Title: The Devil's Cunning Tactics
Exodus 9 13-21
The devil's cunning tactics
“Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron, and said, ‘Go and sacrifice to your God in this land’” (8:25).
Pharaoh was astonished when the plague of blood came, but when he saw that the magicians of Egypt were mimicking it, he did not respond at all to Moses' request to let Israel go. However, when the plague of frogs came, even though the magicians of Egypt imitated it, they were greatly embarrassed and offered to let the Israelites go so that they could sacrifice to the Lord according to Moses' request. (But he did not actually send them later.) He said that he would release Israel not only in the frog plague, but also in the subsequent plagues of flies and flies. But what he was saying was not that he would completely release Israel from Egypt, but that he would simply "serve God in this land."
To serve God in Egypt. This is a clever devil's trick. Satan is always trying to bind God's people to the world. He convinces people, 'Even if you serve God, can't you just live in Egypt and serve God?' They do this because they know very well that in the end they will return to being Egyptians.
No one can ever serve God freely and completely in Egypt. This is because Egypt is a place where the spirit and idols of Egypt dominate the hearts of men. Therefore, the Christian should not ignore the environment. People are not strong enough to live the life they want with infinite willpower regardless of circumstances. All you need is a will to serve God, but don't tell us what circumstances have to do with it. Satan's lies, threats, and temptations are very great and our will is very small.
So Moses refused Pharaoh's offer very firmly from the beginning.
"Moses said, "It is impossible. We offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, which the Egyptians hate. If we sacrifice in the sight of the Egyptians, will they not hate it and stone us?" We will go about three days' journey into the wilderness to make sacrifices to the LORD our God, just as He commands us."
Then Pharaoh changed his words to:
"Pharaoh said, "I will send you, and you will sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness, but do not go too far. Pray for me, therefore."
At first, it was said, "You shall serve God in this land," but when that did not work, Pharaoh said again, "You shall serve the Lord your God in the wilderness, but do not go too far." This time it's "don't go too far". This is Satan's operation to persuade believers to not completely leave the world, that is, to bridge a bridge between the world and God and persuade them to serve God in moderation. This is because it is easy to bring them into the road world.
Later, when Moses tried to bring Israel out of Egypt, Pharaoh again imposed restrictions.
"Then Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh, and Pharaoh said to them, "Go and serve the Lord your God. Who is going to go?" Moses said, "We will keep a feast before the Lord, and we will bring men, young and old, and cattle. Pharaoh said to them, "If I send you and your little ones, I will make the LORD be with you. Beware, your management is evil. He is not allowed. Only your men, go and serve the LORD. This is your request." And they were driven out before Pharaoh” (10:8-11). Pharaoh, who was in dire straits from the locust plague, had to let Israel go, but he did not intend to let all the Israelites and their belongings (animals) go. He told Moses to leave the women, children, and animals, and only the men and adults to go out.
This is practically the same as saying not to go. Satan told Pharaoh to only go out to serve God because he knew well that if they left behind their family and possessions (property) in Egypt (the world), they would soon return to Egypt. Therefore, salvation cannot be received alone, but must be received with family members, possessions, and all that we care about. Because if we don't, one day we will find our loved ones and return to the world.
When the plague of darkness came after the plague of locusts, Pharaoh summoned Moses and slightly changed what he had said before to show a more permissive attitude.
Pharaoh's last suggestion was that everyone should go out, but leave the animals alone. But Moses flatly refused that too. Why? This is because if you leave your belongings including livestock as they are, you will not have the means to serve God, that is, materials for sacrifice, and you will not be able to live until you go through the wilderness and go to Canaan.
Just as a man needs money to serve Satan in the world and to please his body, so also money is needed to serve God and fulfill his will. And that's why God gave them to man. Sheep, cattle, money, and other things were all given to man by God. They are from above to be used for good purposes. Therefore, it is not right to consider them unclean and despise them, or to cherish them excessively and use them only to satisfy one's own flesh.
Satan always whispers in the ears of fools, 'Leave your money in the world, only your body (mind) should leave the world and serve God.' When a person hears these words and thinks that he will serve God only with his heart, not spending money for God's purpose, but only for the world, he falls into the most foolish and unrealistic thought. We must not leave anything in the world, including our pockets. Everything must be written to the Lord. We should not use our bodies, talents, families, and money for the futile things of the world, but give them to the Lord and use them as instruments for the achievement of holy purposes.