Pestilence, Sword, Famine

As we continue our story in the Book of Exodus, more narrowly Exodus 1:1-15:21, and now more specifically Exodus 4:18-7:7, we have covered everything in Exodus 5 except an intriguing statement in Exodus 5:3.

The setting is this: Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh, stating that Yahweh, the God of Israel, commands that the Israelites go celebrate a festival to Yahweh in the wilderness three days. Pharaoh replies that Pharaoh does not "know" Yahweh, and thus has no reason to let the Israelites go into the wilderness. (Exodus 5:1-2). In response, Moses and Aaron say to Pharaoh:
"The God of the Hebrews has revealed himself to us; let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the Lord [Yahweh] our God, OR HE WILL FALL UPON US WITH PESTILENCE OR SWORD." (Exodus 5:3). Exodus 5:3 is an almost exact repetition of Exodus 3:18 which Yahweh declared to Moses at the burning bush on Mount Horeb near Midian EXCEPT FOR THE FINAL STATEMENT: OR HE WILL FALL UPON US WITH PESTILENCE OR SWORD.

Did Moses [and Aaron] "make this up" as an "argument" to try to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelites go into the wilderness? Or, did Moses [and Aaron] inferred from this on the basis of Yahweh's instructions in Exodus 3:18? Does "He [Yahweh] will fall on US" mean the Israelites, the Egyptians, or both? If the latter is the case, is this a prefiguration for the ten plagues to follow in Exodus 7:8-11:10? To me, this is a series of puzzling questions.

One matter is very clear: according to the Bible, God often punishes disobedient people by "pestilence, sword, and famine." Numerous passages in Jeremiah and Ezekiel declare that Yahweh will punish disobedient Jews near the time of the Babylonian invasion in 587 B. C. by "pestilence, sword, and famine." Here are a few texts if you want to read and study and pray about them:
Jeremiah 14:15-16, 18; 15:2; 16:4; 27:8, 13; 28:8; 29:17; 32:36.
Ezekiel 5:12; 7:15; 33:27-28; 35:8-9.
Read these texts in their contexts. Look for additional texts in your concordance.

This is indeed an "unpleasant" biblical teaching. Some people dismiss this or ignore this or even reject this as an Old Testament teaching. Have you read the New Testament? The New Testament has NO teaching, NO warning about God's punishment against those who refuse to repent and return to God? God is unbelievably patient and merciful and gracious and tolerant.

BUT, according to the Bible, there comes a point at which God says: THIS CONTINUAL REBELLION AGAINST ME STOPS RIGHT HERE!!! Thinks through Amos 7:1-9. Then think through Matthew 25:41-46; Romans 1:20-32; Galatians 5:19-21; Hebrews 10:26-31--and there are MANY ADDITIONAL Biblical teachings.

NO!!! NO!!! NO!!! I do not want to revert back to the old view of several decades ago filled with negative preaching and works salvation "religion." At the same time, if we believe and accept the teachings of the Bible, God, our gracious God, our merciful God, our patient God, CAN and WILL punish us if we insist on rejecting God and turning away from God and develop a "pattern of sinful living" over life.

I have no intention of giving anyone a "guilt trip." But I do believe we must accept God and his ways seriously. Tell me how YOU respond to this biblical thought. And how are you going through the Book of Exodus?

John Willis