Exodus 5-6

What's Happening?

So far, the beginning of Exodus has mapped onto the beginning of Genesis. Through Adam and Eve’s children, God is filling the earth with heirs of his kingdom to rule on his behalf (Genesis 1:28; Exodus 1:1-7).But, as it happened in Eden, these chosen rulers are being conquered by a rival kingdom, led by a serpent-like figure, Pharaoh. But from the murderous flood ofPharaoh’s conquest against these heirs, God has drawn out a chosen son, Moses(Exodus 2:10). Throughout Genesis, God regularly chooses younger sons, likeJacob, to become heirs of his kingdom (Genesis 25:23). Even though Jacob was younger than his brother, he was given the title of firstborn, and would bringGod’s kingdom through his family, Israel (Genesis 28:13-14). Yet, throughoutGenesis, rebellious sons, who should have served the firstborn, instead built rival kingdoms like the tower of Babel and the empire of Egypt to oppose them.Now, in Exodus, the rival kingdom of Egypt opposes the chosen kingdom of God.

God has chosen Moses to free his firstborn, Israel, from the rival kingdom of Pharaoh (Exodus 4:21-23). But Moses, though born an Israelite, was raised in the house of Pharaoh. Further, his own firstborn son is a foreigner. Moses’ family needs to renounce the rival kingdom of Egypt and joinGod’s firstborn family of Israel. This happens when Moses’ story maps on to the story of the chosen son, Jacob. In Genesis, Jacob leaves his father-in-law and heads home to confront his rival brother, Esau (Genesis 31:17). On the way,Jacob is confronted by God, who physically marks him, spares his life, and names him Israel (Genesis 32:24-30). Now in Exodus, Moses leaves his father-in-law and heads home to confront the rival kingdom of Pharaoh (Exodus4:18-20). But on the way God confronts Moses and spares his life when his son is physically marked by circumcision, thus making his family true Israelites(Exodus 4:24-26). Then, like the older brother Esau met and embraced his chosen brother Israel, Moses’ older brother Aaron, meets and embraces him as the chosen leader of Israel. Aaron serves as Moses's mouthpiece as they confront the rival kingdom of Pharaoh (Exodus 4:27-31).

The rival kingdom of Egypt is heavily oppressing Israel, the firstborn family of God. Moses and Aaron tell Pharaoh to free God’s chosen people. But Pharaoh, acting as the rebellious son, refuses to serve the firstborn (Exodus 5:1-5). Instead, Pharaoh further enslaves God’s heirs by having them build up his rival kingdom in the same way his ancestors did. InGenesis, a rebellious son seeks to build a rival kingdom, using bricks to erect the tower of Babel (Genesis 10:8-10; 11:1-4). This endeavor proves futile and results in scattering these people across the earth (Genesis 11:8-9). Likewise,Pharaoh gives his Israelite slaves the futile task of making these same bricks without the materials to form them (Exodus 5:6-11). This scatters the people throughout Egypt and leads to even greater oppression (Exodus 5:12-18).

Moses comes to God confused. If God chose Moses and Aaron to free his fellow Israelites from the oppression of Egypt, why has their coming only increased Israel’s suffering (Exodus 4:22-23)? In answer, God remindsMoses that he and his people are God’s firstborn—they are chosen by him and belong to him. Instead of serving this firstborn son, rebellious Egypt has enslaved them. So, God will free his firstborn from slavery by conqueringPharaoh’s rival kingdom with great acts of judgment (Exodus 6:1-8). Conversely,Aaron’s genealogy shows that though he is an older brother, he has rightly chosen to serve his younger brother, Moses (Exodus 6:13-7:7). Pharaoh and all enslaved in Egypt, have a choice—to serve the firstborn like Aaron and joinGod’s family or rebel and be conquered.

Where’s the Gospel?

Like Israel in Egypt, we are all enslaved. As his firstborn,Adam and Eve were given God’s inheritance and rule to bring his kingdom to earth. But they were enslaved by a rival to God’s kingdom, Satan. Since then, all humanity has been ruled by this rival kingdom, enslaving us to build up its empire that ends in nothing but death. But God has chosen a firstborn son to free his enslaved people from Satan’s kingdom of futility and death.

Jesus is the Firstborn Son of God who came into the rival kingdom of Satan with great acts of judgment (Colossians 1:15-16). He freed people who were bound by death, disease, and the demonic forces of Satan. LikeMoses and Aaron, Jesus’ acts of deliverance showed that he was the chosen sonGod sent to free his people. For Satan’s rule would prove just as futile and doomed to be scattered as the tower of Babel and Pharaoh’s brick-built kingdom.

On the cross, Jesus died like a slave to rescue God’s chosen sons, long held captive by Satan’s grave. In a great act of judgement, Jesus conquered the rival kingdom of Satan by rising from the dead. He freed his people from their slavery to Satan and death (1 Peter 1:18-20). Now, Jesus has received the inheritance of the firstborn. As the firstborn from the dead, he reigns as King over the whole world on the Father’s behalf (Colossians1:18-20).  

Now we have a choice. Serve the firstborn like Aaron, or rebel against him like Pharaoh. Just as God promised to conquer Pharaoh’s rival kingdom, all kingdoms opposed to Jesus will be conquered. Like Moses, we can choose to become true Israelites though we were raised by a rival kingdom(Philippians 3:17-21). We can be marked by an encounter with God and become heirs with Jesus. When we, like Aaron, choose to serve the firstborn instead of rebel against him, we join Jesus in becoming a part of God’s family.

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit would open your eyes to see theGod who chooses a firstborn to rescue his people from slavery. And may you seeJesus as the firstborn from the dead who has conquered Satan’s kingdom and made us heirs with him.