I do not Know the LORD

 

“That I May Know Him”

Text: Exodus 5:1–2
“Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.” Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.”’”

What would you say to someone who says, “I do not know the Lord”? Not in rebellion, not in mockery, but simply in honesty?
That question was asked long ago by Pharaoh—though his version was full of pride and resistance. But what about today, when someone says it out of confusion, curiosity, or even sadness? “I don’t know the Lord.”

Today, I want us to walk through how God responded to that statement in Exodus and how we can lovingly respond to those who say it today.

Pharaoh’s Words: “I Do Not Know the Lord”

Pharaoh’s statement in Exodus 5:2 was blunt: “I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.”
It was not a question, but a challenge. He saw himself as a god-king. The God of the Hebrews meant nothing to him.

But here’s the key truth: God took that statement seriously—and personally.

Through the plagues and the mighty acts of deliverance, God essentially said, “You will know who I am.” Over and over, God said, “So that you may know that I am the Lord.”

Pharaoh came to know about God through judgment. But it doesn’t have to be that way for others.

What if Someone Today Says, “I Don’t Know the Lord”?

What if a friend, a coworker, a family member says the same words—not with Pharaoh’s arrogance, but with sincere honesty?

It’s more common than you think.

They may not have grown up in church.
They may have heard of God but never met Him.
They may feel unworthy, or unsure where to begin.

Here’s where we come in—not to scold or preach at them, but to gently introduce them to the God we know.

Helping Others Know the Lord

Moses had a mission: to speak on behalf of God, even when it was difficult. We are called to the same.

Here’s how we help others know the Lord:

• Tell Your Story – Share what God has done in your life. People may not understand theology, but they can’t deny your testimony.

• Point Them to Jesus – Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). To know the Lord is to know Jesus.

• Be Patient – God was patient with Moses when he had questions, and He was persistent with Pharaoh even in his rebellion.

• Live What You Speak – Let them see the Lord through your actions, peace, kindness, and integrity.

• Pray for Them – Only the Holy Spirit can open someone’s heart. Never underestimate what your quiet prayers can do.

Why It’s So Important to Know the Lord

Why should someone want to know the Lord?

Because to know the Lord is:

• To walk in truth, not confusion

• To live with hope, not despair

• To find grace instead of guilt

• To experience love that never fails

Jesus said in John 17:3, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

Eternal life is not just about heaven—it's about relationship. It starts now. Knowing the Lord is not about religion, it’s about life—real life.

If someone tells you, “I don’t know the Lord,” don’t panic. That’s a starting place. It’s honest. And it’s where we all once were.

Pharaoh resisted God and was brought low. But others—like the woman at the well, the thief on the cross, or Saul on the Damascus road—came to know the Lord through grace.

Let us be like Moses: willing to speak, even when it’s uncomfortable. Willing to go where God sends us. Willing to be part of God’s plan to help someone say one day, “Now I know the Lord.”

If you’re here today and those words—“I don’t know the Lord”—feel true of you, I invite you to take a step. Ask. Seek. Knock.
God wants to be known. He has revealed Himself in Jesus. And He’s not far from any one of us.

As the Scripture says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).