Pharaoh said that the Israelites were lazy, because they wanted to leave to make sacrifices to God. Their special request had nothing to do with being lazy, but this was an easy way for Pharaoh to speak out against this request. The Israelites were requesting to travel a good distance to make sacrifices to God. Does that sound lazy?
In life, we encounter people who do not grasp what you are doing. They may not understand why you won’t work on a Sunday—why you take a day to rest with God. They might not think it is important to attend church on a Wednesday evening when you could be going to the gym or going out to eat with friends. People will see what they want to see and call you whatever leaves their lips.
Pharaoh shouted at the Israelites. “You’re just lazy,” he screamed. But saying this didn’t make it true. Others may never understand your desire to worship God. They will call you lazy. They will call you strange. They will miss the boat. Keep on keeping on. Finish the race.
“But still require them to make the same number of bricks as before. Don’t reduce the quota. They are lazy. That’s why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God.’ But Pharaoh shouted, ‘You’re just lazy! Lazy! That’s why you’re saying, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to the LORD.’” – Exodus 5:8,17 [NLT]
Tania Gutekunst 