Exodus 5:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He stated, unlike the Egyptians who worshipped a calf, pig, goat, or other idols—objects fashioned in their temples—we serve the one true God, the Creator of the universe. The God of the Hebrews is supreme, incomparable to the deities of Egypt, and invites us into the wilderness to present Him acceptable offerings.

The term Egypt signifies a shadowy realm, which we should interpret spiritually as an admonition to avoid anything that obscures the truth. Having emerged from a land ruled by a tyrant, which I refer to as Satan, we must courageously strive towards a life of liberation and purity, adhering to righteous principles, untainted by demonic influences. Only then can we present God with the fruits of righteousness. Moses commanded the Israelites to journey three days into the wilderness, illustrating that they were not ensnared by the depths of immorality and tyranny. The astute Moses crafted a reasoned argument, emphasizing the necessity for those called by God to depart from Egypt, saying, “Lest we encounter death or violence.”

What does this imply? It may not be clear to those seeking understanding. Allow me to clarify. Among the Egyptians, a longstanding practice—and one still observed by idolaters—is that those entering temples must avoid contact with a corpse, as encountering death was regarded as the utmost contamination. Therefore, Moses, drawing on their customs, led the Israelites to conclude that they could not present a pure sacrifice if they happened to come across a dead person, whether from natural causes or through murder. He said, “You possess temples and sacred spaces with barriers and gates, allowing you to offer sacrifices without contamination. However, when we sacrifice in the open city, beside streams and fields, we cannot escape the sight of death due to the absence of barriers.”

This reasoning aligns with Egyptian customs, yet Moses’ message holds deeper spiritual significance. We are called to make sacrifices as if we are in the wilderness, celebrating holiness and distancing ourselves from Egypt and the presence of death. To offer a true and clean sacrifice to the sovereign God, we must possess a mind that is serene and unclouded by earthly darkness, consciously turning away from all that leads to decay and destruction. Dead works stem from our fleshly nature, and worldly distractions are those that taint the pure clarity of our minds. History affirms that those who seek to serve God with integrity must deliberately avoid such influences.