A war of words at Passover

Passover will begin this year on the evening of April 22 with the first day of Unleavened Bread being on Tuesday, April 23. The biblical account of the first Passover is detailed in the book of Exodus and this story consumes the first fifteen chapters of this book: from oppression and slavery in Egypt, to the Passover and Exodus from Egypt, and then the crossing of the Red Sea.

As I have been reflecting on the story of Passover and the events that occurred 3500 years ago, I see many similarities to the current situation in Israel. The oppressive regime is different today and the “Pharaoh” is not whom we would expect him to be in this modern story; however, the context is similar. 

One aspect of the story of the first Passover is that it began with the captivity of the people of Israel under a repressive regime and then continued as a war of words: the words of Moses and Aaron against the words of Pharaoh, King of Egypt. It is helpful to read the account as recorded for us in Exodus 5:

And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: ‘Let My people go so that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go.” Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, otherwise He will strike us with plague or with the sword.” But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you let the people neglect their work? Get back to your labors!” Again Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!” So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters over the people and their foremen, saying, “You are no longer to give the people straw to make bricks as previously; have them go and gather straw for themselves. But you shall impose on them the quota of bricks which they were making before; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, for that reason they cry out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ Let the labor be heavier on the men, and have them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.”

So the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am not going to give you any straw. You go, get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it; but none of your labor will be reduced.’” So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. And the taskmasters pressed them, saying, “Complete your work quota, your daily amount, just as when you had straw.” Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and asked, “Why have you not completed your required task of making bricks either yesterday or today, as before?”

Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants? There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people.” But he said, “You are lazy, very lazy; for that reason you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, but you must deliver the quota of bricks.” The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble, since they were told, “You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks.” When they left Pharaoh’s presence, they met Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them. And they said to them, “May the LORD look upon you and judge you, because you have made us repulsive in Pharaoh’s sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us!” - Ex. 5:1-21 (NASB)

At that time, the children of Israel were enslaved by Pharaoh the King of Egypt and the LORD God sent His servant Moses along with his brother Aaron to request their release from Pharaoh; however, Pharaoh mocked Moses and Aaron by saying:

“Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go.” - Ex. 5:2 (NASB)

Pharaoh then responded by making the labor of the Israelites more intense by taking away their materials for work but still demanded the same outcome. The King of Egypt was the ruler of the world at that time. According to historians, Egypt reached its peak during the time that Israel was still enslaved there:

The Egyptian Empire rose during the period of the New Kingdom (c. 1570- c. 1069 BCE), when the country reached its height of wealth, international prestige, and military might. - World History Encyclopedia

As a wealthy, world leader Pharaoh could not imagine anyone telling him what he should do. He was King of Egypt and he gave the orders. According to Pharaoh, the gods of Egypt supported him as Pharaoh and there was none greater than the king of the land of Egypt. Pharaoh dismissed the words of Moses and Aaron, he showed no respect for the LORD God, and he sought to make the lives of the Israelites more difficult by withholding from them the supplies they needed to continue their work:

“Let the labor be heavier on the men, and have them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.” - Ex. 5:9 (NASB)

It was literally a war of words: the words of the LORD, spoken by Moses and Aaron, against the words of Pharaoh. Pharaoh called the words of Moses and Aaron “false words.” In Hebrew this is דברי שקר - Divrei Shaker - literally “lying words” or “false words”!

The Israelites were being held captive, Moses their leader was mocked on the world stage, and the Israelites were oppressed by the world leader at that time, the King of Egypt. 

The Israelite leaders themselves (Israelite foremen over the Israelite slaves) turned against Moses and Aaron because of the worldly pressure against them:

When they left Pharaoh’s presence, they met Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them. And they said to them, “May the LORD look upon you and judge you, because you have made us repulsive in Pharaoh’s sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us!” - Ex. 5:20-21 (NASB)

The very people whom Moses and Aaron were trying to set free fought against them because life was hard and it was getting more difficult. 

