Do Not Fall Into The Trap Of Compromise

<Ex 8> 18 But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not.

Since the gnats were on people and animals everywhere, 19 the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not listen, just as the Lord had said.

Distinction between God’s people and those who were not.

Plague of flies

<Ex 8> 22 “‘But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the Lord, am in this land. 23 I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This sign will occur tomorrow.’”

Plague on the livestock

<Ex 9> 4 But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.’”

7 Pharaoh investigated and found that not even one of the animals of the Israelites had died. Yet his heart was unyielding and he would not let the people go.

Plague of the hail

<Ex 9> 25 Throughout Egypt hail struck everything in the fields—both people and animals; it beat down everything growing in the fields and stripped every tree. 26 The only place it did not hail was the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were.

Plague of darkness

<Ex 10> 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.

Plague of the firstborns

<Ex 11> 7 But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.’ Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.

<Ex 12> 27 then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’” Then the people bowed down and worshiped.

• God gave special protection to His people.
• Not because the Israelites deserved it, but because of His covenant faithfulness and for His glory.
• But Christians also suffer on earth, where’s the distinction?
  • Peace, help, grace and perfect will in present trials.
• A final distinction in eternity.
• God has always emphasized distinction:
  • “You shall have no other gods before Me” <Ex 20:2>.
  • Believers are to be set apart (distinct) from the world.
  • Being set apart, we do not just seek own safety in a world of plagues, but be God’s spokespersons.

<Ex 9> 19 Give an order now to bring your livestock and everything you have in the field to a place of shelter, because the hail will fall on every person and animal that has not been brought in and is still out in the field, and they will die.’”

<Ex 9> 20 Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside.

Fake repentance and the trap of compromise.

<Ex 9> 27 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he said to them. “The Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. 28 Pray to the Lord, for we have had enough thunder and hail. I will let you go; you don’t have to stay any longer.”

34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he sinned again: He and his officials hardened their hearts.

1) Hardened heart.

• Does not think and react logically.
• Confession of sins driven by reluctance, not repentance.

2) God does not accept compromised repentance.

• Said, “I have sinned”, with no intention of turning away from sins.
• True repentance is not only agreeing that something is wrong, but also having willingness to shun that sin.

3) Traps of compromise.

<Ex 8> 25 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land.” 26 But Moses said, “That would not be right. The sacrifices we offer the Lord our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable in their eyes, will they not stone us? 27 We must take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, as he commands us.” 28 Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the Lord your God in the wilderness, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me.”

<Ex 10> 7 Pharaoh’s officials said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the Lord their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is ruined?” 8 Then Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. “Go, worship the Lord your God,” he said. “But tell me who will be going.” 9 Moses answered, “We will go with our young and our old, with our sons and our daughters, and with our flocks and herds, because we are to celebrate a festival to the Lord.” 10 Pharaoh said, “The Lord be with you—if I let you go, along with your women and children! Clearly you are bent on evil. 11 No! Have only the men go and worship the Lord, since that’s what you have been asking for.” Then Moses and Aaron were driven out of Pharaoh’s presence.

<Ex 10> 16 Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you. 17 Now forgive my sin once more and pray to the Lord your God to take this deadly plague away from me.”

<Ex 10> 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 worshiping the Lord our God, and until we get there we will not know what we are to use to worship the Lord.”

(1) “Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land” <Ex 8:25>.

• Be a Christian but remain worldly.
• Be a Christian but continue to sin.

(2) “I will let you go…but you must not go very far” <Ex 8:28>.

• Don’t get too serious with your faith.

(3) “Have only the men go and worship the Lord” <Ex 10:10>.

• Don’t pass on the faith to your family members.

(4) “Only leave your flocks and herds behind” <Ex 10:24>.

• Worship God, yet do not give up your possessions for God.

4) God does not compromise and He does not tolerate compromise.

• God saves ALL His people, and does not surrender even the least one to the devil.
• God also expects that we follow Him with our everything.
• God is never contented with half a heart, He wants our whole heart and whole person!

Reflection

1. Have you experienced God making a distinction for you (i.e. showed you special grace)? You like God’s special protection, but how have you been setting yourself apart from the world?
2. What are certain traps of compromise you faced in your faith? How do you overcome them?