Exodus 5:1

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1 Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, “This is what YHWH, the God of Israel, says, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’” Exodus 5:1WEB

Classification

The Command

This passage contains a positive command, with immediate relevance, issued by God through the prophet Moses, through the priest Aaron, directed toward Pharaoh: "Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness."

The command is restated in Exodus 5:3, in the form of a request issued by Aaron and Moses, asking Pharaoh to obey God by allowing Israel to leave, so that Israel can in turn obey God.

Categories

This command is part of the Principles and Definitions. It is relevant to an understanding of Slavery as Israel was asking for a break from the labor of their slavery, Stewardship as Pharaoh was a steward of God's possession Israel, and Feast as the request was explicitly to give Israel reprieve to go and hold a feast.

Fulfillment

This command was immediately rejected by Pharaoh. God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, and to make known the riches of his glory and mercy to Israel, endured with much patience as the command was issued several times. In accordance with God's plan, Pharaoh finally fulfilled the command by releasing Israel begrudgingly, after his son was killed by God, but then turned quickly to rescind his obedience and was himself penalized by God. (Events through Exodus 14)