Exodus 5

V 1–3: TASK Moses and Aaron begin their God-given task by telling Pharaoh of God’s command that they should go into the wilderness and worship God. When Pharaoh asks who God is, they explain in more detail and tell Pharaoh that pestilence or sword could come in judgement if there is disobedience. V 4–5: TERSENESS Pharaoh tells them to get back to work and that Moses and Aaron are stopping the Israelites from doing their labour. V 6–16: TALLY Pharaoh reacts further by insisting that the Israelites gather their own straw or stubble without any reduction in their tally of bricks to be made. They are beaten and interrogated as to why they have not met their targets, and the officers of the children of Israel complain to Pharaoh. V 17–21: TROUBLE Pharaoh accuses them of idleness and says that this is the real reason why they want to go to sacrifice to God. He insists that they meet their quota of bricks without straw. Moses and Aaron then get the backlash from their people because of what Pharaoh is doing to them. V 22–23: TALK Moses talks to the Lord in prayer and asks why this is. Trouble has increased and there is no deliverance for God’s people. He wonders what is really happening.