Ex 5:4 Then the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people from their work? Get back to your labor."

5 And Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are many now, and you make them rest from their labor!"

6 So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying,

7 "You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.

8 "And you shall lay on them the quota of bricks which they made before. You shall not reduce it. For they are idle; therefore they cry out, saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.'

9 "Let more work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it, and let them not regard false words."

Pharaoh was defiant. He became more harsh, unreasonable and oppressive. He thought that the people must have been given idle moments which caused them to long and daydream of freedom. He raised their workload to an impossible situation. 

Satan is just like Pharaoh. He does not want people to follow God.  He keeps them busy so that they won't have time for Him.