When we compare the experiences of the Israelites in Egypt with what is happening in our world today, we see that God is always looking out for His people.
Egypt's water turned into blood (Exod. 7:19- 25). Frogs appeared everywhere (8:1-14). Next came a plague of lice (verses 16-19), and then a plague of the flies covered the land, except in Goshen, where God's people were living (verses 22-24). Moses tried repeatedly to negotiate with Pharaoh to let God's people go. But he never compromised with Pharaoh.
At this point, Pharaoh was getting tired of all these plagues. This last plague of flies seemed to him a total catastrophe. The plague of flies was more severe than we could ever imagine. These flies were worse than our modern-day gnats! The flies would fasten themselves upon the human body especially upon the edges of the eyelids and torture people by stinging them until their victims became disfigured by the swelling. These flies also killed the plants in which they deposited their eggs.
These plagues were finally getting to Pharaoh. In fact, Pharaoh became so alarmed that he sent for Moses and Aaron and gave them permission to sacrifice to their God "in the land."
Pharaoh was being taught that the God who sent this plague was not some common deity of Egypt, one among many others. Rather, this God was "Jehovah." He was the author of the plagues the One who had authority over Egypt and who possessed supreme authority over all creation. Israel's God was and is the absolute Deity.
Pharaoh was now ready to offer a compromise (read Exod. 8:25). He acknowledged God's existence because he had felt the punishing power of the God whom previously he had professed not to know. He told Moses, "Go sacrifice to your God, but remain here in the land."
Pharaoh allowed the Israelites to go worship God, but he insisted that they do so in Egypt. Imagine! He was still trying to compromise with God.
Moses told Pharaoh that it was not acceptable for Israel to worship within Egypt. He explained, "The sacrifices we offer are detestable to the Egyptians, and they will try to stone us. Besides, the Lord commanded us to take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices."
Then Pharaoh tried to make another compromise with Moses and Aaron (Read Exodus 8:28). "I will let you go, but don't go very far. Now please pray for me." Pharaoh was now asking for prayer! It appeared that he was starting to soften as he offered this proposal for compromise, but he still had not done as God asked.
Satan offers compromise today. He says, "Go ahead and attend church on Sabbath; just live for me during the rest of the week. It's okay if you do this or you do that. It's okay if you sin who's going to know?
God's Word says that we are called to a different lifestyle than what Satan and this world offer us. The New Testament reminds us that "Jesus was not of this world" (John 15:18-20) and admonishes us that "we are not to be of this world" (17:14-17).
We need to reject all the things that Satan and the world have to offer us, even if those things appear to be okay. Let us reject compromise just like Moses rejected Pharaoh's offer (read Exodus 8:27).
Many people tell us, "Don't go off the deep end" or "Don't carry that religion too far." And I've noticed something about people who say things like this. They're just like Pharaoh. When they are desperate, they are the first ones to plead, "Pray for me." Don't misunderstand, I have no problem praying for anyone. I just want to point out that even the most hard-hearted people ask for prayer at desperate times.
Besides, Christ calls us to have a complete commitment to Him. In Romans 12:1-2, the apostle Paul gives us an example of the kind of commitment that Christ is looking for in us.
In the story of Moses and Pharaoh, more plagues had to occur plagues on the cattle (Exodus 9:1-7); boils on the Egyptians (verses 8-12); the plague of hail before Pharaoh offered another compromise. But the Israelites were spared these plagues, thus showing the Egyptians that God was in control.
Pharaoh was still trying to compromise with Moses (read Exodus 10:8-11). "Moses, I will let you go, but you have to let your families stay here." Of course, this compromise was totally unacceptable to Moses and to God.
Like Moses, we must determine that we will never compromise with Satan when it comes to our families. More than anything, Satan wants to have our families in his possession. But our families are to serve God with us (Joshua 24:15).
Pharaoh tried to compromise one more time (Exod. 10:24-27). He asked the Israelites to leave their possessions and go serve the Lord. Today, Satan offers the same enticements to compromise our faith, our family, and our possessions. In short, Satan doesn't want God to have either you or your possessions.
When we compromise God's Word and ways, we put ourselves in bondage to Satan and the world. But total commitment to Christ leaves no room for compromise. Allow Christ to be Lord of all in your life.
General Conference Ministerial Association
