Bricks and Straw

Written By Ryan Lovett

Yahweh

1 But the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land." 2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, "I am the LORD. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them. 4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.'" 9 Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery. - Exodus 6:1-9

Israel First Believed

Not Broken Spirit, But Impatience

9 Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery. - Exodus 6:9

  • This word in Hebrew is קֹצֶר and literally it means “harvest, reaping”, but the meaning of the word is impatience

    • It implies a sense of brevity or shortness, often in the context of time or patience.

    • In the agricultural society of ancient Israel, the harvest was a critical time, representing both the culmination of a season's labor and God's provision.

Israel First Believed

29 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. 30 Aaron spoke all the words that the LORD had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped. - Exodus 4:29-31

What Happened?

Bricks Without Straw

10 So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, "Thus says Pharaoh, 'I will not give you straw. 11 Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.'" 12 So the people were scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 The taskmasters were urgent, saying, "Complete your work, your daily task each day, as when there was straw." 14 And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, "Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday, as in the past?" - Exodus 5:10-14

Patience in Suffering

1 But the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” - Exodus 6:1

  • There is a play against Pharaoh in this language

  • Remember that in all things, there is a spiritual battle present and happening, whether you can see it or not

  • Treat your suffering as a spiritual ailment

2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, "I am the LORD. - Exodus 6:2

  • It would do ourselves good in our suffering to establish God as God

3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them. - Exodus 6:3

  • God Almighty - El Shaddai, the one who provides and sustains

  • LORD - Yawweh - the Promise-Keeper, the One who was personally related to His people and would redeem them

4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. - Exodus 6:4

  • We must always remember the promises that God has made with us

  • They are found in His Word

5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. - Exodus 6:5

  • God has not forgotten you

  • God has not stopped working on your behalf

6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

  • The 7 I Will Statements

    • I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians

    • I will deliver you from slavery to them

    • I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.

    • I will take you to be my people

    • I will be your God

    • I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

    • I will give it to you for a possession.

Closing Encouragement

God’s timing is always perfect, even when it feels delayed. His ways are higher than ours, and He is working all things for His glory and our good.

  • Though the process may feel long and painful, God’s deliverance will come.

  • Trust in His perfect timing, and let your hope rest in His unchanging promises.

    • Galatians 6:9: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

  • God is faithful to His Word, and He will see you through to the other side of your suffering.

Ryan Lovett
Previous

I Corinthians Intro and 1:1-17
Next

God Our Hope