“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.” (v.2)
Here in chapter 5 Pharaoh referred to Moses’ request to worship as, “vain words” or lies (v.9). Implying that Moses and Aaron had falsely pretended that their God had commanded them to go and worship, a crafty design of their own to advance themselves in the eyes of the people.Pharaoh treated all he had heard from them with contempt. He had no knowledge of Jehovah, no fear of him, and therefore refused to obey Him. Thus Pharaoh's pride, ambition, covetousness, and political knowledge, hardened him to his own eventual destruction.
What Moses and Aaron asked was very reasonable, to go three days' journey into the desert, and that on a good errand. Yet Pharaoh’s response was very unreasonable, “make them work harder so they will pay no attention to these vain words,”or to the things of God.
Today there are many who, because they do not know God, see those who do as unreasonable, having vain words, and consequently work very hard to silence our beliefs, and treat us with contempt. Though they may challenge us, and try to make our lives more difficult, we still have the freedom to worship Him.
The Truth: “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)
