January 27
Ex 4:1-5:21 | PS 22:19-31 | Prov 5:15-21 | Matt 18:1-20
The Lord says vs Pharoah says. Two authoritative voices, the question is which one would you listen to. Many would reply, it is easy to decide since there is no Pharoah now. But Pharoah represents the authority of the world. So change Pharoah to : the President, Congress, the courts, the board of education, the medical board, the state, the world. Is this still an easy question? You might say that’s not as simple as it sounds, if I don’t incorporate the LGBTQ agenda into my classroom then I’ll be fired. You might state if you refuse to perform abortions then you will lose your job. You might not be able to climb the corporate ladder. You might lose friends and family. You might want to tell the first century Christians who were dipped in wax and lit on fire in Caesar Nero’s gardens or those who were fed to lions how difficult following God is. You might want to explain your difficulties to Dietrich Bonhoeffer who was killed by a Nazi firing squad, or Corrie Ten Boom who lost her family in the concentration camps for choosing God over the world. You might want to tell all of your brothers and sisters in Iran, China, and areas of Africa who are now being persecuted relentlessly by the world for following Jesus as to why your decision is not simple. We read in James 1:5-8, “ If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”
God explained to Moses how this would unfold in Exodus 4:21, “ And the LORD told Moses, “When you arrive back in Egypt, go to Pharaoh and perform all the miracles I have empowered you to do. But I will harden his heart so he will refuse to let the people go.” But after the wonderful response of the Israelites in 4:30-31, he was probably pumped up as he approached Pharoah in 5:1, “ After this presentation to Israel’s leaders, Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the wilderness.” Notice they told the leader of the world system, “This is what God says”. Pharoah, the leader of Egypt was deemed a god by the people, after telling Moses and Aaron, “No!”, we read in 5:10, “This is what Pharoah says:...”. There you have it God says vs. Pharoah says. There lives became miserable and we see the response in 5:15, “ So the Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh and pleaded with him. “Please don’t treat your servants like this,” they begged.”. They did not choose to seek God and his counsel, they sought the world and pleaded with Pharoah. Contrast this with Moses after being confronted by the angry Israelite foremen, we see where he turned in 5:22-23, “ Then Moses went back to the LORD and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!” Despite being disillusioned, Moses knew where to turn.
Please read Pharoah's response in 5:2 slowly, "And Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.” Who is God? Pastor Chuck Smith answers this beautifully, "He is the God who has revealed Himself through nature, through His Word, and through His Son. He is the God over the universe, the Creator of all things, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, the eternal Almighty, all-powerful, loving God who invites you to know Him better today". Every group of people believe they and their circumstances are somehow different, somehow unique. The truth is since the beginning of time the voice of God has stood in contrast to the voice of the world system. Those who choose God will be marginalized and at times persecuted by the world. As a child of God though your life might not be easy, because persecution does hurt, your life will indeed be simpler and make more sense as you stop dividing your loyalties. At this present time we are seeing the world system becoming centralized globally and intensely powerful. We know that the world system is ultimately powered by Satan. We know from our reading of end times that such has to be the case as they grow in power. So, why are we shocked by these events? As powerful as they might seem, not only is God more powerful, but He wins. Since He wins, so do those who choose to listen and follow Him, rather than the world. Remember what it said in 1 John 4:4, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (NKJV).” So don’t be double minded or have divided loyalties, follow God and His voice as He clearly speaks through His Word, the Bible, and your path will be made clear.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: