Exaltation Excluded
| Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the desert.' " Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go." Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword." (Exodus5:1-3) |
- Why do Moses and Aaron ask permission to celebrate a festival in the desert when we know the real agenda is complete exodus?
They're not being deceptive, they're actually proving a point. If Pharaoh won't even give them freedom for a few days to practice their faith then it proves that he is a tyrant. And this is a key point. It is not actually about the Israelites' political freedom (even though justice and liberation from slavery are important). The key issue is the worship of Yahweh - the God of Israel. If Pharaoh won't allow that, then the die is cast.
- Why does Pharaoh make such a big deal about not knowing the LORD?
(It's worth noting that whenever we see "the LORD" (with capital letters) it is the Bible Translator's way of showing us that the Hebrew "Yahweh" is being used.) Pharaoh is basically saying: "I've never heard of this Yahweh of the Israelites - so why should I be scared of Him?" What it reveals is that Pharoah is concerned about the Israelites. He won't let them have religious freedom, the only thing that will make him be nice to them is if he was scared of their God. The nice irony is that Pharaoh certainly gets to meet God over the course of the plagues...)
- Why does Moses imply that God will punish the Israelites?
One of the commentators suggest that this is a lovely example of how Moses is still finding his way as a spokesman and liberator: At first he comes to Pharaoh like a blistering prophet: "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: 'Let my people go...'"
But Pharaoh cuts right through Moses and Aaron's oracle-like pronouncement "I don't know who you're talking about. The answer is NO!"
Crestfallen and the wind taken out of their sails, Moses and Aaron, fall back to pleading and bargaining: "Understand our position Pharaoh, God met with us and if we don't do what he asks, it's going to cause trouble for us. Surely you can make this small concession for us?" (There is, of course, the implication that if God is tough on the Israelites, what might He do to the Egyptians?)
This is a tactic we all use when negotiating: "See it from my side... Can you see the tough spot I am in?"
But, at this point Pharaoh is too wily for them and he not only refuses, but tightens the screws and proves he's a tyrant. We'll look at that tomorrow....
