Exodus 3:18-22 When we walk in righteousness, we cause even our enemies to make peace with us
Exodus 3:18-22 When we walk in righteousness, we cause even our enemies to make peace with us
18 They will pay heed to what you say; and you with the elders of Israel will come to the king of Egypt and you will say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, please, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion. 20 So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles which I shall do in the midst of it; and after that he will let you go. 21 I will grant this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. 22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbour and the woman who lives in her house, articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. Thus you will plunder the Egyptians.”
Background
God, having seen Israel’s oppression, sends Moses on a renewed mission to deliver Israel. God’s plan is for the entire Hebrew population to leave Egypt and journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the Lord. Knowing that the Pharaoh will not concede, God assures Moses that He will strike Egypt until the Pharaoh relents. After that, the Egyptians will offer gifts to make peace with the Israelites because the God of Israel is superior to the gods of Egypt. Today’s devotion teaches: When we walk in righteousness, we cause even our enemies to make peace with us.
Observation
They will pay heed to what you say; and you with the elders of Israel will come to the king of Egypt…
God told Moses that the people would hear and believe, but the king of Egypt would be hardened. The request was for the entire Hebrew population to leave Egypt and journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the Lord. “To sacrifice to the Lord” alludes to the earlier command: you shall worship God at this mountain (see Exodus 3:12). The king knew full well that the request entailed the Hebrew people leaving Egypt to form a new and sovereign nation under God.
So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My miracles.
By telling Moses the king’s response and the miracles that would follow, He strengthened Moses to face off with the Egyptian war machine. For God’s assurance to strike Egypt with all My miracles had singularly put Moses on solid ground. Indeed, there will be no compromise, no quid pro quo until every Hebrew was delivered.
I will grant this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians.
Not only would every Hebrew be delivered from slavery, they would plunder the Egyptians not forcibly, but peaceably (I will grant this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians). The Hebrews obtained favour because their God was proven superior to the gods of Egypt. For all the magicians of the Egyptians could not so much as to hold a candle to Moses. Not only did they fail to replicate Moses’s miracles, they could only watch as Moses wreaked havoc in their home land. And no one could comprehend how one man could single-handedly bring Egypt, a superpower to its knees. The Egyptians’ peace offering was, in fact, a gesture of capitulation to the people of Israel. For they have come to acknowledge the superiority of Israel and to fear their God above all gods.
Truth
The act of true worship entails dying to the pleasures of the world.
Notice the deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery did not come up in Moses’s conversation with Pharaoh. For God had demanded that the people leave Egypt to worship Him in the wilderness. Hence, the primary thrust of Moses’s proposition is the worship of God, not deliverance from slavery. Hence, the theme of deliverance is now wrapped up in the theme of worship. In this context of worship, the people must worship God by breaking free from Egyptian control and way of life. Unless the people divorce themselves from the sins and pleasures of Egypt, there can be no deliverance.
Therefore, true worship entails a life of repentance and continual transformation towards Christ-likeness. Jesus teaches what is required of a worshiper,
Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. – Matthew 5:23-24
Jesus differentiates true worship from the false and ritualistic worship of the Jews,
“But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” – John 4:23-24
To worship God in spirit and truth is to live according to the truth guided by the Spirit. Many churchgoers today love listening to worship songs, but they are rarely convicted by God’s word to obey it. For such, the feeling of euphoria that comes every time a song is played is easily mistaken for intimacy with God. For it is not possible for one who worships God to live a worldly and self-centred life. Regrettably, many in the church today are still imprisoned by worldliness, lust, greed and pride.
The righteous must not compromise with the agents of darkness.
Moses came before the Pharaoh and demanded an unconditional release of every Hebrew. For God had earlier promised that He would strike Egypt with all My miracles. Since then, there had been no compromises on Moses’s part. For all of Pharaoh’s refusals were swiftly met with plagues which decimated Egypt. So much so Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not realize that Egypt is destroyed?” – Exodus 10:7
Therefore, believers should not compromise to seek a middle ground when dealing with the agents of darkness. For by virtue of God’s omnipotence, it is impossible that His plans be thwarted. To compromise is to find a way of reaching agreement in which each person gives up something that was wanted in order to end an argument or dispute. Jesus never compromised, refusing to rescind His teachings even at the brink of death. For He knows the omnipotent Father will vindicate and resurrect Him from death.
Regrettably, the church today has made compromises in exchange for worldly approval, power and wealth. They have perverted the gospel by insisting on doctrinal correctness as opposed to Christ-likeness as the requisite for salvation. They have enticed the people with the promise of salvation and blessing without the need for sanctification. As a result, many continue to live in darkness thinking they are living the eternal life. Church leaders put on a spiritual veneer. And beneath that polished appearance lies all kinds of vices and fleshly aspirations. A compromised church is led by political leaders as opposed to spiritual leaders. A political leader leads with human devices of earthly wisdom, manipulation and man-made vision. On the other hand, a spiritual leader leads with divine wisdom, vision and supernatural authority.
When we walk in righteousness, we cause even our enemies to make peace with us.
The Israelites obtained the favour of the Egyptians because of Moses’s supremacy over the magicians of Egypt. When we walk in righteousness, God grants us His authority to rule. By divine authority, we force our “enemies” to make peace with us. Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
Therefore, believers must learn divine wisdom. Not only that, but also divine authority. It is through divine authority that believers manifest the full attributes of God to accomplish His will. Wisdom without divine authority is pointless because we cannot enforce righteous rule upon the earth. But wisdom with divine authority brings enduring peace, justice and mercy among the people.
Application
Has Sunday worship become trite and that you are often troubled by oppositions? Perhaps, you have been living a life of compromise and have grown callous to spiritual things. Spirit and sin do not mix but repulses each other. Have you compromised in your marriage relationship? Have you compromised in your financial dealings? Have you compromised in the aspects of integrity and honesty? Have you compromised in your love for God by putting personal desires above Him? God is omnipotent, and He can fulfil His promises towards you. And nothing is impossible for Him. Thus, set your life aright, and divine favour and authority will return to you. Before long, those who oppose you will oppose you no more.
Dear Lord, use me to save and deliver the oppressed in my community and workplace. Grant me wisdom and divine authority to bring righteousness and mercy to my family, community and workplace. Help me to stand firm without compromise. And cause my enemies to make peace with me. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.