Words are important. Without words, it is hard to communicate. Words form commands. Words bring comfort, but they can also bring pain. When I was a child, we had a saying; “sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” But you know, that’s not quite true. Words may not hurt us physically, but they have the power to hurt us emotionally and spiritually. We really need to think carefully about the words we use; they’re powerful.
Because words are powerful, God chose to reveal Himself to us in words. In fact, Jesus is referred to as the Word, capital W. And He said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” So, words are important, and we must be careful how we use them. That’s why, in my teaching for today, I am giving a warning to you in this title: WATCH WHAT YOU SAY!
Pharaoh was a man who did not watch his words. He spoke out of his pride and human wisdom. He didn’t properly think about the consequences his words might have. What he did, though, prepared the way for God to deal very severely with him. That’s why it is so important for you and me to watch what we say. The Scripture text is found in Exodus 5:1-14.
1. And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.
2. And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
3. And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.
4. And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.
5. And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.
6. And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,
7. Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8. And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
9. Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.
10. And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.
11. Go ye, get your straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.
12. So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.
13. And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.
14. And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as heretofore?
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