LET MY PEOPLE GO
Robert Marsh
November 7, 2009
Midland SDA Church
Text: Exodus 8:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
Today I wanted to share with you…and I say “share” for at least two reasons: first anything of value that I may express does not originate from me – I only try to pass on or share things that have been given to me.
Secondly, I know I share in the sin problems that are always alluded to whenever Biblical themes are investigated…so I cannot rightly point my finger at anyone and leave myself out of the picture.
I also appreciate the willingness of our choir to participate in presenting this sermon. Thank you.
Prayer
When we consider Biblical writings we find examples where the truths being presented are applicable in different ways.
We see the literal words and situation and we may draw some corresponding conclusions.
Or we may see there is additional meaning in “symbology”…
Or we may see prophetic predictions…
Or we may see parallels with other prior or subsequent situations.
And all of these in some way can speak to our personal hearts and give us spiritual food and nourishment.
Most of the emphasis I will share today comes closest to looking at possible parallel applications we may see in the Biblical account of Moses’ encounters with Pharaoh.
In some similar and parallel ways we may see how God’s people today have to confront the “Pharaoh” of our time.
I was surprised to note what God called Israel when he was instructing Moses.
He called them his firstborn son.
Ex 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel [is] my son, [even] my firstborn: 4:23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, [even] thy firstborn.
Bible commentaries point out that the Egyptian Pharaohs considered themselves the son of the sun-god Amen-Ra.
So here the God who claims the lowly Israel slaves to be His son is making a request of the Pharaoh. The outcome does not look too promising…it would seem obvious that Pharaoh must have the stronger god than his slaves’ God!
Of all nations in the Bible none were more defiant than Egypt.
It all began when Moses was first called at the burning bush. He made excuses – I’m too tongue tied … I cannot speak.
So Aaron was given to help him. In the Biblical account it is not always clear who actually spoke the words to Pharaoh - Aaron or Moses?
The words always came from God to Moses so Moses always spoke them…either to Pharaoh directly or to Pharaoh through Aaron.
Both seek an interview with Pharaoh.
Moses approaches the stone throne of Pharaoh.
Giant slaves with their fans are there, exotic perfume in the air,
huge pillar supports in place, beautiful red curtains line walls.
Behind these curtains often hid spies waiting to detect any betrayal and ready to thrust their spears. And there is Pharaoh sitting on his throne, defiant.
The palace does daunt Moses he has seen power far greater than Pharaoh. He has come from the very presence of God.
Moses speaks … Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.” Ex 5:1
Vocalist sings first two verses of “Go Down, Moses”
When
Israel was in Egypt land, Let my people go!
Oppressed so hard they could not stand, Let my people go!
Chorus
Go
down, Moses, way down in Egypt land,
tell old Pharao to let my people go!
No more shall they in bondage toil, Let my people go.
Let them
come out with Egypt’s spoil, Let my people go.
With those words a struggle begins…a tug of war which takes 7 chapters to
describe.
Pharaoh’s response in …Ex 5:2 …. Who [is] the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
Pharaoh defiantly says “Who is God?”…
Hardly anything in history compares to the clash of wills as described between Moses and Pharaoh.
The modern Pharaohs of our time would hold God’s people in bondage. So this tug of war plagues Christians today.
The very first challenge has to do with Moses having the people “rest”.
Ex 5:4 And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens. 5:5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now [are] many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.
Pharaoh would still punish God’s people in their employment once they have started the practice of honoring the Sabbath “rest”.
So they were punished…they were required to make the same number of bricks along with the added burden of getting all the straw needed for the process.
Only after the ten plagues …and great trouble for both sides did Pharaoh finally consent to let them go. One plague after another came upon Egypt….
1. Water to blood Ex 7:20
2. Frogs Ex 8:6
3. Lice Ex 8:17
4. Flies Ex 8:24
5. Pestilence on animals. Ex 9:6
6. Boils Ex 9:10
7. Heavy hail 9:23
8. Locusts 10:4
9. Darkness 10:22
10. Death to the first born.
We live with a “Pharaoh” that would keep us in captivity. He is desperate for he knows his time is short.
