Moses, who achieved victory in the society of Egypt — which indeed was very much like our society today — an x-rated society!
I believe Egypt is a symbol of the world and Pharaoh is a symbol of the devil. Pharaoh did not want Moses to leave Egypt, so he offered some clever compromises. The devil's compromises are still with us today. The devil, through Pharaoh, challenged Moses with four compromises.
Compromise #1: Don't Get Saved.
In Exodus 8:25, Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, "Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land." The land, of course, was Egypt. In other words, do not forsake Egypt. Pharaoh's first compromise was to try and get Moses to worship God in the land of darkness, slavery and of compromise.
This is the same thing the devil is saying to an entire generation today. He says just stay in the world and then go to church on Sunday morning. Just refine the things of the world.
You see, Satan is not against worship; he enjoys you worshiping and sacrificing to your God in the land, because that can be a substitution for never being saved.
Compromise #2: Don't Become Committed.
Moses then told Pharaoh that the Jews could not remain in Egypt, so in Exodus 8:28, Pharaoh said, "I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away." What Satan said to Moses is, "If you must get saved, whatever you do don't become an extremist or a religious fanatic. Live on the borderline of sin. If you must leave Egypt, then just go as far as the wilderness."
In a way, Satan tricks many people this way today. He tells them to stay close — to live in the "suburbs" of sin. The Bible instructs us, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord" (2 Corinthians 6:17).
So many people want to see just how close to the world they can live. They don't necessarily want to drink, but will go to a bar, sit with friends, and sip ginger ale so no one will know the difference. I believe that Jesus would rather have us on the wrong side of the fence than sitting on the fence!
Compromise #3: Don't Believe In Household Salvation.
In Exodus 10:8, Pharaoh said to Moses and Aaron, "Go, serve the Lord your God; but who are they that shall go?" Moses answered, "We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds, will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the Lord."
Although Pharaoh agreed initially, in verses 10-11, he denies Moses permission to take any of the families. In other words, Pharaoh said, "Now look Moses, if you are going to be such a fanatic, then all right, go. But it's dangerous out there. Don't take your children with you. Leave your families here with me in Egypt."
Be assured of this: the devil hates family religion. He will allow parents to be religious, but he does not want them to take their children to heaven with them. As a result, we are losing an entire generation. Our children are being left behind to die and go to hell because we are compromising with Satan.
Compromise #4: Don't Commit Your Treasures.
In Exodus 10:24, Pharaoh called Moses in again and said, "Go ye, serve the Lord." This time he refused to allow Moses to take the flocks and herds. In other words, take the families, but now leave their cattle, flocks, and herds in Egypt.
It is Satan's lie which says, "Be religious and be a Christian, but don't bring your business into it." Satan does not want your business and personal finances to be committed to the Lord. Satan knows that if he can have your treasure, he has a part of you. The devil wants us to stay in Egypt; if he cannot have that, he wants our children, our way of life, our business. None of it is his.
How did Moses answer Pharaoh? "Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind" (v 26). This is what Satan must know: all we have is God's. Everything!
How can you have victory in an x-rated society? Have you ever made a firm decision for the Lord? Have you made a full departure from Egypt, taking everything with you? Like Moses, we must do these things. Only then can we receive a faithful deliverance in the Lord Jesus Christ.
