Yahweh told Moses and Aaron to make a simple request of Pharaoh. They wanted to go into the desert to hold a festival. This was only a three-day trip, and they would return. They knew their worship of Yahweh would be detestable to Egyptian sensibilities, so they would remove themselves and not be a bother.
Pharaoh said he didn’t know Yahweh, so he was not interested in giving permission for this trip. His further response was to make the work of the Israelites even harder. They expressed a desire to worship their Creator, and Pharoah became a harsher master. Their desire to worship Yahweh was an admission that Pharaoh was not their God. Consciously or subconsciously, Pharoah responded as one with wounded pride.
Yahweh was helping His people understand His majesty and authority, but this was not an easy lesson to learn. The people complained to Moses, and Moses complained to Yahweh (5:23). Moses had come on a rescue mission, and the rescue was no nearer in sight. Yahweh promised that what was coming was not a three-day festival but complete freedom from slavery and a new life in the land He promised to Abraham (6:8).
Pharaoh was not interested in granting a long weekend for Israel. He would certainly not grant their complete freedom, so Yahweh was going to do something remarkable through Moses and Aaron to set them free. Praise God for the freedom He provides through Jesus and the rest He gives with His abiding Spirit. Endure hard days. Avoid idols that entice.
