11/2/18 – Exodus 9, Exodus 10 Matthew 26:69-75, Matthew 27:1-10 Psalm 20:1-9

Ex 10:24-26

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.”

But Moses said, “You must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the Lord our God. 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.”

This is interesting. Moses’ demand of Pharaoh is that he let the people go and worship God in the desert. Initially it’s not about leaving Egypt or the land of Goshen – it’s about worship.

The children of Israel could not worship in Egypt. And Pharaoh is trying to negotiate how they should worship. First he says, “do it here” – which is a no go. Then he tries to say, “Just the men can go” but then changes his mind. Every time he changes his mind, the stakes are upped. This time Moses says the flocks have to go.

Eventually it’s a total break. They leave completely, because they’d never really be free to worship in Egypt.

Initially they were just asking to leave for a bit. For a “Holy Day” in a sense. But the result is total freedom.

We live in a country supposedly Pharaohless. But all over the land they are to be found.

Many people today have managers just like Pharaoh. When you go for the interview, “No, you don’t have to work on a Sunday”. Then, the story changes. They become less tolerant of your faith. They start by getting you to help them out for a few shifts – and then it changes to getting added onto the rota.

It’s crept in, but we are no longer free to worship on a Sunday in some jobs.

It’s not right. It’s not good.

And if that’s you caught in that situation – my prayer for you is simple. “Let my people go!!!!”

Matt 26:74-75

Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

This is what fear can do to courageous men. Peter was never shy – never holding back… but then fear crept in. Fear will isolate you – fear will make you say and do things the you will regret.

Fear gets blown up out of all proportion. This was a servant girl… what threat was she really to Peter? But when fear takes hold it grabs tight ahold of you.

Don’t give fear the opportunity. Especially when it comes to letting people know who it is that you serve.

Ps 20:7

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

I could have picked any line out of this Psalm. This is a great, great Psalm… it’s so encouraging! May the Lord help you! May the Lord grant all your requests! Some trust in chariots, but not us! We trust in something far more real! The name of the Lord our God!

You know what? This Psalm is too good. Stop reading what I’ve wrote about it and go read it again instead.