Lesson 3: Rough Start

[Chief]

Lesson 3: Rough Start

Memory Text:
“Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.” ’ And Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go’ ” (Exodus 5:1, 2, NKJV).

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[Chief]

Exodus 5:1-2 – Pharaoh’s defiant rejection of God’s demand ("Who is the Lord?") sets the stage for divine confrontation.
Core Theme: God’s faithfulness amid human resistance, using Moses’ initial failures to demonstrate His sovereign plan.

Key Insights by Day:​

1. Sunday: "Who Is the Lord?" (Exodus 5:1–3)
   • Pharaoh’s scorn ("I do not know the Lord!") embodies worldly arrogance rejecting divine authority.
   • Pattern: Denial of God leads to oppression (Isaiah 30:1–3), foreshadowing end-time rebellion (Revelation 11:8).
2. Monday: A Rough Start (Exodus 5:4–21)
   • Pharaoh intensifies Hebrew slavery (denying straw for bricks), causing Israel to blame Moses/Aaron (v. 21).
   • Root Cause: Egyptian disdain for Hebrew shepherds (Genesis 46:34) and sacred practices fueled cruelty.
3. Tuesday: The Divine "I" (Exodus 5:22–6:8)
   • Moses’ despair ("Why have You brought trouble?") meets God’s sevenfold "I will" promise:
     "I will free you... I will redeem you... I will take you as My people" (6:6–8).
   • Assurance: God’s covenant faithfulness overrides human failure.
4. Wednesday: Uncircumcised Lips (Exodus 6:9–13)
   • Moses’ renewed insecurity ("uncircumcised lips") mirrors believers’ inadequacy (cf. Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 1:6).
   • Hope: God partners with the hesitant (Psalm 73:23–24), transforming weakness into witness.
5. Thursday: Like God to Pharaoh (Exodus 6:14–7:7)
   • Moses is appointed God’s representative ("like God to Pharaoh," 7:1), with Aaron as prophet.
   • Purpose: To force Egypt’s recognition of Yahweh (7:5) through coming plagues.
   • Key Detail: Moses (80) and Aaron (83) prove God uses all ages (Exodus 7:7).

Final Thoughts (Friday):​

• Divine Strategy: Pharaoh’s hardness (4:21) becomes a stage for God’s glory (Romans 9:17).
• Redemptive Pattern: Younger/imperfect leaders (Moses, Jacob, Joseph) embody grace—"the last shall be first" (Matthew 20:16).
• Personal Call: When mission seems futile, cling to God’s "I will" promises. Your story, like Moses’, is part of His redemption narrative.

"Our adequacy comes not from eloquence or success, but from the 'I AM' who declares: 'I will be with you' (Exodus 3:12)."