Exodus 8:20-32 Egyptian Compromises

God told Moses to warn Pharaoh of the next plague -- flies -- if he failed to release the Jewish people.  He also added, "But I will not treat the Israelites the same as the Egyptian people.  There will not be any flies in the land of Goshen, where My people live."  Sure enough, flies overran the country of Egypt the next day.  But the land where the Israelites were was fly-free!  Once again, Pharaoh begged and promised, Moses prayed, God removed the plague, and Pharaoh changed his mind.  He had compromised and said that they could leave, but just couldn't go very far.  Yet he didn't even allow that.

My commentary said, "God's people face similar Egyptian compromises today as we seek to serve the Lord.  The enemy tells us we don't have to be separated from sin because we can serve God in the land.  God's reply is found in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.  'Don't go too far away', the enemy whispers, 'or people will call you a fanatic.'  James 1:27 and 4:4 demolish that proposal.  True service to God means giving Him authority over all our possessions and all the people in our family for whom we're responsible ... Once we start to negotiate the will of God and see how close we can get to the world, we have already disobeyed Him in our hearts."

Father, keep me close.  Help me not to think and act like Pharaoh.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford