Daily Devotions
Exodus
"Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding." Proverbs 3:13
Text: Exodus 8 : 28-29
WISDOM IS ABSOLUTELY NEEDED
Moses would need to employ all the understanding and wisdom he possessed to deal with Pharaoh. Let us take time to consider the arguments that he propounded even as he rejected Pharaoh’s compromise.
1. “Abomination of the Egyptians”
If the children of Israel were to make animal sacrifices, they would indubitably offer bulls. However, this animal was sacred to the Egyptians. If they saw their sacred animal offered as a sacrifice, they could become so incensed that they might end up stoning the children of Israel!
2. Non-negotiable
Moses saw through the compromise that Pharaoh offered. He knew that this offer was not a fulfillment of the demand of God – that the children of Israel be released from bondage forever. The Hebrews will leave the land of Egypt! This point was non-negotiable!
A SUBDUED REVISED OFFER
Pharaoh now knew that he was not dealing with a person who could be easily taken in by ambiguous words full of hidden meaning. He made another offer to Moses. Pharaoh was not used to negotiations of this nature. He was used to being obeyed! But he was over the barrel at this juncture. Even as he spoke, he could not but see swarms of flies in his court!
“So Pharaoh said, ‘I will let you go,
that you may sacrifice to the LORD your God in;
the wilderness; only, you shall not go very far away.
Intercede for me.”
EXODUS 8:28
There was only one thing on Pharaoh’s mind. Moses must pray to his God and remove the tiresome flies that must have been driving everyone mad, by their sheer numbers! He will let the people go! His immediate need was for Moses to intercede for him so that the flies would be removed from the land of Egypt!
APPLICATION OF GRACE AND WISDOM
Moses knew that Pharaoh had not really changed his mind. He was merely offering an empty promise. But this was not the time to debate Pharaoh! He must have sensed the Lord’s leading on this matter. He would turn to God in prayer.
“Then Moses said, ‘Indeed I am going out from you,
and I will entreat the LORD, that the swarms of flies
may depart tomorrow from Pharaoh, from his servants,
and from his people…'”
EXODUS 8:29