“The Israelites Struggle”

 

Slave masters relay Pharaoh’s harsh new orders. Israelites scramble across Egypt to find straw. Despite their efforts, they’re beaten for not meeting quotas.

 It reads in Exodus 5:10–14 Easy: So, the slaves’ masters and the leaders of the work went to the Israelite people. They said to them, ‘Pharaoh says, “Now I will not give you straw. You must try to find straw for yourselves. But you will still have to make the same number of bricks.”’ So, the people went everywhere in the land of Egypt, to get straw from the fields. The slaves’ masters made the Israelites work quickly. They said, ‘Finish all your work for each day, as much as when we gave straw to you.’ Pharaoh’s slave masters hit the Israelite leaders who had authority over the people. They said to them, ‘Why have you not made the complete number of bricks today, as you did before?’

Lord Jesus, You see when we are treated unfairly. You hear the cries of those who are burdened and broken. When the work is too heavy and the pain too deep, Be our strength and our shelter. Help us endure when others demand more than we can give. Remind us that You are near, even when we feel forgotten. Bring justice to those who suffer, and hope to those who are weary.  Bring peace and comfort. Love You, thank You, praise You and give You all the honor and glory in Your Precious Name Jesus, Amen and Amen.