Worship cannot be negotiated over. The altar demands our all. To bow before God without surrendering everything is not to bow at all.
Time is running out on Pharaoh, and for Moses the new day is nearly here.
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads 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 move about 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 worshipping 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.” (Exodus 10 v 21-28)
Nine plagues in, this one is different from the rest. This is not just darkness. This is a darkness that could be felt (v21).
However, for God’s people, they had light. Lights shining in the thick darkness that the Egyptians were experiencing. That’s quite a gospel theme right there. In one place the darkness of judgment and in the other the light of mercy.
Again, Pharaoh tries to negotiate. Go and worship, take your families, just leave the livestock. It sounds generous. Moses won’t take the deal. “Not a hoof is to be left behind.” Worship that doesn’t cost you everything isn’t worship.
Darkness fell over Egypt for three days. But the greater darkness is always in the hearts of people who will not bend before God.
The question for us is this ancient one: what are we still negotiating with God over?
Missions Paul 