Exodus 5:8 And the quota of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, you shall lay upon them; you shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore, they cry, saying, let us go and sacrifice to our God.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 258] “The exactions of their taskmasters made its observance apparently impossible. But Moses had shown his people that obedience to God was the first condition of deliverance; and the efforts made to restore the observance of the Sabbath had come to the notice of their oppressors.”… Thus, he went to war against The God of heaven by requiring the Hebrews to violate the Sabbath, and he did not stop there, for once any mortal man sets himself in array against God, he can go on to run the entire gamut of rebellion, which ultimately ends in destruction, if there isn’t any repentance.
He would set himself against God on all levels, and by so doing, he would run the country of Egypt into the ground, until by his foolishness, he would look upon the cold, dead face of his firstborn, and yet he still would not surrender. The religious leaders of his realm, as well those who were in positions of influence would complain unto him that Egypt was being brought to ruins by his so-called intelligence but yet, because they viewed him as being the good god they continued to throw their support behind whatsoever he did.
Thus, those who were under his jurisdiction were worshipping him, because their decision to blindly obey the dictates of their dear leader, regardless of what God says, is what actually constituted worship, even if those who were obeying might privately be upset, and even if they vented their feelings about the stupidity of the king.
Exodus 10: 7 And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!