We noticed that Pharaoh wanted the children of Israel to leave their flocks and herds — their business interests — in Egypt. Moses said, “No!” “There shall not an hoof be left behind” (ch. 10:26). May we who are saved have true purpose of heart to put the Lord first in everything. It is easy for some of us to become so ambitious that we allow money-making to come before the Lord’s interests. While it is right that we should provide for honest things in the sight of God and men, we ought to put first things first. A few hours spent for the Lord will yield a great deal better income in the end than a few hours of overtime at work. The need was never greater and the laborers are so few. May the Lord stir us up to live “unto Him.” Let us devote our spare time to sitting at Jesus’ feet and telling others of His love! How often we mourn as we see Christian young men and women of ability devoting all they have in order to lay up treasures here, but when asked to visit the sick, to teach a Sunday school class, or to do some little service for the Lord, they tell us that they “can’t.” Let us take our “flocks and herds” (ch. 10:9) out of Egypt, “for thereof must we take to serve the Lord” (ch. 10:26).
Love that transcends our highest powers,
Demands our soul, our life, our all.
The World’s Rejection
How Pharaoh hated this definite, decided reply from Moses. He told him to get out and not see his face again. The world will soon be through with us if we are truly decided for Christ. Moses was content to take the place of rejection, for he said, “Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face ... no more” (ch. 10:29). May we, in like manner, 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 Jesus is coming!
Looking Ahead
God said He was going to send one plague more, the worst of all. It was death. All the sorrows and trials of this world are as nothing compared with eternal banishment from the presence of God, and this is the “one plague more” (ch. 11:1) which awaits you if you don’t have Christ as your Saviour. Turn to Him now, we beg you, while He waits in grace.
We who are saved are now a despised people following a rejected Christ, but soon the tables are going to be turned. Here in our chapter the children of Israel were slaves, while the Egyptians had all the wealth. But God was about to take them out of Egypt, and He told them to ask their neighbors for their jewels, their gold, and their fine clothing. We may see the world having all the seemingly good things now. Our young hearts are also liable to draw back from the path of suffering which belongs to the Christian. But our deliverance is coming soon. We shall be taken out of this world to be with Christ. A little while later when He comes to take back all that’s His — the whole scene — He will take it in His saints (Ephesians 1:1818The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:18)). We will have all then as Christ’s joint-heirs, and we will never lose it. We will have it without any sorrows or tears to spoil it, and our portion will be eternal. Dear young reader, it is worth waiting for! Let us not try to accumulate our jewels of silver, jewels of gold, and fine clothing now. Let us wait for God’s time, which is very near. “Ye have need of patience ... for yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry” (Hebrews 10:36-3736For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. (Hebrews 10:36‑37)).
Further Meditation
1. Why doesn’t it make sense to go after wealth now?
2. Where else does Scripture teach the need to not chase riches in this world?
3. If you’ve been challenged by the theme of this chapter, you would probably appreciate digging into it a bit deeper. Love Not the World by J. C. Rule is a good place to start.