Exodus 5:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

I am aware of many individuals who, much like Pharaoh, proclaim, ‘I do not know God,’ and refuse to release their people from the burdens of clay and bricks. The Lord calls for compassion even in the face of threats; yet among us, how many show no desire to alleviate the heavy toil! Consequently, they are destined not to experience the crossing of the Red Sea. Rather, they are fated to travers a fiery chasm, one that cannot be compared to the Red Sea either in size or intensity, a far more extensive and ferocious expanse, with waves comprised of extraordinary and fearsome flames. Therefore, I implore you, let us be contrite when we ponder the reality of Gehenna. Indeed, there is nothing sweeter than discussing these matters, for there is nothing more bitter than Gehenna itself. You may wonder how a discussion of Gehenna can be sweet. It is because the descent into Gehenna is anything but pleasant; reflections on it, while seemingly harsh, shield us from such ruin. Furthermore, they offer us additional joys; they train our spirits in focus, deepen our reverence, elevate our hearts to mourning, refine our thoughts, and disperse the wicked battalions of desires that assail us, thus healing our souls.

Yet, when beset by relentless and severe plagues, as nearly all of Egypt faced devastation—whether through the transformation of their waters into blood, the onslaught of locusts and hail, the emergence of frogs and gnats, or the encroaching darkness that engulfed the land—only then, albeit with reluctance, did he assure the release of the Israelites. Even still, he persisted in his hard-heartedness, stubbornly resisting the call to liberate the people who had endured such long-standing oppression.

For instance, Pharaoh, either shrouded in the darkness of godlessness or blinded by the polytheism of the Egyptians, though he did not acknowledge the Lord God worshipped by the Israelites, could still obtain a clear understanding of the true God and His service through the power of reason. In line with the teachings of the Apostle Paul, it is worth noting how God reveals His eternal existence to every individual.

1) The randomness observed in nature serves as a clear revelation of God’s existence. Human reason and universal acknowledgment affirm that some entities have a beginning and could not have caused their own existence. For nothing that does not exist can act or exist prior to coming into being. This applies not only to tangible things but also to their origins. These primary causes will lead to an understanding of some eternal, self-existent first causes, which do not exist by chance but rather constantly exist. This original source of all that exists is known as Deity, or God.

2) The reality of the Divine is also supported by the manifest and universal consensus among peoples whose reasoning and moral understanding are not entirely clouded by baseness. This assertion holds, as everything created by human opinion and will cannot hold uniformity across all cultures, being prone to change. The concept of God, however, persists across times and cultures, a fact even acknowledged by the most pagan scholars. This indicates a shared awareness that transcends individual cultures, suggesting an inherent understanding or a tradition passed down from our forebears. Such innate knowledge is not subject to doubt, and it is improbable that our ancestors could have perpetrated a significant lie regarding matters of such importance. Across all parts of the world, wherever humanity exists—among the knowledgeable and the unlearned alike—this understanding of the Divine is universally acknowledged. It is thus unlikely that so many discerning individuals could be misled, while the ignorant might notice the deceptions among nations.

3) The magnificent order present in creation, the intricate design of the human body, the vast variety of plants and herbs, the positioning of waters that facilitates the fruitfulness of the Earth and sustains life, and the precise movements and orbits of celestial bodies all testify to an exquisite Creator who has thoughtfully arranged nature. Each entity exists with a specific purpose, directed not only toward its individual end but also toward a greater collective purpose. This is evident in the behavior of water, which at times defies its natural course. The complex interconnection of the universe is governed in a manner that seamlessly links all parts. Who better than the all-wise Being could govern such diverse actions to achieve intended outcomes? This intentionality cannot be imparted to mere things but instead originates from the all-knowing Mind to which all creation submits. Observations of even the most unlearned creatures demonstrate that some possess the ability to act in an orderly and purposeful manner, akin to rational thought. This is evidenced by the behavior of ants, bees, and other animals, which instinctively flee from harm or seek beneficial outcomes without any natural knowledge to guide them. Therefore, it follows that these creatures are regulated and enhanced by a superior external force—God Himself.

4) As for the heavenly bodies, the sun and moon move in such harmony that they contribute to the Earth’s fertility and promote the well-being of living beings, demonstrating a flawless design. Since mankind is powerless to compel these celestial bodies to serve his purposes, and they are not beholden to him, it follows that a higher intelligence commands them to continuously benefit humanity. This intelligence is none other than the Creator of the stars and of all creation. Moreover, the composition of the visible universe, intricately designed and placed within the depths of the skies, confirms that these wonders were not mere products of chance but the work of an unfathomable mind. Who among us could expect such a splendid and wise arrangement to arise from randomness? Would anyone reasonably think that stones and timber could fortuitously assemble into a magnificent structure, or that scattered letters could inadvertently form a perfect poem?

5) It is unnecessary to dwell on those who reject this clear and irrefutable truth. Throughout history, there have been very few who have denied the existence of God or claimed ignorance thereof. Their numbers are insignificant, and their misguided beliefs are readily dismissed by rational inquiry. This reveals that such delusions arise either from a failure to utilize common sense, which is inherent to all mankind, or from a desire to propose a novel idea in the world—akin to those who might argue snow is black instead of white, or due to a corruption of their understanding, as one with a corrupt palate cannot perceive food and drink in their true nature. The most common reason for diverging from the long-held belief in God is a moral decay among those who oppose the idea of God as the sovereign judge of humanity.

6) It follows that anyone who thinks correctly will recognize that the random interactions of insects and the perpetual cycle of life put forth by atheists are far less plausible and lack solid evidence—they refute their own position. Some attempt to mask their disbelief with absurd and unworthy excuses: they reject God’s existence because they cannot see Him. To them, belief must be grounded in what is visible. By the same reasoning, a disbeliever might reject the existence of their own intellect, since they do not see it. These are the empty musings of those lacking wisdom. Just because we cannot grasp God’s essence with our intellect does not lead us to conclude that there is no God nor a Ruler of the universe. It is characteristic of beings of lower orders not to comprehend those of greater existence. Animals cannot recognize what a human is; they cannot fathom the governance of states, the motions of stars, or navigation of seas—such concepts transcend their understanding. If we acknowledge man’s superior state over animals, we must recognize the superiority of the Being who crafted man. It must be firmly established that there is a Supreme Being whose majesty surpasses human conception, the highest Creator and Ruler of all nature—God, who reveals Himself even to the Gentiles with clarity, as testified by the Apostle: "The mind of God is revealed in them: God has revealed Himself to them."

Pharaoh questioned, "Who is Jehovah?" claiming, "I know not Jehovah." This ignorance could not have lasted long; the significance of this name was a fundamental aspect of the divine attributes known even to Egypt’s earliest priests, who are believed to have espoused monotheism. This indicates Pharaoh's intentional disregard for God, whom he perceived solely as the deity of the oppressed people.