Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers: “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working.”
Then the slave drivers and the overseers went out and said to the people, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you any more straw. Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.’”
So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble to use for straw. The slave drivers kept pressing them, saying, “Complete the work required of you for each day, just as when you had straw.”
Pharaoh’s slave drivers beat the Israelites, demanding, “Why haven’t you met your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?”
The Israelites went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why have you treated your servants this way? Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”
Pharaoh said, “Lazy, that’s what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ Now get to work.You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks.”
The Israelites realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You are not to reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day.”
This reading is dedicated to the working men and women of America on Labor Day 2011, when Pharoah is again demanding that people who work for a living do more with less.
"Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him listen!""
Mark 4:9
