mad world and workers are all getting to feel that it's a vicious “dog eat dog” world out there and they're wearing milk bone underwear! They encounter nothing but snarls, delays, tougher work loads, and increased frustration and I call it making bricks without straw. But ultimately, God was working the plan. Road blocks, as often as we complain, can be good for us. They can toughen us up and as we need reminding that: patience is a byproduct of tribulation! Apparently, our Father God, through Scripture, tells us this. It could be at the top of the list to remember. (I want to remember this the next time I have a computer crash and I might think that it's the end of the Torah project.) It's gonna be okay Moses! You're at a low point in the record right now, but it's all gonna work out! Unknown to Moses, this first big roadblock was setting up Pharaoh in God's plan! “NOW” it's going to start, (like everything is in place) says Yahweh.
1 Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. Exodus 6:1.
1 NASB www.lockman.org for daily reading and KJV in commentary unless otherwise specified.
No Frills Naturally Imperfect Produce Makes The Most Of Every Veggie | HuffPost Life
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