Day 28 · Part 3: Out of Egypt
Let My People Go
In the Story
In context
Moses and Aaron ask Pharaoh to let the people go three days’ journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to their God (Exodus 5:1–3). Pharaoh answers, “I don’t know Yahweh,” and makes the work harder. Egypt’s bricks were made of mud mixed with straw and dried in the sun; now the Israelites must gather their own straw and still make as many bricks as before (5:7–8). Their officers are beaten, they blame Moses and Aaron, and Moses asks the Lord, “Why is it that you have sent me?” (5:14, 21–22).
God answers with promises: he will bring them out from under their burdens, take them as his people and be their God, and bring them into the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (6:6–8). But they do not listen, “for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage” (6:9). A family list names Moses and Aaron’s parents, Amram and Jochebed (6:20). Before Pharaoh, Aaron’s rod becomes a serpent; Egypt’s magicians do the same, but Aaron’s rod swallows theirs (7:10–12).
Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
Psalms 55:22 · God promises to bring Israel out from under the burdens of the Egyptians (Exodus 6:6); the psalm says, “Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you.”
For families
Exodus pauses to list the family of Moses and Aaron: their parents Amram and Jochebed, and Aaron’s wife Elisheba and their four sons (Exodus 6:20, 23). God sends the two brothers together, Moses to give God’s words and Aaron to speak them to Pharaoh (7:1–2). Moses was eighty and Aaron eighty-three (7:7).
Moses and Aaron faced Pharaoh together when they were in their eighties. What do you think it was like for two brothers that age to do something so hard together?
In the Bible
World English Bible, as published by eBible.org (public domain).
Exodus 5
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Exodus 6
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Exodus 7:1–13
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A hymn for today
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms · words by Elisha A. Hoffman
- What a fellowship, what a joy divine,Leaning on the everlasting arms;What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,Leaning on the everlasting arms.RefrainLeaning, leaning,Safe and secure from all alarms;Leaning, leaning,Leaning on the everlasting arms.
- O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,Leaning on the everlasting arms;O how bright the path grows from day to day,Leaning on the everlasting arms.RefrainLeaning, leaning,Safe and secure from all alarms;Leaning, leaning,Leaning on the everlasting arms.
- What have I to dread, what have I to fear,Leaning on the everlasting arms?I have blessèd peace with my Lord so near,Leaning on the everlasting arms.RefrainLeaning, leaning,Safe and secure from all alarms;Leaning, leaning,Leaning on the everlasting arms.