Israelite Slaves Making Bricks Under Egyptian Overseersby CNSDA
5:12Exodus 5:12
So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.
After Moses asked to let Israel go to sacrifice, Pharaoh hardened his heart and made their bondage far harsher by ordering the same full number of bricks while no longer supplying straw, so the people were scattered throughout Egypt to gather stubble from the fields as a substitute. The bricks were made of sun-dried earth that needed straw mixed in to hold them together, so without the supply they could not gather enough material to meet their daily quota even as the taskmasters drove them as before. The Hebrew officers set over the work were beaten and questioned for failing to complete the required tale of bricks, and this added affliction showed Israel was not yet ready for deliverance, expecting it without trial of faith and unwilling to endure suffering patiently until God wrought it. The verse thus stands for the hardship of demanding hard results while withholding the means to do the work, whether in lack of funds, in sending missionaries without facilities, or in shortsighted ambition that burdens workers instead of regarding them with care.
Pharaoh's Harsher Bondage
After the request to let the people go to hold a feast and sacrifice in the wilderness, Pharaoh's heart became more unfeeling toward Israel in greatly increased labor. Egyptian taskmasters were placed over the Hebrews, with Hebrew officers under them who directed the work and were responsible for the work of the people under them. Pharaoh stopped supplying straw but still demanded the same full number of bricks, unjustly requiring the people to gather their own material for brick.
Bricks were made from sun-dried earth mixed with straw to hold them together, even in fine buildings later faced with stone. The people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather scattered straw and stubble found in the fields instead of straw. Because of this they could not gather enough to perform their usual amount of labor and meet the quota, while the taskmasters hastened them to fulfill their daily tasks as when straw was given.
The Hebrew officers and workers responsible for the work were beaten and questioned for not fulfilling and compelling the full tale of bricks, and the added demand made their already hard labor more burdensome. This increased suffering exposed that the Hebrews expected deliverance without trial of faith or suffering on their part and were not yet prepared to be delivered, having little faith and being unwilling to patiently suffer and perseveringly endure affliction until God worked for them a glorious deliverance.
Bricks Without Straw Today
The scattering throughout Egypt to gather stubble after straw for brickmaking was withheld pictures workers burdened with a demanding task while denied the materials and help needed to accomplish it. Their forced search for substitute material shows how withholding what the work requires makes the work itself more difficult. Sending missionaries to foreign fields without facilities or means is the same hardship, demanding the work while withholding what is needed to do it.
Having to scatter through the land to gather stubble themselves describes the perplexities of carrying forward missionary work without adequate support or resources because of decisions made by others. The same image applies to having much work to do while lacking funds. Requiring brick without straw is shortsighted ambition that demands results while withholding what workers need, whereas God's work should instead be done with careful regard for one another.
Being forced to find for themselves the material their work required fits the lack of resources for carrying out the work in Cooranbong, where brick could not be made without straw. Being forced to find substitute materials under harsh conditions describes being deprived of resources needed to build the work, which nevertheless must continue.
After Moses asked to let Israel go to sacrifice, Pharaoh hardened his heart and made their bondage far harsher by ordering the same full number of bricks while no longer supplying straw, so the people were scattered throughout Egypt to gather stubble from the fields as a substitute. The bricks were made of sun-dried earth that needed straw mixed in to hold them together, so without the supply they could not gather enough material to meet their daily quota even as the taskmasters drove them as before. The Hebrew officers set over the work were beaten and questioned for failing to complete the required tale of bricks, and this added affliction showed Israel was not yet ready for deliverance, expecting it without trial of faith and unwilling to endure suffering patiently until God wrought it. The verse thus stands for the hardship of demanding hard results while withholding the means to do the work, whether in lack of funds, in sending missionaries without facilities, or in shortsighted ambition that burdens workers instead of regarding them with care.
Pharaoh's Harsher Bondage
After the request to let the people go to hold a feast and sacrifice in the wilderness, Pharaoh's heart became more unfeeling toward Israel in greatly increased labor. Egyptian taskmasters were placed over the Hebrews, with Hebrew officers under them who directed the work and were responsible for the work of the people under them. Pharaoh stopped supplying straw but still demanded the same full number of bricks, unjustly requiring the people to gather their own material for brick.
Bricks were made from sun-dried earth mixed with straw to hold them together, even in fine buildings later faced with stone. The people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather scattered straw and stubble found in the fields instead of straw. Because of this they could not gather enough to perform their usual amount of labor and meet the quota, while the taskmasters hastened them to fulfill their daily tasks as when straw was given.
The Hebrew officers and workers responsible for the work were beaten and questioned for not fulfilling and compelling the full tale of bricks, and the added demand made their already hard labor more burdensome. This increased suffering exposed that the Hebrews expected deliverance without trial of faith or suffering on their part and were not yet prepared to be delivered, having little faith and being unwilling to patiently suffer and perseveringly endure affliction until God worked for them a glorious deliverance.
Bricks Without Straw Today
The scattering throughout Egypt to gather stubble after straw for brickmaking was withheld pictures workers burdened with a demanding task while denied the materials and help needed to accomplish it. Their forced search for substitute material shows how withholding what the work requires makes the work itself more difficult. Sending missionaries to foreign fields without facilities or means is the same hardship, demanding the work while withholding what is needed to do it.
Having to scatter through the land to gather stubble themselves describes the perplexities of carrying forward missionary work without adequate support or resources because of decisions made by others. The same image applies to having much work to do while lacking funds. Requiring brick without straw is shortsighted ambition that demands results while withholding what workers need, whereas God's work should instead be done with careful regard for one another.
Being forced to find for themselves the material their work required fits the lack of resources for carrying out the work in Cooranbong, where brick could not be made without straw. Being forced to find substitute materials under harsh conditions describes being deprived of resources needed to build the work, which nevertheless must continue.