Exodus 5:7-12 You shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.… I. THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE IN SOCIETY WHO STRIVE TO MAKE THOSE UNDER THEM DO THE IMPOSSIBLE. Pharaoh tried to make the Israelites do the impossible, when he commanded them to make bricks without providing them with straw. This demand of tyranny is heard to-day, in our large factories, and amongst our agricultural population. 1. All require men to do the impossible who wish them to work beyond their capabilities. (1) Physical strength. (2) Intellectual ability. (3) Moral energy. 2. All require men to do the impossible who wish them to work beyond their opportunity. Every man must have time, and a proper time to do his work. He must not be expected to do two things at once. 3. Contemplate the method employed to get men to do the impossible. These methods are various. Some will condescend to flattery and cant to get men to do that for which they are wholly unadapted. Others will use force and persecution. (1) They set taskmasters over us. To watch our conduct. To inspect our work. To augment our burden. To darken our sorrow. (2) They abuse us. They say we are idle, and that even after we have made the best attempt within our power to fall in with their unjust demands. (3) They mock our religious sentiment. "Therefore, ye say, let us go and do sacrifice unto the Lord. They impeach our religious motives. These, then, are the ways and methods in which we are treated, when tyrants endeavour to compel us to do the impossible. (4) Some people will attempt to accomplish the impossible. It will involve you in utter failure and distress at last, when you will get no sympathy from those who urged you to it. II. THAT THE PEOPLE WHO STRIVE TO MAKE THOSE UNDER THEM DO THE IMPOSSIBLE ARE THROWING SOCIETY INTO AN ATTITUDE OF PAIN AND COMPLAINT. "Then the officers of the Children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants." 1. The requirement of the impossible tends to throw society into an attitude of pain. National happiness is to a very large extent the outcome of a free and sympathetic employment of the working classes. 2. The requirement of the impossible tends to throw society into an attitude of complaint. III. THAT THE PEOPLE WHO STRIVE TO MAKE THOSE UNDER THEM DO THE IMPOSSIBLE, AND WHO THROW SOCIETY INTO AN ATTITUDE OF PAIN ARE BUT LITTLE AFFECTED BY THE WOE THEY OCCASION, AND GENERALLY RESENT ANY MENTION OF IT TO THEM. "Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks." 1. Notwithstanding the outcry of the oppressed, the tyrant demands renewed work. "Go therefore now, and work." 2. Notwithstanding the outcry of the oppressed, the tyrant adheres to his cruel measures. "There shall no straw be given you." 3. Notwithstanding the outcry of the oppressed, the tyrant mocks their woe, and treats them with contempt.Lessons: 1. Never require the impossible. 2. Never attempt the impossible. 3. Adapt methods to ends. 4. Cultivate kindly dispositions toward your employers. (J. S. Exell, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves. |
    |