Exodus 3:16–22 – The Pharaoh Within Me

Exodus 3:16-22 NIV        

Suggested Praise Songs:

• King of My Heart – Bethel Music feat. Amanda Lindsey Cook
• No Longer Slaves – Bethel Music, Jonathan & Melissa Helsere
• Meredith Andrews “Not for A Moment”

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• (4) Who is Moses? | Bible Stories for Kids – YouTube – Lesson for Kids
• Stand Together | Kingdom Rock VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• This Little Light of Mine | Cave Quest VBS Music Video | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Rescue Me | Shipwrecked VBS | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth arelocated in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

After revealing Himself to Moses, God gives him specific instructions. First, Moses is to return to Egypt and gather the elders of Israel to deliver the message that the God who called Abraham has seen their suffering and has decided to deliver them from Egypt and bring them into the land of Canaan (vv. 16–17). God assures Moses that the elders will believe him once he shares this concrete message. Then, Moses is to go with the elders to Pharaoh and ask, “Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God” (v. 18). It was clear that saying outright, “We’re leaving Egypt, so let us go,” would shut down any conversation immediately. The phrase “a three-day journey” commonly means “not too far away.”

God knows that Pharaoh will not let them go easily (v. 19). But God already has a plan to break Pharaoh’s stubbornness (v. 20). When Pharaoh finally agrees to let the Israelites leave, God promises to move the hearts of the Egyptians to show favor to the Israelites so that they will not leave empty-handed (v. 21). This means that, having witnessed Pharaoh’s oppressive treatment of the Israelites, the Egyptian people will begin to feel sympathy toward them. God also instructed the Israelite women to ask the Egyptian women for articles of silver and gold and fine clothing before they left. This means they are to take these items with them when they depart Egypt (v. 22). It would serve as a form of compensation for the forced labor imposed on the Israelite men.

Meditation:

The God who introduced Himself as “Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh”—“I AM WHO I AM”—is the Lord of the universe and of all life. In those days, the Egyptians believed in polytheism. They thought the god of Israel was concerned only with the Israelites, while Egypt had its own gods who cared only for them. Even among the Egyptians, each tribe worshiped different deities. But the God who appeared to Moses in the burning bush is the God of all life and all humanity. He called the Israelites “My people,” but that does not mean the Egyptians belonged to a different god. The Egyptians, too, are God’s people. God simply chose Israel to be a kingdom of priests within His plan of salvation.

The unfolding story shows how God engages with different people in various circumstances. In particular, through how God deals with Pharaoh, who repeatedly resists and opposes God’s will, we are invited to reflect on the relationship between human free will and divine sovereignty. This relationship belongs to the realm of mystery. God retains absolute sovereignty, ruling over the universe and human history. Yet at the same time, He grants human beings free will, allowing them to choose, decide, and live according to their own will. And still, God works to prevent those choices and decisions from hastening a path toward destruction.

As we observe how God handles Pharaoh and how Pharaoh ultimately walks the road to ruin, we are led to examine our own hearts, for we, too, can walk the same path as Pharaoh.

Prayer:

Lord, today we once again lay down our free will under Your sovereign authority. Help us to trust in You completely and to follow You throughout this day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: God is the Lord of all people and all creation. He invites us to trust His plan, even when it’s hard to understand. Like Pharaoh, we can choose to resist God, or we can surrender our will to His and walk in His ways.

• For Preschool-Elementary
  • Who controls everything, even when things feel scary or confusing?
  • Why do you think God told Moses to ask Pharaoh for only a “three-day journey”?
  • What can you do today to follow God’s way instead of doing things your own way?
• For Youth
  • Why do you think God still gives people free will, even when it means they might choose to disobey Him?
  • How do you see both God’s power and patience in the story of Pharaoh and Moses?
  • What does it mean for you personally to “lay down your free will” before God each day?