I am rereading Exodus this week and came to the passages which tell of the Egyptian plagues and the difficulty Moses had in convincing Pharaoh to let the Hebrew people go free. You see, Moses was not just asking Pharaoh to release his people from slavery; he was also requesting that they go out to the wilderness to worship Yahweh, the one true God. I had forgotten that Pharaoh does not simply harden his heart with each request and say NO...and then finally relent and say YES. In fact, many times Pharaoh gave a condition...a compromise...to allow the Hebrew people their freedom to go and worship God but in a limited way. Let's look at the compromises Pharaoh suggests and consider them for a moment as they relate to our lives today.
After the fourth plague (flies), we see the first compromise that Pharaoh suggests:
"So Pharaoh said, 'I will let you go to sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness, only you must not go very far away.'" --Exodus 8:28
You see, Pharaoh gave the Hebrew people permission to leave and worship the Lord...but to go only so far in doing so. He didn't want them to truly follow the Lord with all their hearts, minds, souls, and strength. Oh, how often we see this today! We are told by society that being "spiritual" is OK...but once we mention the gospel of Jesus Christ, they call us "intolerant" and they think we go too far! One way to heaven? No way! But we as Christ's true followers say YES! Jesus Christ ALONE is the way, the truth, and the life and no man will get to the Father except by Him (John 14:6)! We also know that God wants all of us and our total commitment in following Him. There is no going only "so far" with God Almighty!
After the eighth plague (locusts), we see the second compromise that Pharaoh suggests:
"The Lord be with you, if ever I let you and your little ones go! Look, you have some evil purpose in mind. No! Go the men among you, and serve the Lord, for that is what you are asking." --Exodus 10:10-11
In this statement, Pharaoh is telling the men to go...but to leave their children behind in Egypt. With the children left behind, Pharaoh knows that the hearts and affections of the men will also be left behind. Even more so, Pharaoh knows that the faith of these men will not be imparted to the next generation! Oh...how Satan tempts us to do this, too! He seems content to let us worship with our heads, as he knows that if it does not involve our affections, then it will be meaningless. He is also content to let us have a "personal" faith while we neglect to teach it to our children. But we as Christ's followers know that one of our most important jobs as parents is to teach God's Word to our little ones and to pray with them! They need to watch our faith in action! I am reminded how Moses later told his people in Deuteronomy to teach their children about God and His law in every moment of every day (6:6-9) and how Joshua would later announce to the Hebrew nation, "Choose this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24: 15). Our faith is not just about US--it is to impact every relationship in our lives and most importantly, it is to be taught and imparted to our children!
Finally, we see Pharaoh's last compromise after the ninth plague (darkness):
"Go, serve the Lord; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind." --Exodus 10:24
Oh...now this is a doozy. Pharaoh is saying a few things here. First of all, flocks and herds were the people's currency back in that day. So, in effect, Pharaoh is saying to go, but leave behind their money. However, flocks and herds were also used by the Hebrew people as sacrifices to the Lord. So, Pharaoh is granting them permission to leave and worship the Lord...but without sacrificing their livestock to Him. Either way you look at it, Pharaoh is asking that they not sacrifice to the Lord and to keep back their possessions from God. I see this compromise so often in our day! If you just look at church giving statistics, American church-goers give on average only 3% of their income (of those who give at all), giving far below the tithe as commanded and modeled in the Scriptures (10 percent of income)**. I have also talked with many Christian friends whose money is still in Egypt...and it is disheartening. Many of them lack joy, peace, and marital unity (in cases where one spouse desires to tithe and the other does not). This one can be sly and stealthy as it often goes unnoticed by others, but it can rob us believers of SO many blessings!
So, there we have it--three compromises proposed by Pharaoh and ultimately rejected by Moses and the Hebrews. Sadly, all ten plagues were carried out by God against the nation of Egypt and ultimately the firstborn of every unbelieving household was killed by the angel of death (only those who instituted the Passover were spared). Moses and his people plundered the Egyptians and left Egypt under the protection of God's presence as seen by a pillar of smoke, by day, and fire, by night. They would go out to the wilderness with their children, their possessions (and those of the Egyptians) to fully worship the Lord! (They will go on to struggle with idolatry, but I will leave that discussion for a future post!)
As we reflect upon the plagues and the Exodus story, let us recall to mind these three compromises of Pharaoh and how they are still seen to this day in our nation. Oh, how I wish we ALL as Christians would leave Egypt and take ALL that we have...our children...our affections...our possessions...to worship God as HE intended in a fully committed and intimate relationship with Him in the wilderness! Only then can we experience TRUE joy and blessings as we dare to go ALL IN with Him!
**(Barna Group in 2001)
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