“Then Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. “Go, worship the Lord your God,” he said. “But just who will be going?” Moses answered, “We will go with our young and old, with our sons and daughters, and with our flocks and herds, because we are to celebrate a festival to the Lord.” … No! Have only the men go; and worship the Lord, since that’s what you have been asking for.” …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… But Moses said, “You must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the Lord our God. Our livestock too must go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind.” Exodus 10:8-26
The story in the passage above shows clearly, how the enemy operates. He wants to hold us back from being fully released into the purpose of God. Pharaoh reluctantly agreed to release the children of Israel and let them go despite all the instructions and messages from the Lord. He wanted them in bondage within his domain and under his rulership. When he was prevailed upon by his officials due to the numerous plagues, he still wouldn’t want to release them all; he asked that only the men should go, leaving their wives, children and livestock behind. Who does that? After some more pressure, he agreed to release the men, their wives and children, holding their livestock back. Moses refused such an arrangement stating that everyone must be released, including their livestock. Moses was a man of understanding. He understood his assignment very well, and was not willing to leave anyone behind for Pharaoh!
This passage amazes me…even the livestock mattered in the exodus. They must equally go with the Israelites. God cared for their livestock as much as He cared for the people. They must not be left behind for Pharaoh to deal with ruthlessly, but rather they have to be involved in sacrifices and worship of Jehovah.
I see great lessons in this passage. While God wants the totality of us, the enemy wants to hold us back, keeping us from entering fully into the liberty that Christ has obtained for us. For every human, there are various aspects to our lives that make us who we are. We should not allow the enemy take possession of any aspect at all. While we follow the Lord, the entirety of our being and existence must go along… every component (physical, mental, psychological, emotional, health, finances, marriages, homes, business, professions etc) of our lives must follow the Lord and be for God; the entirety of the faculties of our lives must follow Him. We must not leave anything back for the enemy to rule over or take possession of. We cannot afford to go serving the Lord while some parts are within the jurisdiction of Satan. We cannot go serving the Lord, and the territories of our marriages, families, health, businesses or professions are taken over by the enemy. This certainly is not God’s will for us. Moses understood this and he affirmatively refused Pharaoh’s offer. Pharaoh said the men could go, but the wives, children and livestock stay back under his rule. He later agreed that they all could go, but the livestock which were very important in the worship of Yahweh, be left behind.
By all means, we should not leave any part under the jurisdiction of the enemy. That’s non-negotiable at all! He should not be allowed within our spaces or territories. God must have us in full!
By all means, we should not leave any part under the jurisdiction of the enemy. That’s non-negotiable at all! He should not be allowed within our spaces or territories. God must have us in full!
This is also applicable to the parts of our bodies. No single part should be under the use and control of Satan- our thoughts, desires, affections, aspirations, parts of our bodies etc. We cannot claim to be children or servants of God while our eyes are given to immoral views; our affections and emotions becoming lustful, our hearts to immoral thoughts, imaginations or wicked devices, unforgiveness, revengeful thoughts, evil thoughts; our tongues filled with unwholesome speeches, words of strife, gossips, insults, lies, falsehood etc. In summary, no part of our bodies should be for Satan to use. We must go fully with, and fully for God. No part should stay behind else, Satan (like Pharaoh wanted to) will rule over those aspects.
May you & I live in understanding of God’s demands for our lives, not releasing any aspect at all for the enemy. May we be endued with the wisdom needed to understand the tricks of the enemy, and not allow him space within our territories. May we be fully yielded unto God, for Him to take full possession of us as we journey on in life. Amen
©Funmi Adebayo