Exodus 5:23 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all."

NIV: Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all."

NASB: Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not rescued Your people at all.'

CSB: Ever since I went in to Pharaoh to speak in your name he has caused trouble for this people, and you haven’t rescued your people at all."

NLT: Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.”

Moses obeyed God's call (Exodus 3:4–6, 10). He returned to Egypt (Exodus 4:19–23) and brought the Lord's message (Exodus 5:1–3). But the immediate result was a worse situation for the Hebrew slaves (Exodus 5:6–9). The people are angry with Moses for provoking their new suffering (Exodus 5:20–21). He has expressed his disappointment to the Lord, wondering why this is happening (Exodus 5:22). Here, this complaint continues. Moses sees no positive results. There are only seemingly-negative consequences, rejection, and resentment.

From Moses' limited point of view, there seems no reason that events ought to play out this way. This is a common problem of human experience (Habakkuk 1:2–4). Fortunately, God sees what we cannot and already knows the outcome (Habakkuk 1:5). God's plan is only beginning (Isaiah 55:8–9). This is not completely unexpected: God mentioned that something like this would occur (Exodus 3:19–20). Still, the Lord will graciously respond to Moses' disappointment with reassurance (Exodus 6:1). The end of all these struggles will be the liberation of Israel (Exodus 6:6; 18:9–10).

Exodus 5:15–23 records the aftermath of Moses and Aaron's first encounter with Egypt's king. Rather than agreeing to let Israel go, the Pharaoh spitefully cut off access to raw materials while demanding that the enslaved people (Exodus 1:13–14) maintain production. This leads to a backlash against Moses and Aaron; the people blame them for making their lives even harder. Moses experiences doubt. He wonders why the situation is worse, not better. The Lord will respond with reassurance (Exodus 6:1).

Moses and Aaron have their first meeting with Egypt's king, the pharaoh. Though they are there to free Israel entirely (Exodus 3:10), they begin with a much less dramatic request: three days to worship their God in the wilderness (Exodus 3:18). Pharaoh refuses. Instead, he spitefully cuts off supply of raw materials—straw—while demanding the same output from the Hebrew slaves. This increases the peoples' burden and gives Pharaoh's taskmasters excuse to abuse them. When the Israelites turn against Moses, he expresses confusion to God.

Moses encountered the Lord (Exodus 3:4–6) during his exile (Exodus 2:15). God commanded Moses to return to Egypt and demand the freedom of the nation of Israel (Exodus 4:21–23). The people had come into Egypt in the days of Joseph (Exodus 1:1–7). Later, they fell into slavery and oppression (Exodus 1:13–14). The first request, in this chapter, is not received well. God will soon bring disasters on Egypt and its stubborn ruler (Exodus 3:10) until His peo-ple are finally released (Exodus 12:41).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.