We read in Hebrews that "Moses when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible." It seems a very simple matter to read through these verses and admire the faithfulness of God's servant Moses: But how many of us have ever traced through the history of Moses' departure from Egypt to see what a struggle he had with that wily Pharaoh before he was permitted to go? Every possible argument was used by the king to persuade Moses to compromise his purposes, and only a determined persistent faith could ever have withstood the subtle reasonings of this adroit monarch.
I suppose that most of us know that in Scripture Egypt is used as a type of this world away from God. Pharaoh we may look upon as a type of Satan in his opposition to the people of God. Keeping these two types in mind let us trace the Devil's four methods of compromise with God's children to keep them from giving up the world. To make our study the more plain will you turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Exodus and we will examine the experiences in Moses' conflict with Pharaoh.
God's call to His children throughout all ages has always been the same, "Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing." (2 Cor. 6:1717Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (2 Corinthians 6:17).) Or, as God said to Pharaoh, "I will put a division between My people and thy people." (Ex. 8:2323And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be. (Exodus 8:23).) It was ever the purpose and plan of God that there should be a complete line of cleavage between His children and the world. Paul could say of the Cross, "Whereby the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." (Gal. 6:1414But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14).)
Moses' request of Pharaoh was that the children of Israel might "go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as He shall command us." (Ex. 8:2727We will go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as he shall command us. (Exodus 8:27).) We remember that it was on the third day that Jesus arose from the dead, so that the naming of three days' journey would bring to our minds the desire of Moses to carry the people of Israel completely out onto resurrection ground where they might worship as God should command them. It is only a people who have "passed from death unto life" that can acceptably worship God. We were "dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air." (Eph. 2:1-21And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (Ephesians 2:1‑2).) "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor. 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17).) Yes, dear young Christian, God wants us to worship Him on entirely new ground,-the place of resurrection,-three days' journey into the wilderness.
The first compromise that Pharaoh offered Moses was, "Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land." (Ex. 8:2525And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land. (Exodus 8:25).) When the Devil realizes that any one has received the Lord Jesus into his heart and life, and has thus be. come a Christian, then he seeks to rob God of the worship of this Christian's heart. His first compromise is, "Yes, worship God if you must, but do it in the land, that is, in the world." The result is that many Christians are just in that place today. They have saving faith in Christ, but their lives are lived entirely for this world. For then there is no separation from the world at all. In fact they may be great world leaders-so much a part of the world that the latter could not well get along without them. They live like the world; they die like the world; they dress like the world; they manage their business affairs like the world; they read the world’s books, follow the world's amusements, manage the world's politics-in fact the whole outward tenor of their lives would tell us that they would be quite satisfied, if God didn't interfere with their worldly lives in taking them to heaven, to just remain indefinitely down in this world. What a victory it is for Satan when he can ruin a Christian's life by this compromise: "Sacrifice to your God in the land." But Moses is firm, and he tells Pharaoh it must be three days' journey into the wilderness. Nothing short of resurrection ground will satisfy him.
Now Pharaoh offers his second compromise. "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." (Ex. 8:2828And 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. (Exodus 8:28).) Here is the compromise that wins more converts than the first one. The majority of Christians realize that the Word of God teaches a certain amount of separation from the World, so they seek to adjust their lives accordingly. They brand certain pleasures as sinful and decide to give them up-generally of such character as card playing, dancing, drinking, and theater going, etc. But at the same time that some of these grosser forms of worldliness are sacrificed with a desire to satisfy conscience, a host of other worldly connections and affections are carefully retained and enjoyed. The world's social affairs are patronized; the world's sports are applauded; the world's wealth, ease, and luxury' are sought; its politics relished; its fashions aped; its vanities copied; its ambitions nursed; its smiles courted. Success in life is not measured by the extent to which God is being honored, but according to the proportion in which the world esteems them. Ah, young Christian, this is not the victorious life,-the resurrection life, the three days' journey in the wilderness. It is but a poor, beggarly compromise with the Devil, and he knows he is getting the best end of the bargain, for "whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (James 4:44Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4).)
When Pharaoh saw that he prevailed not with this second consideration, he swung on to another tact. Now he proposed, "Go now ye that are men, and serve the Lord." (Ex. 10:1111Not 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. (Exodus 10:11).) But as for the children, they should remain behind. How many of both parents and children have been caught by this compromise of Satan. How often parents excuse their children for their worldly ways by saying, "Well, you must remember that they are still young, and you cannot expect them to give up all these things," and so parents deliberately encourage children in worldly ways that they themselves know to be contrary to Scripture. Parents, it is wrong! "This persuasion cometh not of Him that calleth you." (Gal. 5:88This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. (Galatians 5:8).) No, faith says, "We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters." (Ex. 10:99And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the Lord. (Exodus 10:9).)
For the young people, too, there is an equally searching word here. To how many of us has Satan not said, "Yes, I know it is right for father and mother to be separated from the world, and for the married folks with families, but we young people have to have our fun, and when we grow up we will put aside these things and become separate you the world."
Ah, young Christian, don't you see again that this is the Devil's lie? The very same priceless ransom was paid for your soul at Calvary's tree that ransomed your parents. Do you think that Savior's love thus told out would be satisfied with anything less than your whole heart's affections? Do you want to hang out a sign above the door of certain little recesses of your heart, "No admittance" to the Lord Jesus? Some of God's greatest servants, preachers, and evangelists, were deeply engaged in active service for Him while still in their 'teens. You cannot afford to deny Him even a single year of your precious life. Jesus is coming back again -perhaps this is your last year of opportunity-don't deny Him entrance. Growth in grace is not measured by the calendar, but by depth of communion. God can and will use a surrendered young life to His glory.
As a last and final compromise Pharaoh suggested to Moses, "Go ye, serve the Lord, only let your flocks and your herds be stayed; let your little ones also go with you." (Ex. 10:2424And 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. (Exodus 10:24).) Then, how blessed was the reply of faith, "There shall not an hoof be left behind." (Ex. 10:2626Our 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; and we know not with what we must serve the Lord, until we come thither. (Exodus 10:26).) How the Devil would like to keep our possessions and our business in the world. I have heard people say, "If I attempted to run my business on Christian principles I would starve." Such a statement is an untruth. God expects every detail of the Christian's life to be regulated on Christian principles. To compromise our business relations or seek to hold our possessions on anything but a Christian basis is not of the Spirit of God, but of Satan. Whatever we have been entrusted with, is given us as stewards of `God, and God says, "Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." (1 Cor. 4:22Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2).) How many a Christian, young and, old, has grown lean in soul, and parched in spiritual affections by seeking to deny to his Lord and Master complete control over his property and possessions. "Not a hoof shall be left behind!" How many a poor, struggling missionary would have' had his burdens lightened and his sphere of activity enlarged if only his brethren at home had taken their possessions with them "three days' journey." What a need there is on every hand for consecrated pocket books! Young Christian, God holds you responsible for this truth whether your purse contains a nickel or a double eagle. It is the Devil who keeps the mouths of our purses so tightly closed; it is the Devil who palsies our fingers when we attempt to write a check for the Lord's work. God give us grace to say with Moses of old, "Not an hoof shall be left behind." "He had respect unto the recompense of the reward." Yes, pay day is coming. Where do we stand in the light of that great pay day?
May God use these Scriptures to make us more out and out for the Lord, completely separated from this world. "Three days' journey in the wilderness!" Resurrection ground!
There is where communion and blessing are to be found.