Exodus 5
Instead of releasing Israel, Pharaoh increases their workload
After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said,
“Israel’s God the Existing One says,
‘Release my people so they can celebrate me with a feast in the outskirts.’”
But Pharaoh said,
“Who is the Existing One that I should listen to him and release Israel? I don’t know the Existing One, and I won’t release Israel either.”
Then they said,
“The Hebrews’ God has encountered us. Please, let us make a three day journey into the uninhabited land so we can sacrifice to our God, the Existing One. If we don’t, he will strike us with disease or the sword.”
But Pharaoh said,
“Moses and Aaron, why are you trying to pull the people away from their work? Don’t you have work to get back to for yourself? Look at how many people there are, and you want to have them stop working?”
That same day Pharaoh ordered the taskmasters,
“Don’t ever give the people straw to make their bricks like you used to. Make them go collect the straw for themselves. But don’t reduce their quota of bricks. Make sure that they produce the same amount. They want to go sacrifice to their God so they can stop working! Increase their workloads so that they can’t even think about false ideas.”
So the taskmasters told the people,
“Pharaoh says he’s going to stop giving you straw. You must now collect your own straw wherever you can find it, but your quota won’t be reduced.”
So the people scattered all throughout Egypt, collecting straw. The taskmasters pressured them, saying,
“Meet your quota! Just like when we provided the straw!”
Israel’s leaders resent Moses
The taskmasters had appointed some of Israel’s descendants to be officials over the rest of the people, and the taskmasters started beating them, asking,
“Why didn’t you meet your quota for bricks yesterday? And why didn’t you meet it today?”
So the Israel’s representatives went to Pharaoh and cried out,
“Why are you treating your servants like this? You don’t give your servants straw, yet the taskmasters tell us to make the same amount of bricks! Look at how your servants are being beaten, even though your own people are the ones in the wrong.”
But he said,
“You aren’t working hard enough! That’s why you want to go sacrifice to the Existing One. So get back to work, because we won’t give you any straw, but you still need to meet your quota of bricks!”
Israel’s representatives realized that they were in trouble. When they left Pharaoh’s presence, they met Moses and Aaron who were waiting for them. The representatives told them,
“May the Existing One evaluate you and punish you, because you made Pharaoh and his servants hate us. You handed them a sword they’ll use to kill us.”
Moses looks to God
Then Moses turned back to the Existing One and said,
“Oh Master, why have you hurt these people? Why did you even send me? Ever since I got here, Pharaoh has only hurt these people, and you haven’t done anything to rescue them.”