I Do Not Know the Lord

“I Do Not Know the Lord”

Text: Exodus 5:1–2

In Exodus 5, Moses and Aaron deliver a bold and divine message to Pharaoh:

“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” (Exod. 5:1)

But Pharaoh’s reply is defiant and dismissive:

“Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” (Exod. 5:2)

This short exchange is a collision of two worldviews: God’s authority versus human pride. And Pharaoh’s response reveals more than a personal refusal—it reflects the heart of rebellion that still resists God today.

Pharaoh’s Response: Rejection and Ignorance

Pharaoh responds with two declarations:

1. “Who is the Lord?”
   Pharaoh didn’t deny gods existed—he had a whole pantheon of them. But Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, was unknown to him. He saw no reason to submit to this foreign deity.

2. “I do not know the Lord… I will not let Israel go.”
   This wasn’t just ignorance—it was willful ignorance. Pharaoh’s heart was proud and closed. His mind was made up before he heard the message.

Significance:

• Pharaoh’s rejection highlights the natural human resistance to God’s rule.

• It foreshadows the hardening of his heart throughout the plagues.

• It sets the stage for God to make Himself known—through mighty acts that will answer Pharaoh’s question: “Who is the Lord?”

The World Still Says: “I Don’t Know the Lord”

Many today echo Pharaoh’s words—not always in anger or defiance, but in confusion, indifference, or ignorance:

• “I don’t know the Lord.”

• “Why should I obey Him?”

• “How do I even know He’s real?”

Sometimes this comes from arrogance, like Pharaoh. But often, it comes from lack of experience with God’s truth and love. And here is where we enter the picture.

Our Response to Those Who Don’t Know the Lord

1. Be Patient and Compassionate.
Not everyone is Pharaoh. Some genuinely don’t know God because they’ve never seen Him modeled. We can be the first glimpse of God’s love they encounter.

“Always be prepared to give an answer… with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)

2. Point Them to the Lord Through Your Life.
Pharaoh needed to see God’s power. Many today need to see God’s love—through us.

Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16)

3. Speak Boldly—but Humbly—About Who God Is.
Moses didn’t back down from Pharaoh. And we shouldn’t shrink from speaking about our faith. But like Moses, we can speak with humility, knowing it’s God who works through us.

4. Pray for God to Reveal Himself.
Ultimately, only God can change hearts. He can show Himself to those who say, “I don’t know the Lord”—just as He revealed Himself in Egypt.

The Lord Will Make Himself Known

Pharaoh said, “I don’t know the Lord.”
By the end of the story, he knew. All of Egypt knew. The plagues, the Passover, the parting of the sea—all answered Pharaoh’s question.

But let’s not miss this: God wanted to be known not just as Judge, but as Deliverer. And that’s the same heart God has today.

“This is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)

When the World Doesn’t Know God

So what do we do when someone says, “I don’t know the Lord”?
We don’t argue them into faith. We show them. We live out the truth. We speak with grace. And we pray that the Lord who revealed Himself in Egypt will also reveal Himself to them—through His Word, His Spirit, and even through us.

Let’s be people who know the Lord—and make Him known.

Prayer:

Lord, we live in a world where many say, “I don’t know the Lord.” Help us be vessels of Your love and truth. Teach us to respond with grace, boldness, and compassion. And may those who don’t know You come to know You through Jesus, Your Son, our Savior. Amen.

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