(Exodus) Exodus 10:21-29 — J. Vernon McGee

The Miraculous Darkness Over Egypt

And this now is the next one, which is darkness. We speak of Egyptian darkness. Why this is directed against the highest deity, the idol, in the entire worship of the people of Egypt. And notice this now, "...and the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.".

And have you ever been in a place like that? Well, the only time I actually felt darkness was down in Carlsbad Caverns years ago, when they used to turn out the lights and sing Rock of Ages. But they had criticism of that from some of these unbelievers, and so they don't sing Rock of Ages anymore, I'm told.

But that was very effective. And I've never been in darkness like that. Well, this was the kind of darkness that was over the land of Egypt, "...even darkness which may be felt.". Verse 22,. "...and Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.

They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.". And this was definitely a miraculous sort of thing. And we find now Pharaoh's ready again for a fourth compromise.

Pharaoh's Fourth Compromise: Leaving Israel's Possessions Behind

And this fourth one is the last compromise because after this, he's really going to have to stand to it and permit the children of Israel go. Verse 24,. "...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.". Now you would think that just leaving their flocks and their herds would be a real compromise. In other words, Pharaoh has come a long ways in making concessions to Moses, and you'd think this one would be agreeable.

Well, I find in this again a corollary or a parallel with the children of Israel and with us today. God called them to get out of the land of Egypt, lock, stock, and barrel. And not only were they to take their children, their children's not to be left there for the schooling and the education of Egypt.

Raising Children Apart From the World

They are not to be a success in Egypt. They are to go and take their place with God's people. And we've said that was the most subtle temptation a Christian has today. We expect to bring up our children in the world.

We want them to be a success in the world today. And then we wonder why the world wins them over and we lose them. It's quite obvious to see. I heard a Christian mother tell about how her son had gone away to a godless school and how he had gone up in the world.

She didn't mention to me that he'd lost his faith, although he had at that time. But she told about how he was being advanced. He had graduated from this school, given a very fine position. And he's high up, by the way, today.

And his name has been in public print many times. And then she came with tears in her eyes as she told me the sad story of how she lost her boy, that he turned his back upon everything. Well, that's the way she started him out.

And naturally, she lost him. That's a subtle temptation. Now, this one here is one that gets people today, too. Leave your flocks and your herds. And I find that there are a great many Christians. They say, yes, we want to serve the Lord.

Serving God Without Serving Mammon

We are faithful in our church. We support our pastor. And we give to the Lord's work. And we are for missionaries. But have you ever noticed the way they do business? They do business in the land of Egypt.

Their flocks and their herds are down there. And they're very much interested in those flocks and herds. Let me tell you, they'll put those flocks and herds above everything else. And if they have to make a choice to serve God or to go make a trip to Egypt for the flocks and herds, you know what direction they go.

They go with the flocks and herds. It's interesting that a great many Christians say, well, you know that on Sunday I serve the Lord. But during the week I'm out in the old coal hard business world. And I'm afraid a great many so-called Christians out in the old coal hard business world today live just like the old coal hard business world.

And you can't tell them from the others. Their lives are just like the ones in the land of Egypt. And they certainly have all their investments in the world today. I'm of the opinion that the rapture of the church would break the hearts of a great many Christians.

You know what it would do? It would separate a great many Christians from their investments that they have today in the world. You will have to go off and leave that safety deposit box, that savings account, those stocks and bonds, that real estate, all that you had given your time and your heart to, you're going off and leave it to rapture the church.

And I believe it'll be a heartbreak for some people to do that. Now notice what Moses says to this compromise. And believe me, Moses makes a real distinction here. There'll be no compromise. Compromise is immoral.

Morley, years ago, said compromise is immoral. And a candidate for president of the United States quite a few years ago, back in the, I guess, in the late 50s, said that compromise is not immoral. Well, it is, friends, always is for a child of God.

Moses Refuses to Leave Even a Hoof Behind

And in verse 25, listen to him now, "...and Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the Lord our God. Our cattle also shall go with us.". Now listen to this, "...there shall not a hoof be left behind.".

Moses said, when we go out of the land of Egypt, we're not even going to leave a hoof track back in the land. Thank God for Moses. He won't even leave a hoof track. He'll avoid every appearance of evil.

And did you know that the Red Sea washed out all of those hoof tracks? Remember, the cattle went over also, as well as the people. And when that Red Sea came back, it washed out all the tracks. Moses told him, he said, we won't even leave a hoof track.

When we leave this land, we're leaving nothing in the land of Egypt. How about it, Christian friend? If the Lord Jesus came at this moment and took you out of this world, and you say, oh, that would be wonderful.

Would it be wonderful? What are you leaving in the world that you've got your heart in today? Would it break your heart to go off and leave your real estate, to leave your wealth, to leave what you've accumulated, actually to leave your unsaved relatives as your sons and daughters?

Moses said, when we leave Egypt, we won't even leave a hoof track. This is terrific, by the way. Now notice, for therefore must we take to serve the Lord our God. And we know not with what we must serve the Lord until we come thither.

Pharaoh's Final Rejection of Moses

But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go. Now God's going to begin now to make him face up to it. And Pharaoh said unto him, get thee from me. Take heed to thyself. See my face no more.

For in that day thou seest my face, thou shall die. And Moses said, thou hast spoken well. I will see thy face again no more. They're going to leave, by the way, and going to leave shortly. And this is God's plan and program.