Pharaoh decided to try a new plan. He told Moses to have the people sacrifice to the Lord in Egypt. How the enemy would like to bring the people of God down to the level of the world in their worship! May we always realize that it is never acceptable to God to mix with the world and offer the abominations of this Egypt world to God. As soon as God had put a division between His people and the Egyptians, Pharaoh attempted to break it down. How the world hates the separate Christian! Moses said the Egyptians would stone them if they attempted to worship in Egypt. We, too, will find out that we do not have to give up the world, for the world will give us up if we act in obedience to God.
Far From Egypt
When Moses turned down this suggestion, Pharaoh was willing to yield a little more. He would let God’s people go if they would not go very far — just a short distance he said. How subtle is the enemy of our souls! If we must be separate, he tells us not to be too strait-laced — not too separate. Pharaoh knew that if the children of Israel only went a little way they would soon be back in Egypt again. Let us take warning here. Abram once settled in Haran — a half-way place — but he had no tent nor altar there. God had told him to go all the way to Canaan, and only there could he have his tent and altar. The tabernacle of the congregation was afar off from the camp — not near it. Beware of the subtle temptation to remain “not very far away” (ch. 8:28) from Egypt. All roads lead back to it, when we are near, but when the children of Israel got into the wilderness, the Red Sea rolled between them and Egypt blocking their return. The cross of Christ has severed our ties with this Egypt-world. May we lay hold of this more for the Lord’s glory! He wants a people separated unto Himself.
Murrain, Boils and Hail
Pharaoh still refused to let the people go. God then sent a terrible pestilence on the Egyptian cattle and many of them died, but not one of the Israelites lost any of theirs. How wonderfully God cares for His own!
Pharaoh remained unmoved, and so the next thing Moses was told to do was to take the ashes of the furnace and sprinkle them toward heaven. This caused nasty boils to break out upon the Egyptians and on their cattle, so that even the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils.
This was followed by a great hailstorm, mingled with fire, but here we are reminded of God’s goodness in providing a way of escape. He warned even the Egyptians to take shelter from the storm, and those who feared God took shelter and were preserved. The damage was terrific and Pharaoh seemed to be humbled. He called for Moses and asked that the plagues be stopped. He even said, “I have sinned,” but it was not repentance toward God, but only to get out of trouble. He feared the judgments he had seen, just as men today fear war, sickness and death, but without fearing what comes after death (or they would turn to Christ for salvation). May we pause here to warn you if you are unsaved that it will soon be too late to call for mercy. When the door of grace is shut it will be shut forever. Why not call upon the name of the Lord and be saved NOW?
Further Meditation
1. Why did Pharaoh say “I have sinned”?
2. The pestilence, boils and hail all brought judgment on certain Egyptian deities. Which gods were being judged and how does this apply today?
3. The Four Judgments by A. H. Burton will give you more on the subject of judgment through its presentation of God as a just judge in four different aspects.