Moses, together with Aaron,
came to Pharaoh and spoke on God’s behalf. They came to the pagan king saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let
My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” The
first thing we notice about this demand is that the Israelites were God’s own
people. He called them “My people.” They were His precious sons and daughters
and thus the most appropriate activity for them was to worship their Father
God. For us, whom God has also adopted as His sons and daughters through
Christ, worship is also the reason for our being. As the first statement of the
Westminster shorter catechism so say, “The chief end of man is to glorify God
and to enjoy Him forever.” Worship is extolling and glorifying God for who He is.
That must be our chief end in life.
Moses’ actions provide the clue that he had
silently but surely proven to be a changed man. Ordinarily, he would be
petrified to come before Pharaoh. But now with renewed confidence, he
approached Pharaoh and make such a demand, not even fearing for his own life. Here
he stood assertively before the most powerful man of his time and demanded
the release of God’s people. Moses had indeed made progress. From the fearful,
diffident person that he was, he had now become unflinchingly self-assured of
his place in God. Being Christ’s followers, this must also be the experience
for us too. It is alright to experience apprehension when we start our journey
with God. But as we progress with Him, nothing should hold us back from courageously
taking our position in Him.
Pharaoh was defiant. His reaction to the demand of
Moses and Aaron was “Who is the Lord that I should obey His
voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and besides, I will
not let Israel go.” This king had no regard for God and he couldn’t
care less. And he was not about to listen to a God he did not know. He was
going to resist Him all the way. But little did he know that it was God who was
setting up the perfect moment for Him to display His power. Pharaoh is a
typical image of an unbeliever. He resisted God like every unbeliever would. He
placed himself on the throne of his life, just like what every person without
God would do. His words, “Who is this God that I should listen to Him” is what
everyone who places himself on the throne would feel. They want to rule their
own lives and make their own decisions. But we know better who can take charge
of our life best. It is better to yield and trust God than to resist and defy. Pharaoh
discovered this later to his own detriment.
The root problem confronting Pharaoh was a
spiritual one. His question was not only “Who is this God?” But also “Why
should I obey Him?” At the heart of all resistance to God is the issue of
unbelief. Isn’t this true of everyone who refuses to acknowledge God? Pharaoh’s
unbelief had been multiplied so many times in the lives of people who couldn’t
care about this true God. People who refuse to acknowledge God will always
resist Him no matter what. This king of Egypt typifies for us what every
unbelieving person would do. Not only would they resist God but they would not
allow others to follow God. His assertion was “why should I let the Israelites
go and worship God?” He was not about to believe and he would do all he could
to prevent others from believing.
Pharaoh was a vicious person. He not only refused
to accede to the request of Moses and Aaron, but he also became more
spiteful. He took it out on the people. He had no regard for human life.
Everyone was a pawn in his hand. And he ordered that the Israelites be
given hard labor. They were expected to make more bricks without giving more
material. This is being unreasonable. When threatened, isn’t this what an
oppressor would do? Two outcomes when we are confronted by God – yield totally
to Him or be dismissive just because we do not know His ways. No one can stand
still when confronted by the living God. We can move toward faith, and that
must be our choice. If not, we will shrink in unbelief.
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