Sometimes we are too relaxed and do not sense the battle that is going on for the control of our destiny.
In Egypt Pharaoh tried to get them to compromise their worship needs four times but Moses would not give in. Let’s study this counter play because Paul counsels us in 1 Cor 10:11 …
“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
So Paul says these were written for our admonition …to us today … upon who the ends of the world has come.
In Moses’ encounters with Pharaoh he would declare the true God as God instructed him to in
Ex 7:16 “And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.”
The 1st compromise…happens after the plague of flies – the 4th plague. Ex 8:25 says “And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land. “
“Go in the land” Take your animals and worship God ok but why go so far away? Do it right here…You don’t have to leave here.
How similar to the modern Pharaohs today.
I don’t have to go to church. I can be as a good Christian at home.
Have you heard this? “I can watch sermons on TV…I don’t have to leave my comforts. I can do it here.” …..“Church has nothing to offer me.”
Apparently there is no consideration for honoring the counsel from Paul in Hebrews 10:24 where he counsels Christians saying “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: “
“Consider one another” apparently there is more than just our own personal situation to think about.
Paul continues in verse 10:25 “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
“and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” So Paul emphasizes it is even more important as we see the day approaching.
So as we stay home other not so sacred things of the Egyptian world do not seem too important to take note of…
Too often the TV remains active on Sabbath for entertainment and modern Egypt is brought into the home.
And its distractions take us away from uplifting thoughts and themes God would have us observe. How easily this compromise is taken up by our children.
Today’s Pharaoh counsels us “Why be an odd ball? Join the majority – Don’t be so particular.”
He says “Worship God here…don’t go apart.”
But Moses said “Let my people go”
Sing verse 3
Said Pharaoh serve God in the land, Let my people go.
God led them out with a mighty hand, Let my people go.
The 2nd compromise is expressed in Ex 8:28 after Moses rejected the first one “And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: entreat for me.
So he says I will let you go but not too far away from me. Stay within reach of Egypt.
Take your God. Go and worship but don’t go too far from Egypt.
Don’t remove yourself entirely from Egypt.
Don’t cut yourself off from Egypt.…Stay close to the border.
Make short excursions into the wilderness for your religion’s sake but don’t go too far. Flirt with Egypt.
How the modern Pharaohs of today would have us flirt with Egypt. How many today do this?
Come to church once a week apart from Egypt. Come to Sabbath School for the children but not to church service.
The rest of the week they can barely be told from the Egyptians.
Back to the bright lights of Egypt. In engaging in such practices we seem to isolate our religion to Sabbath.
It must not interfere with Egypt. I’ll go to church….but I will never leave Egypt.
I’ll go with you Lord – Leave Egypt? …I’ll never leave Egypt.
So many hang onto Egypt. We sing and read haphazardly.
Religion is a bore. Why? The reason is we are camped too close to Egypt.
We sing:
Sweet Hour of Prayer but fail to go to prayer meeting or have our own devotional prayer time.
Onward Christian soldiers and we have to be drafted into service.
Bless be the tie that binds but the slightest remark offends us.
There shall be showers of blessing but fail come when its raining.
I Love to tell the story but never mention it to our neighbors.
Cast thy burdens on the Lord but be we worry ourselves to a nervous breakdown.
We are Marching to Zion but seldom come to church.
We have not drunk deep at the fountain.
Moses response was let my people go.
Sing #4
No more shall they in bondage toil, Let my people go.
Let them come out with Egypt’s spoil, Let my people go.
3rd compromise is in Ex 10:10 after the plague of locusts – the eighth plague.
“And he said unto them, Let the LORD be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look [to it]; for evil [is] before you. 10:11 Not so: go now ye [that are] men, and serve the LORD; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.
Pharaoh says “I will let you go …your men but keep the little ones here in Egypt”. Let the old do it.
We sometimes subscribe to the tenets of Egypt.
We do desire success for our children in the world and the church.
We are in the world and we have to barter with Egypt.
True, we are in the world but the problem is in the home. Too many leave children in Egypt with the consent of parents. Let him make up his own mind. I won’t force religion.
God instructed the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 6:5 ….
Deut 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 6:8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they
shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 6:9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Yet too often we take no time to have family worship. No blessing at the table.
One hour a week is not enough to teach or “turn on” to religion.
Though we as parents are desperately concerned for our children we want them to survive in the world. We teach music, math , history, mechanics, physical ed, business, science, government etc.
Some parents say my child doesn’t like church anymore. Now if going to church is the only wholesome activity to which your child objects then there is cause for alarm.
But this is only one of many quite needful things that children may object to.
Sometimes we say “I won’t force him… he may come to hate religion”. But what about attending school? Will he end up hating knowledge?
What about hygiene?.. washing or brushing teeth? Maybe he will hate water and grow to be dirty…let him wash when he wants to. Does that make sense?
Mrs. White’s counsel from Adventist Home says….
Where religion is a practical thing in the home, great good is accomplished. Religion will lead the parents to do the very work God designed should be done in the home. Children will be brought up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. {AH 318.2}
The reason why the youth of the present age are not more religiously inclined is that their education is defective. True love is not exercised toward children when they are allowed to indulge passion, or when disobedience of your laws is permitted to go unpunished. As the twig is bent, the tree is inclined. {AH 318.3}
If religion is to influence society, it must first influence the home circle. If children were trained to love and fear God at home, when they go forth into the world, they would be prepared to train their own families for God, and thus the principles of truth would become implanted in society and would exert a telling influence in the world. Religion should not be divorced from home education. {AH 318.4}
How many needful things do responsible people do whether they like it or not?
Getting an education is not always our 1st choice.
Employment is not always our first choice.
Keeping our homes in order is not always our first choice.
Exercise is not always our first choice.
Keeping our bills paid and doing our taxes is not always our first choice.
But sometimes in religious-related areas we can find excuses. Maybe rain keeps us from church…the kids may catch colds. We parents can keep our children in Egypt.
Often times the same rule does not apply to other activities…school, lessons, sports. And the children sense this inconsistency and it can have its adverse effects.
Modern Pharaohs are still trying to keep the children in Egypt. Lets make sure our children are with us. “Moses said let my people go”
The greatest words to come from the master’s lips will be “Where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?” Jer 13:20
Are all your children in the flock?
Sing 5
The Lord told Moses what to do, Let my people go.
Let all the children come out too, Let my people go.
Compromise #4, the last one, comes after the three days of solid darkness. (The ninth plague)
Though this is the last one he only needs one compromise!
Ex 10:24 And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, “Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.”
Only let your flocks and herds stay…Take your children, everything BUT keep back your herds.
What do we equate our herds to? - our possessions. Matt 6:21 says “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. “
Jim Elliot was one of five young men who went to befriend a very antagonistic tribe in the remote jungles of Ecuador. The “Auca” people were known for their resistance to all outsiders.
In his personal journal he recorded a truth he appreciated "He is not a fool who gives up that which he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose." --Jim Elliott, Christian martyr’s journal. 10-28-1949.
(Jim and his friends were all killed in 1956 by savages. But the story does not end there.
The rest of the story tells how the missionary families' forgives the killers and subsequently returns to the jungle village to continue the work…including his wife and daughter.)
This last compromise speaks to our Christian stewardship, of funds yes but also our personal efforts and time.
Folks, have we fully left Egypt? Or escaped Egypt? Or have we left things behind?
It was only after the first born of Egypt began to die before Pharaoh consented to let the people go. May it be the case that none of us compromise with Pharaoh and lose ourselves and our children.
The only thing that matters in this world and the world to come is that which we equate to our love to God and love to fellow man. God’s people will go out as one and leave Egypt.
Moses finally declares victory and says
Ex 10:26 Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; ….
God wants a total surrender – a complete release from Egypt.
Sing 6
Oh let us from Egypt flee, Let my people go.
And may we all in Christ be free, Let my people go.
Canaan is in sight over the horizon. The hills are in sight.
May we all be faithful in our life’s journey and abandon Egypt and seek the promised land.