A Battle Between God and Man
After Moses and Aaron had spoken to the people of Israel, they went to meet Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. They said, “Our God, the Lord God of Israel, is calling us to worship Him. To do this, we and all our people must go on a journey of three days into the wilderness.”
Pharaoh became very angry. He said, “Moses and Aaron, what are you doing to call your people away from their work! Go back to your jobs and leave your people alone. I know why the Israelites are talking about going into the wilderness. It is because they are running out of work, so I will give them more work.”
At that time the Israelites had been putting up brick buildings for the Egyptian rulers. They had been making their own bricks from clay mixed with straw. Up until then the Egyptians had been providing the straw for making bricks. Now Pharaoh said, “Let them make just as many bricks as before, but give them no straw.” Of course this made the Israelites’ backbreaking work almost unbearable. How could they ever find and gather enough straw and still make as many bricks each day as before?
The Israelites became angry with Moses and Aaron. “We thought you would set us free, but now our suffering is greater!” they said.
Moses called upon the Lord, and the Lord said, “Go and speak to Pharaoh again and show him the signs I gave you.”
Pharaoh scoffed, “Who is the Lord? Why should I obey His commands?”
Then Aaron threw down his rod, and it turned into a serpent. Pharaoh called his magicians. They also turned their rods into serpents. The Lord let them do this, but He caused Aaron’s rod, in the form of a serpent, to swallow up the others. Still Pharaoh would not let the children of Israel go.
Exodus 5-7:13
Aaron’s rod turns into a serpent and swallows the other serpents.
Parents:
I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. (Psalm 140:12)
Children:
1. What were the Israelites making with clay?
2. Why did their work become harder?
3. Who did Moses call upon for help?