Exodus 10:21-29 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Exodus 10:21-29. Let’s go!
Exodus 10:21-29 (NIV)
21 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness will spread over Egypt–darkness that can be felt.”
22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days.
23 No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.
24 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, “Go, worship the LORD. Even your women and children may go with you; only leave your flocks and herds behind.”
25 But Moses said, “You must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the LORD our God.
26 Our livestock too must go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind. We have to use some of them in worshiping the LORD our God, and until we get there we will not know what we are to use to worship the LORD.”
27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go.
28 Pharaoh said to Moses, “Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die.”
29 “Just as you say,” Moses replied, “I will never appear before you again.”
On verses 21-29: Pastor Jon Courson of Applegate Christian Fellowship is a great Bible teacher whose insights into Scripture have inspired me over and over again. Here is what Pastor Courson writes about Exodus 10:21-29, describing it like the latest round in a boxing match between Moses and Pharaoh:
Moses and Pharaoh had been duking it out, mixing it up, and sparring round after round…
Round 1:
After being punched with the plagues of blood, frogs, lice and flies, Pharaoh said to Moses, “I’ll let you and your people serve the Lord—but you must remain in Egypt” (see Exodus 8:25).
“We’ll be stoned if we stay here,” said Moses. And both returned to their corners.
Round 2:
“I’ll let you leave the country—but don’t go very far” (see Exodus 8:28).
“We must go where God directs,” said Moses.
Round 3:
Having been struck with boils and hail, Pharaoh said, “You and your men can go as far as you want. But your women and children must stay here” (see Exodus 10:11).
“We’re taking our families,” Moses countered. And both returned to their corners.
Round 4:
Here in our text, following the double punch of locusts and darkness, Pharaoh said, “You and your families can go. But your livestock must stay.”
“No,” said Moses. “We’re going to take our families and flocks. We’re going to take our kids and our cattle. We’re going to take the whole kit and kaboodle.”
Egypt being a picture of the world, Satan seeks to make the same compromises to people today…
“Stay in the world,” he says. “Sure, you might have to bake a brick or two, but at least you’re familiar with the system. Why take a risk on that which you can’t see? Why leave the known for the unknown? Why set your sights on a kingdom which claims to be eternal, yet is presently invisible?”
And when we choose to listen to God instead of to him, Satan changes his tactic to, “Alright, go ahead and believe in Jesus. But don’t go too far. Don’t get too radical.”
And when we ignore him again, Satan says, “Be radical in your faith if you want. But don’t rope your kids into it. When they’re older, let them make their own decision about whether or not to follow Jesus. Until then, leave them in Egypt where they can play soccer and take ballet lessons.”
And when we decide, like Moses, that we will worship as families, Satan comes up with a final compromise: “Go ahead. Throw in your lot with God. You and your family can even be radical in your faith. But don’t spend money on it. Don’t tithe. Don’t give God His due. Don’t invest in eternity.”
“Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also,” Jesus said, (Matthew 6:21). Were Moses to leave the livelihood of his people in Egypt, their hearts would remain there. And to the degree that we sink ours into the soil of this world, ours remain here as well.
(taken from the Jon Courson Application Commentary – Old Testament Volume 1: Genesis – Job)
Heavenly Father, since You call us to worship You with all our heart, and since where our treasure is, there our heart will be also, I pray that I would honour You appropriately, faithfully and generously with the wealth You have entrusted to me. Thank You that when I seek Your kingdom first, You add everything I need and You build Your church through what I give. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
