Pharaoh Threatens
By Pastor José Ordóñez
“For the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.”
— Exodus 14:13
The journey of Israel from Egypt to Canaan is a spiritual example for the Church. Before this journey began, Pharaoh did not want to allow the Israelites to depart from Egypt and he did everything possible to prevent it. That is the same thing that Satan does to conquer us, if not fully, area by area, member by member, or family by family.
Each time that it seemed that Pharaoh would yield to allow their departure, he gave different excuses so that they would not all depart with all their possessions. But God’s plan was that His people would depart completely, and that none of them nor their possessions would have anything to do with Egypt. With that end, God placed in the heart of Moses the strength and determination to not allow himself to be manipulated by Pharaoh’s schemes.
In like manner, God desires that, as His people, we would depart and set ourselves completely apart from Egypt, and for none of the members of His people to have anything to do with the world’s influence. God placed in Scripture the example of Moses and Israel in Egypt, for our teaching. Today, we are responsible for combatting the schemes and tricks of the Egyptians and of the Pharaoh of Egypt, Satan, who will attempt through all means to keep us in Egypt, and continue exercising their evil influence over us, our families, and our possessions.
The issue at stake is whether or not the desire of the Lord’s heart is fulfilled in us. He longs for us to never again return to see the Egyptians, but Pharaoh wants to continue exercising lordship over our lives, and when he realizes that we are intending to depart from Egypt, he will start using his schemes to prevent us from departing easily.
Remaining in Egypt
The first of Pharaoh’s schemes was to tell them to worship the true God, but to do so in the land of Egypt. Moses was emphatic when he replied that they must depart out of Egypt in order to serve their God. To remain in the land of Egypt meant to continue being their slaves. Satan is interested in having us Christians continue being friends of Egypt, because he knows that the friends of the world are the enemies of God. Pharaoh knew that though Israel might worship God, they would remain under his yoke of slavery if they remained in Egypt.
Moses replies that he could not give in to that. Neither should we. Remaining in Egypt, even when we do all we can to worship God, means remaining under the lordship of Satan. As Christians, we should come out from the midst of Egypt and cast off the influence of this world to devote ourselves to serving God. When, in our heart, we “remain in Egypt,” we are preventing our lives from belonging to God.
Leaving Wives and Children in Egypt
The second scheme involved authorizing Israel’s departure so long as they left their wives and children in Egypt. That is the malicious satanic tactic for conquering our children. If he can no longer keep the adults, he will be satisfied with trapping our children in his claws. He knows that the lambs are an easier prey, and that is another of Satan’s characteristics: he will attack the weakest sheep.
Pharaoh’s idea was the following: as he is unable to keep the adults in the land, he will allow them to leave, and assume they are a lost case. But that is only a change of tactic: he no longer has his eyes on the adults, but on those who are the apple of those adults’ eyes. When Satan is able to trap the children, who are the center of the parents’ love, they face a great dilemma. Their heart is divided between following God wholeheartedly or going to their little children’s side, who remain under slavery to Satan.
How can we confront this problem even now? The prophet Malachi says that God has it on His heart to raise a godly seed, reserved for Him. In order for this to become a reality, we adults must work strenuously so that our children may be instructed in the holy way and may remain in Him at all costs. This implies a daily work, at every hour and moment of the day. It also implies firmness on our part, to obstruct our children in their way each time that they are drawn toward the gleaming attractions of Egypt. If we dare to give them a resounding, “NO” to their dangerous flirtations with the world, we will be delivering them from eternal hell. Let us dare to do so!
Leaving the Livestock Behind
Pharaoh’s last attempt upon seeing that he could not keep the people, both adults and children, was to do all that was possible to keep the livestock. Pharaoh knew that where the Israelites’ treasure was, there would their heart be also. Satan knows that material possessions are an appetizing attraction for every human heart.
It is interesting that livestock is something that we have earned. If we think about this term, livestock is the product of our effort and dedication. And, of course, that which has cost us something is what we value much more. What we have earned can become our god, and it will be very difficult to give up that which cost us so much. God knows this. Satan knows it also.
Truly, what is at stake here is who will be the king of each believer’s heart. If our heart is divided between the true God and the god Mammon (riches), Satan knows that he has won a battle. It is necessary that we determine in our heart who we will serve. That we have the conviction to be able to say, as Moses did,
“[In Egypt] there shall not an hoof be left behind.” No matter how much effort we have invested in obtaining what we have, that should never take a place of importance in our heart. May God be the only King in our heart.
In summary, God’s plan is to deliver Israel from all of Egypt’s influence, but Satan was not going to release them easily. Pharaoh tried through all means to prevent their departure. When he observed that an attempt failed, he only changed his strategy, time after time. But God wanted Israel to never again see, think, or dream of Egypt. That is why Moses demonstrated this great determination. He did not surrender to Pharaoh’s plans, but rather showed, with firmness, that he served God wholeheartedly, with all their families and possessions.
Beloved brethren, let us not surrender to Pharaoh’s cunning schemes. Let us daily place our lives before His throne, along with our children and possessions, taking steps that will draw us closer to Him, more and more. Let us not give rest to our eyes until we have completely departed from Egypt, completely rejecting its influence. Let us not cease to cry out to God for our children, that they may not perish by drowning in the currents of the unclean river of Egypt.
