The Exodus story unfolds and as we start gaining traction, we are starting to understand how the Israelites are in Egypt, how Moses has been raised up to deliver the nation. We’re starting to see how Pharaoh has been raised up as well for God’s glory (Ex 9:16; Rom 9:14-18). There is a little discourse in the midst of the judgments for Egypt that says volumes. During the hail judgments in chapter 9 notice the actions of Pharaoh’s servants:
“Then whoever feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses, 21 but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the LORD left his slaves and his livestock in the field” (Ex 9:20–21).
So we’re going to import a verse from Jesus words in the gospel of John that I believe is ultimately illustrated very well in the Exodus narrative.
“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.” (Jn 14:23–24)
Notice the significance of keeping Jesus words in that the Father will love him and make His home in him. In context He’s developing what it means to be saved. Obedience, as we will see throughout the Scriptures (Deut 6:4-5 and Heb 5:9 are coming) is the natural fallout from being saved. We desire to obey. Many people quote the Scripture (and rightly so) “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved (Ac 16:31) as somehow this belief is left at mental ascent. There doesn’t have to be a change in my life I just believe. As the Graham crusades use to play the song “just as you are”, this is true but you can only come as you are but if you’ve truly met the Savior you will never leave the same. So yes we must believe, but this belief is always reflected in an attitude of obedience and revealed in our actions. Not perfection but certainly direction.
So did Pharaohs servants pay attention to the word of the Lord…the ones that hurried his slaves and livestock into the houses did. So do you obey Jesus words? It’s a valid question I ask myself everyday. Jesus said in Luke 6:46 “why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I say?” implied in the text that the ones that don’t obey, He really isn’t their Lord. This is really scary if you understand Matthew 7:21.