Moses refused Pharaoh’s proposal that the Israelites go into the wilderness without their flocks. To have done so would have acknowledged Pharaoh’s authority over them. But Moses refuses Pharaoh’s title to anything. They were leaving Egypt to serve the Lord, who not only claimed the people as His, but also all their possessions. Furthermore, their flocks were essential in worshiping Him.
“And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt-offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God. Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not a 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.” How can the soul rightly know with what, or how, to serve the LORD, until out of Egypt? The mind of the LORD could not be learned there. They must be redeemed out of it, and be separated, through death and resurrection, unto God before they could be instructed as to the nature of His service. May God exercise increasingly the hearts of His people to separate themselves wholly from the world, that there may be no compromise in communion with Himself.
Time was running out for Pharaoh, though he seemed unaware of it. The warnings of God and the force of His hand uplifted in terrible judgments on Egypt had never really humbled the powerful ruler, neither had it wrought conviction nor worked repentance in his heart because of his wickedness and cruelly to God’s people. Wearied with many meetings with Moses arid Aaron and unwilling to make further concessions, he is roused to a higher pitch of stubbornness and rushes headlong to his doom. He distisses them with the warning: “Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.”
Pharaoh’s last words were truly stated. “And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face no more.” He was content to take the place of rejection. And the world will soon be through with us if we are truly decided for Christ. May we know what it is to bid farewell to this Egypt world and have done with it completely. Soon it will be a solemn reality that they will see our faces no more, for the Lord Jesus is coming to take us out of the world to our home in heaven.
Pharaoh and his followers had received many warnings, but had turned from them all. He was to have no further opportunity to save himself and his land from the mighty hand of God in judgment.
ML 12/29/1968