Exodus 8:25-32: a reflection

25Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God in the land!” 26Moses said, “It isn’t appropriate to do so; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God. Behold, if we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, won’t they stone us? 27We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD our God, as he shall command us.” 28Pharaoh said, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness, only you shall not go very far away. Pray for me.” 29Moses said, “Behold, I am going out from you. I will pray to the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow; only don’t let Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.” 30Moses went out from Pharaoh, and prayed to the LORD. 31The LORD did according to the word of Moses, and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. There remained not one. 32Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he didn’t let the people go.

As the plagues press on Egypt, Pharaoh begins to offer compromises. He tells Moses to sacrifice to God, but within the land of Egypt, not in the wilderness as God had commanded; and when Moses refuses, Pharaoh concedes further, only do not go very far away. It is a compromise designed to look like obedience while falling short of it: worship, but on Pharaoh's terms; obey, but not fully, not too far. And once the plague is lifted, Pharaoh hardens his heart again and refuses altogether.

Notice the shape of Pharaoh's compromise: obey God, but not fully; go, but not far. It is the offer to meet God's command partway, to give the appearance of obedience while holding something back, keeping God's demand within limits we set. Moses does not accept it; God's command was clear, and a partial obedience on Pharaoh's terms was not obedience at all. And Pharaoh's true heart shows when the pressure lifts: he hardens again, and refuses.

That compromise, do not go very far, is one we can be tempted to make with God. We can offer him a partial obedience, going part of the way while holding something back, keeping his claim on us within limits we set, telling ourselves it is enough. But God's commands are not met by a partial obedience on our own terms; go, but not far, is not real obedience. When you are tempted to compromise with God, to obey partly while holding something back, to go only so far and no farther, recognize it for what it is. Do not settle for the do-not-go-very-far compromise; obey God fully, going all the way he calls you, rather than offering a partial obedience on your own terms that keeps something back from him. Full obedience, not Pharaoh's compromise, is what God asks.

Lord, as the plagues pressed on Egypt, Pharaoh offered compromises: worship, but within Egypt; go, but not very far away; a partial obedience designed to look like the real thing while holding something back, and when the pressure lifted he hardened again and refused altogether. Show me that same compromise in myself. I can offer you a partial obedience, going part of the way while holding something back, keeping your claim on me within limits I set, telling myself it is enough. But your commands are not met by a partial obedience on my own terms; go, but not far, is not real obedience. When I am tempted to compromise with you, to obey partly while holding something back, to go only so far and no farther, help me recognize it for what it is. Keep me from settling for the do-not-go-very-far compromise; help me obey you fully, going all the way you call me, rather than offering a partial obedience on my own terms that keeps something back from you. Full obedience, not Pharaoh's compromise, is what you ask; give me a whole and undivided obedience, Lord.