Joel M Bradshaw

 2But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.”–Exodus 5

Pharaoh’s people worshiped an entire pantheon of gods and goddesses of which Pharaoh himself was considered one. Egyptian religion was highly developed with systems in place for every part of life. They took the afterlife so seriously that they mummified remains and preserved people in pyramid tombs that have lasted for thousands of years!

The Hebrew literally reads, “Who is Yahweh?” The very Moses inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the book of Exodus was right there in front of Pharaoh. He not only heard this question, but later would sing it.

“Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? (15:11)

1. WHO IS YAHWEH? I don’t have to obey this God. He is nothing to me or hasn’t done anything for me lately. I have countless other choices to worship. I can provide my own path in life with me at the center.
2. WHO IS LIKE YAHWEH? What Yahweh has done nobody else can do. He alone is in His category. All other choices are lacking and insufficient, including myself. My only hope in life is to follow Yahweh and accept salvation on His terms with Him at the center.

Theologically you are voicing one of those choices as your own. The major theological point of the book of Exodus is to answer Pharaoh’s question.–JMB