5:22–6:1 At the end of this first round, Pharaoh has clearly won. Everyone is discouraged, including Moses, who complained to God. Yahweh responded as though everything was going according to plan. The Lord had told Moses that Pharaoh would refuse (3:19; 4:21)..

The key word in Moses’ complaint is “trouble” (raʿaʿ, “evil plight,” or “catastrophic situation”). The foremen also realized they were in trouble (v. 19). In verse 22 Moses asks, “why have you brought trouble upon this people?” and complains that “Pharaoh . . . has brought trouble upon this people.” Moses and the foremen were correct about the seriousness of the situation. They would either capitulate to Pharaoh or the Lord would have to do something. Moses knew that the problem pivoted on the name of the Lord. Moses began one of hi…