Torah Portion: Exodus 10:1-13:16
Bo (‘Go’)
The account of Moses battling it out with Pharaoh for Israel’s liberation is well known, though perhaps the subtleties of the ‘negotiations’ are less so.
To Pharaoh the request to let God’s people go, simple in itself, would have begged a lot of practical questions such as where, how many of the people, for how long, etc. But under the coercion of various plagues, he had started to surrender to the request, saying first, “Go and sacrifice to your God here in the land” (Ex 8:21).
Then in Exodus 9:27, as a result of God’s plague of thunder, hail and fire, he apparently capitulated completely, saying “I will let you go, you will stay no longer.” But this was only to change his mind once the plague had been removed.
Haggling with God
So here we are in Exodus 10, with Moses repeating God’s request: “Let my people go, so that they can worship me” (v3). Pharaoh at this point realises that he is up against a powerful entity and will have to agree in some way, but needs to save face and keep some aspect of control for himself. Pharaoh therefore haggles with Moses for a time, interspersed by plagues from God (who doesn’t haggle).
In Exodus 10:8-11, Pharaoh says “Go worship Adonai your God, but who is going?…just the men can go.”
In Exodus 10:24 he says “Go worship Adonai – everyone, but not your flocks and herds.”
From Exodus 10:27-11:8 we see the negotiations totally break down, and Moses foretell the catastrophe that would change Pharaoh’s mind. It at last resulted in a full capitulation where a broken Pharaoh, not waiting for morning, called Moses and Aaron to “Up and leave my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve Adonai as you said. Take both your flocks and your herds, as you said; and get out of here!” (Ex 12:31-32).
Lessons
I believe that, firstly, this is a true account that all modern-day nations should seriously consider when they set out to get in the way of Israel being obedient to God.
Secondly, there are lessons contained in this passage for you and me. Just as Pharaoh wanted to hold on to God’s people, I want to hold on to secret sins in my life. God tells me to repent and let them go. I don’t really believe that He is taking such an interest in me and my life, so ignore my conscience. God disciplines me and I am shocked into repenting and letting go of my sins…just until the effects of that discipline wear off.
A day when I am weak and vulnerable comes along and I take these sins back into my life again and the cycle repeats itself: various forms of discipline from Father God, followed by repentance, followed by times of reprieve and blessing. I find various innovative ways of hanging on to this secret, treasured part of my old nature.
Who Will Win?
As Paul puts it, “What a miserable creature I am! Who will rescue me from this body bound for death? Thanks be to God (he will)! – through Yeshua the Messiah, our Lord!” (Rom 7:24-25).
What will it take? It has already been taken care of by the bloody, sacrificial death, in my place, of the Lamb of God. Bearing in mind that this is a sacrifice that I have already put my trust in, when will these differences stop battling within me? Maybe when I take the teachings of such letters as James and Ephesians more seriously, in particular:
“…openly acknowledge our sins to one another, and pray for each other, so that we may be healed.” (James 5:16)
"Have nothing to do with the deeds produced by darkness, but instead expose them …everything exposed to the light is revealed clearly for what it is…This is why it says, 'Get up, sleeper! Arise from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you!'” (Eph 5:11-14)
Author: John Quinlan
All quotes from the Complete Jewish Bible.
