Detailed English Explanation
1. “And they shall hearken to thy voice”
God first gives Moses encouragement. Moses had expressed concerns about whether the Israelites would believe him and listen to him. God assures him that the elders of Israel will hear his voice.
This teaches that Moses would not be acting according to his own personal authority. His leadership would be based upon the message God had given him.
The phrase also highlights the importance of listening. Before Israel could begin its journey, the people needed to hear the message concerning God’s purpose for them. Their response to that message would become an important part of the events that followed.
2. “Thou and the elders of Israel”
Moses was not told to approach Pharaoh entirely by himself. He would go together with the elders of Israel.
The elders represented the community and had an important leadership role among the Israelites. Their presence demonstrated that Moses’ message was connected with the people as a whole.
This also illustrates the importance of responsible leadership. Moses had been chosen for a special mission, but he was still working in connection with the leaders of Israel.
3. “Unto the king of Egypt”
The person Moses was required to approach was Pharaoh, the powerful ruler of Egypt.
This was a significant challenge. Pharaoh represented the political authority that controlled the Israelites and had kept them in bondage.
God nevertheless instructed Moses to speak to him. The command demonstrates that God’s purposes were greater than the power of Pharaoh. Moses did not need to become powerful himself before carrying out God’s command. He needed to faithfully deliver the message he had received.
4. “The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us”
This statement identifies the source of the request.
Moses and the elders were not presenting an ordinary political demand. They were declaring that the God of the Hebrews had met with them and had given them a command concerning worship.
The expression “God of the Hebrews” emphasizes the relationship between God and the people descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The message also establishes that Israel’s identity was connected to its worship of God. Their departure from Egypt was not merely a political or economic matter. It was connected with God’s covenant relationship with His people.
5. “And now let us go, we beseech thee”
The wording is respectful. Moses was instructed to make a request to Pharaoh rather than simply announce that the Israelites would leave immediately.
The phrase “we beseech thee” expresses an appeal or earnest request.
At the same time, the respectful wording does not mean that Pharaoh possessed ultimate authority over God’s purposes. The narrative that follows makes clear that Pharaoh would resist the request, and the conflict would eventually reveal God’s power and authority.
6. “Three days’ journey into the wilderness”
The Israelites were to travel into the wilderness for a period associated with three days’ journey.
The wilderness was an appropriate place for the Israelites to worship because they needed to separate themselves from the environment in which they were enslaved and worship God according to His command.
The wilderness would later become a major setting in Israel’s history. After leaving Egypt, the Israelites would spend many years in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land.
7. “That we may sacrifice to the LORD our God”
This is one of the most important parts of the verse.
The stated purpose of the journey was worship and sacrifice. Israel’s deliverance was connected with serving and worshiping God.
This principle is significant throughout Exodus. God was not merely bringing Israel out of one geographical location and into another. He was calling His people into a relationship of obedience and worship.
Freedom in the biblical story therefore has a purpose. Israel was being delivered so that the people could live according to God’s will.
Spiritual Lessons from Exodus 3:18
God prepares His servants
Moses had doubts and questions, but God patiently provided him with instructions. This shows that a person receiving a difficult responsibility may need guidance and reassurance.
God’s message should be delivered faithfully
Moses was given specific words to speak. His responsibility was to communicate God’s message accurately rather than replace it with his own ideas.
Worship is central to God’s purpose
The Israelites were instructed to go into the wilderness so that they could sacrifice to God. Worship was not presented as an insignificant activity. It was central to the reason given for their journey.
Leadership can involve courage
Moses had to approach Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt. The task required courage because Pharaoh had authority over the Israelites. Yet Moses was commanded to go because God had given him the mission.
Deliverance has a purpose
The Exodus was not simply an escape from suffering. Israel was being brought out so that the people could worship and serve God. The verse therefore connects freedom with responsibility.
