But the king said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Go back to your jobs! There are very many Hebrews, and now you want them to quit working!” That same day the king gave a command to the slave masters and foremen. He said, “Don’t give the people straw to make bricks as you used to do. Let them gather their own straw. But they must still make the same number of bricks as they did before. Do not accept fewer. They have become lazy, and that is why they are asking me, ‘Let us go to offer sacrifices to our God.’ Make these people work harder and keep them busy; then they will not have time to listen to the lies of Moses.” So the slave masters and foremen went to the Israelites and said, “This is what the king says: I will no longer give you straw. Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it. But you must make as many bricks as you made before.” So the people went everywhere in Egypt looking for dry stalks to use for straw. The slave masters kept forcing the people to work harder. They said, “You must make just as many bricks as you did when you were given straw.” The king’s slave masters had made the Israelite foremen responsible for the work the people did. The Egyptian slave masters beat these men and asked them, “Why aren’t you making as many bricks as you made in the past?”
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Compare All Versions: Exodus 5:4-14
4 Days
Are you tired? In a culture where low-grade exhaustion is the new normal, Jesus invites us into a life of rest in him. Through the practice of Sabbath, we practice entering this promised rest. This plan, Practicing the Way, by John Mark Comer, provides an introduction into the practice of Sabbath, featuring key ideas and practical suggestions for you to find rest for your soul.
5 Days
How do I humble myself? Humility, according to the Bible, is not something we can just up and do. Humility first comes from the hand of God. He initiates the humbling of his creatures. And once he has, the question confronts us: Will you receive it? Will you humble yourself in response to his humbling hand, or will you kick against him?
7 Days
The Battle Is the Lord’s. There is a spiritual battle going on between God and Satan (see the reading plan “The Great Battle”). There are also a lot of wars and battles going on between humans. And sometimes there is a clear connection between the two. This reading plan covers several Bible stories about earthly battles where the Lord was clearly involved.
This plan is designed to help you step into your God-given potential. It parallels the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness with our own journey of reaching our potential. You will discover how God can use both your unique gifts and failures to accomplish His divine work, how to overcome resistance and obstacles, and the value of being woven into the fabric of a community.
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