ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Sapate Ma’asi 5, 2023

Heavy Work and Hard Hearts תכבד העבדה 

NGAUE MAMAFA PEA MO E LOTO FEFEKA  

EXODUS 5:9

[PHARAOH SAID.] "LET HEAVIER WORK BE LAID ON THE MEN THAT THEY MAY LABOR AT IT AND PAY NO REGARD TO LYING WORDS."

EXODUS 5:9

Pea folofola ‘a Felo; Vakai, ‘oku tokolahi eni ‘a e kau tuku‘uta na, pea ‘oku mo fakamālōlō kinautolu mei he‘enau ngaahi kavenga.

Hidden in the phrase tikbad ha'avodah ("heavier work") is a masterful suggestion of God's future plan. Tikbad is from the root kavad ("heavy or hard"), which will also be used to describe the "hard" heart of Pharaoh (8:15). And ha’avodah, from the root avad, refers not only to "work" but also to the "service" or "worship" that Israel will give to the Lord (12:25). Thus as the story develops, this "heavier work”  that the king lays on Israel will give way to his self-destructive hard heart and Israel's worship of their God. Pharaoh's command to make things worse for Israel only makes things much worse for him and his nation. God turns the tables on Pharaoh.

We see something similar when Pilate presented Jesus to the crowd and they cried, "His blood be on us and on our children!" (Matt. 27:25). Hidden in the words they meant for evil was the plan God had for good. The blood of Jesus would indeed be on them-atoning blood, restoring blood, that would remove their hearts of stone and give them hearts of flesh (Ezek. 36:26). Reconciled to him, they would worship as the new and redeemed church, "the Israel of God" (Gal. 6:16).

Create in us clean hearts, O God, and renew right spirits within us, that we may worship you.