Exodus 3:18 Explanation in Urdu
آیت کا اردو مفہوم
خروج 3:18 میں God موسیٰ کو بتاتے ہیں کہ اسرائیل کے بزرگ موسیٰ کی آواز سنیں گے۔ پھر موسیٰ کو اسرائیل کے بزرگوں کے ساتھ مصر کے بادشاہ کے پاس جانے اور یہ پیغام دینے کا حکم دیا جاتا ہے کہ عبرانیوں کے God نے ان سے ملاقات کی ہے۔ اس لیے وہ درخواست کریں کہ انہیں تین دن کی مسافت تک بیابان میں جانے دیا جائے تاکہ وہ اپنے God کے حضور قربانی اور عبادت کر سکیں۔
“And they shall hearken to thy voice”
اس جملے میں God موسیٰ کو تسلی دیتے ہیں کہ اسرائیل کے بزرگ اس کی بات سنیں گے۔ موسیٰ کو یہ فکر تھی کہ لوگ اس کی بات پر یقین کریں گے یا نہیں، لیکن God اسے یقین دلاتے ہیں کہ اس کی قیادت کو قبول کیا جائے گا۔
یہ بات ہمیں بتاتی ہے کہ God نے موسیٰ کو ایک خاص مقصد کے لیے مقرر کیا تھا اور اس کا پیغام ذاتی رائے نہیں بلکہ God کی طرف سے دیا گیا پیغام تھا۔
“Thou and the elders of Israel”
موسیٰ کو اکیلے فرعون کے سامنے جانے کے بجائے اسرائیل کے بزرگوں کے ساتھ جانے کا حکم دیا گیا۔ بزرگ قوم کے نمائندہ اور رہنما تھے۔
اس سے اجتماعی قیادت کی اہمیت ظاہر ہوتی ہے۔ موسیٰ کو خاص ذمہ داری دی گئی تھی، لیکن وہ قوم کے دوسرے رہنماؤں کے ساتھ مل کر کام کرتا تھا۔
“Unto the king of Egypt”
موسیٰ کو مصر کے بادشاہ یعنی فرعون کے پاس جانا تھا۔ یہ ایک بہت بڑا کام تھا کیونکہ فرعون طاقتور حکمران تھا اور اسرائیلی لوگ اس کے ملک میں غلامی کی حالت میں رہ رہے تھے۔
اس کے باوجود God نے موسیٰ کو فرعون کے سامنے جانے کا حکم دیا۔ اس سے ظاہر ہوتا ہے کہ God کا مقصد انسانی طاقت سے بڑا تھا۔
“The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us”
یہ پیغام واضح کرتا ہے کہ اسرائیل کا معاملہ صرف سیاسی آزادی کا معاملہ نہیں تھا۔ عبرانیوں کا God ان کے ساتھ تعلق رکھتا تھا اور انہیں اپنی مرضی کے مطابق چلنے کے لیے بلا رہا تھا۔
موسیٰ کو فرعون کے سامنے یہ اعلان کرنا تھا کہ ان کا God ان سے ملا ہے اور انہیں عبادت کے لیے بلایا ہے۔
“Let us go, we beseech thee”
یہاں درخواست کا انداز مؤدبانہ ہے۔ موسیٰ کو فرعون سے کہا گیا کہ وہ اسرائیلیوں کو جانے کی اجازت دے۔
لیکن اس ادب کے باوجود اصل اختیار God کے مقصد میں تھا۔ آگے کی کہانی ظاہر کرتی ہے کہ فرعون نے مزاحمت کی، مگر آخرکار God نے اسرائیل کو مصر سے نکالا۔
“Three days’ journey into the wilderness”
اسرائیلیوں کو بیابان میں تین دن کی مسافت تک جانے کی درخواست کی گئی۔ بیابان مصر کی غلامی کی زندگی سے ایک الگ جگہ تھی جہاں اسرائیل God کی عبادت کر سکتا تھا۔
بعد میں بیابان اسرائیل کی تاریخ کا ایک اہم حصہ بن گیا، کیونکہ مصر سے نکلنے کے بعد قوم نے ایک طویل عرصہ بیابان میں گزارا۔
“That we may sacrifice to the LORD our God”
آیت کا آخری حصہ اس بات کو واضح کرتا ہے کہ سفر کا مقصد عبادت تھا۔
God اسرائیل کو صرف غلامی سے نکالنا نہیں چاہتے تھے بلکہ انہیں اپنی عبادت اور فرمانبرداری کے لیے بلاتے تھے۔ اس لیے Exodus کی کہانی میں آزادی کا مقصد بہت اہم ہے۔
یہ آیت ہمیں یہ سبق دیتی ہے کہ God کی طرف سے دی جانے والی نجات اور آزادی کا مقصد ایک ذمہ دار اور فرمانبردار زندگی بھی ہے۔