ESOCS Devotional 28 May 2026 – Jesus: The Lord of Lords
MEMORY VERSE: “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.” Exodus 5:2 KJV
TEXT: EXODUS 5:1-14
Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ ”
2 And Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.”
3 So they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go three days’ journey into the desert and sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.”
4 Then the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people from their work? Get back to your labor.” 5 And Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are many now, and you make them rest from their labor!”
6 So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying, 7 “You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ 9 Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words.”
10 And the taskmasters of the people and their officers went out and spoke to the people, saying, “Thus says Pharaoh: ‘I will not give you straw. 11 Go, get yourselves straw where you can find it; yet none of your work will be reduced.’ ” 12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw. 13 And the taskmasters forced them to hurry, saying, “Fulfill your work, your daily quota, as when there was straw.” 14 Also the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as before?”
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At the end of Aaron’s presentation of Moses to Israel’s leaders concerning the planned exodus, they both went to speak to Pharaoh. They told him what the Lord God of Israel has mandated him to do, “let my people go…” As Pharaoh proved stubborn, Moses and Aaron persisted, and declared that the Lord God of the Hebrews has met with them, and so, he should let them go. In his obstinacy, Pharaoh insisted, asserting that he knows not any Lord.
Who actually is a lord? A Lord is someone in authority. Jesus is the highest Lord of all, hence He is acclaimed the Lord of Lords. He is God (John 1:1) – the God of Israel, who reigns in glory, majesty and strength. At the time of the exodus, He revealed Himself as “Lord,” as Yahweh, the God who is always present. He is the loving and covenant Redeemer of His people Israel. He called on the Israelites to trust and respect Him.
The New Testament interprets many of the Old Testament statements about the Lord to refer to Jesus Christ, and even ascribing to Him the title “Lord of Lords.” The unique Christian confession in the New Testament is that Jesus Christ is the risen Lord, and the only Supreme Lord. The whole of the created order in the universe comes under His Lordship, (Colossians 1:16-17). He wants us to confess Him as Lord in our lives. Everyone, as a matter certainty, will someday make this confession, whether willingly or otherwise. Jesus is Lord forever. He is the King of kings, and Lord of lords. O come, let us adore Him.
Reflections
- Jesus Christ: the only Lord who doubles as God.
Prayer
- Lord Jesus, I will worship you forever.
FURTHER READING: 1 Kings 8:1-21; John 3:21-36; Revelation 1:1-8
ESOCS Devotional 29 May 2026