A War of Words Today

I cannot help but see many parallels to what is happening in our world today regarding the war against Israel that was started by Hamas, continued by Hezbollah, and backed by Iran. 

Hamas started this war by invading Israel and slaughtering over 1200 people in one day: Oct. 7th, 2023. Hamas took over 200 people captive at that time and has continued to wage war against Israel. The current world leader, the US president, initially supported Israel against Hamas but quickly became an obstacle to Israel and has been speaking out against the prime minister of Israel at every turn. The US President threatens to withhold supplies from Israel and continually tries to hinder Israel’s war against Hamas and Hezbollah. 

Together with US opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza, there is international pressure for a cease-fire, which causing great division in Israel. Those who identify with the political liberal, far-left in Israel are more concerned with their international standing with secular governments than in standing with their own country, Israel. They are speaking out against Netanyahu and causing division in Israel, even attacking our own police forces.

The war of words at the first Passover was between Moses, the appointed leader of Israel, and the ruler of the world at that time, Pharaoh King of Egypt. The war of words at this Passover is between Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, and the current ruler of the world, The US President. 

Although Hamas is the enemy organization who started this war and continues to hold Israelis and Americans captive in their dungeons in Gaza, it is the US President, as the world leader, who has inserted himself into this situation and is trying to dictate what each side can or cannot do. Ironically, the US President is often supporting the enemy power, Hamas, while fighting against Israel and making public comments against Netanyahu, the leader of Israel. I think the US president is greatly mistaken. He will one day see, just like Pharaoh, that he is not simply fighting against the leader of Israel but against the God of Israel.

God’s Response to Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart

As we continue to read in the next few verses of the account in Exodus, Moses was discouraged as a result of everyone being against Him but the LORD encouraged Him and explained to him the greater plan, the plan of Passover: 

Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not rescued Your people at all.” - Ex. 5:22-23 (NASB)

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for under compulsion he will let them go, and under compulsion he will drive them out of his land.”

God spoke further to Moses and said to him, “I am the LORD; and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name, LORD (Adonai), I did not make Myself known to them. I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as strangers. Furthermore I have heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, because the Egyptians are holding them in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the labors of the Egyptians, and I will rescue you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments. Then I will take you as My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the labors of the Egyptians. I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you as a possession; I am the LORD.’” So Moses said this to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account of their despondency and cruel bondage. - Ex. 6:1-9 (NASB)

God had a plan to rescue and redeem the nation of Israel 3500 years ago and He did it in His way and in His time in order to bring the nation of Israel to Himself. 

The breaking point for Pharaoh and the Egyptians occurred at the Passover, the tenth plague, which affected all of those living in the land of Egypt. On that night the LORD brought about redemption and freedom for Israel when they sacrificed the Passover lamb and applied the blood to the door posts of their homes but for any home in Egypt that did not obey the LORD’s command, there was the death of the firstborn: both of sons and animals.

A War of Words at Passover

Although the situations are not exactly the same from then until now, God is still on His throne and He sees all that is happening on earth. The war of words between the current ruler of the world and the leader of Israel will ultimately be decided by the LORD Himself once again. 

About 4000 years ago, God spoke to Abraham and made several promises:

Go from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
And I will make you into a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing;
And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed. - Gen. 12:1-3 (NASB) 

It is in the interest of the ruler of Hamas and the current ruler of this world, the US President, to bless Israel and not curse Israel. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His words alone will overshadow “The War of Words” that we hear today!

Pray For The Release of Captives & For Salvation

Passover will be observed this year beginning on the evening of April 22 and we will continue to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread for a full week, until April 29th. As the power of Almighty God was shown 3500 years ago at the first Passover, let us ask that God would show His power again at this Passover so that Israel will be triumphant over its enemies and that the captive Israelis will once again be set free! 

It is also a strategic time to be praying that the light of God’s Word will shine brightly in the Passover celebrations. May the Jewish people have eyes to see that the final Passover Lamb of God came to this earth as the Messiah 2000 years ago in order to bring redemption and freedom that is everlasting.