Exodus 10:24-26 And Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, Go you, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed… "Only let your flocks and herds be stayed." How many souls are caught in this snare! They have left their business, their work, their worldly interests, down in Egypt. They cannot be "very far away" in such case, for they must needs go down to Egypt to attend to their possessions. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth"; "Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" (Matthew 4:9; Romans 13:14). These are words that need to be considered in connection with this last snare of Satan. I think when Satan sees a Christian go out of Egypt with all his flocks and herds, he has no hope of getting him back again. So he makes a last stand here: "Keep your business and your religion separate. Give yourself to God; but do not consecrate your property." Now, will you just take a look at the state of the Christian world to-day. Look at the wealth of Christians in London, and in New York, and over the whole world. How they have piled it up — thousands upon thousands, heaps upon heaps! And where is it? Surely in Egypt. It is not held in sacred stewardship for the Lord. It is used for the most part to gratify "the lust of the flesh," "the lust of the eye," and "the pride of life." Look, I pray, at the magnificence of the residences, the costliness of the furniture, and the expensiveness and luxury of the equipage. Go into the houses of the wealthy Egyptian Christians, and behold the splendour and costliness of their entertainments! See the crowds of Egyptians gathered there to enjoy the feasts and pleasures that are provided by God's people with the proceeds of the flocks and herds that should be used in His service. Again, look at the condition of the Lord's work the world over. Consider the fewness of the number of missionaries who are abroad! Note how from every direction the cry comes up for help! There are men and women who are waiting to give themselves to the work — to forsake home and country, and go to the darkest spots of heathendom; but there are not the men and the women who are ready to spare from their hoards the money to send and support them. If the flocks and herds were out of Egypt, and really given over to the Lord to be used in His service, the world could and would be evangelized in less than five years. (G. F. Pentecost, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you. |
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