Read with Me
Exodus 3:18-22 (HCSB)
They will listen to what you say. Then you, along with the elders of Israel, must go to the king of Egypt and say to him: Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us go on a three-day trip into the wilderness so that we may sacrifice to Yahweh our God.
“However, I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go, unless he is forced by a strong hand. I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles that I will perform in it. After that, he will let you go. And I will give these people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. Each woman will ask her neighbor and any woman staying in her house for silver and gold jewelry, and clothing, and you will put them on your sons and daughters. So you will plunder the Egyptians.”
Listen with Me
Moses had been reluctant to obey God’s call to him to free his people from their slavery in Egypt. God painted a picture of success for him, right from the start. The key to his success would be what He had told him in verse 12: “I will certainly be with you… God never sends anyone on a mission without that same promise, so they can know that they will be living in His presence and operating in His power.
In that presence and power, Moses was to announce freedom to the Israelites and declare to them that the promise made to Abraham more than four centuries earlier was about to be fulfilled. And because they would will be God’s words spoken in His power those promises were going to be believed.
Pharaoh, however, was going to be a different story entirely. Moses would have to demand that he release the Israelites for a 3-day festival to be held in the wilderness. That was not the actual plan, but was merely the proposal designed to open negotiations. But God knew that Pharaoh would not even accept this opening bid. And he would definitely not agree to total emancipation for his slaves.
For that reason, God was going to work a series of miracles in Egypt that would force Pharaoh to capitulate. Those miracles would take the form of the 10 plagues that God would bring on the whole land of Egypt. And it would take all 10 plagues before Pharaoh would finally accede to his demand.
God also included the promise of not only provision, but of riches for His people, even before Moses said yes to his calling. When the Israelites left, they were to demand gold, silver, and clothing from their neighbors. And God promised to work in the hearts of these neighbors so that they would give the Israelites everything they asked for with no compunction.
Pray with Me
Father, I am greatly encouraged today by Your promise that You will never call on me to go somewhere or to do something without going with me and providing all the power that I need to be successful. With that in mind, help me to instantly say yes to any calling You place on my life, and then get moving, so that You can do the work in and through me. Thank You, Lord! Amen.