Exodus 10:24-29: a reflection

24Pharaoh called to Moses, and said, “Go, serve the LORD. Only let your flocks and your herds stay behind. Let your little ones also go with you.” 25Moses said, “You must also give into our hand sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. 26Our livestock also shall go with us. Not a hoof shall be left behind, for of it we must take to serve the LORD our God; and we don’t know with what we must serve the LORD, until we come there.” 27But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he wouldn’t let them go. 28Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Be careful to see my face no more; for in the day you see my face you shall die!” 29Moses said, “You have spoken well. I will see your face again no more.”

As the plagues wear on, Pharaoh offers Moses a compromise: the people may go to worship God, but their flocks and herds must stay behind. It is a partial concession, letting them go but holding something back. And Moses refuses it flatly: Our livestock also shall go with us. Not a hoof shall be left behind, for of it we must take to serve the LORD our God. Moses would not accept a compromised, partial departure; everything was to go, nothing held back, for all of it belonged to God's service.

Notice Moses' refusal to compromise: not a hoof was to be left behind. Pharaoh offered a partial obedience, a compromise that would let the people go but keep back their possessions; and Moses would not accept it. All was to go with them, all was for God's service, nothing held back. Moses would not settle for a partial devotion that gave God some while keeping back the rest; he insisted on all, not a hoof left behind. The service of God was to be given fully, without compromise, not partially, with something held back.

That refusal to compromise is worth taking to heart, for we can be tempted to give God a partial devotion, holding something back. We can be offered, as it were, Pharaoh's compromise: to serve God, but to keep back some part of our lives, our possessions, our will, for ourselves; and we can settle for a partial devotion that gives God some while holding back the rest. But Moses would not leave a hoof behind. Do not settle for a compromised, partial devotion to God, holding back some part of yourself while giving him the rest; give him all, not a hoof left behind, as Moses refused to leave anything of God's service behind in Egypt. Refuse the compromise that would let you serve God while keeping something back; give God your whole self, all that is his, nothing held back, as Moses insisted that not a hoof be left behind, for all of it belonged to the service of God.

Lord, as the plagues wore on, Pharaoh offered Moses a compromise: the people may go to worship you, but their flocks and herds must stay behind. It was a partial concession, letting them go but holding something back. And Moses refused it flatly: our livestock also shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for of it we must take to serve the LORD our God. Moses would not accept a compromised, partial departure; everything was to go, nothing held back. Show me Moses' refusal to compromise: not a hoof was to be left behind. Pharaoh offered a partial obedience, a compromise that would keep back their possessions; and Moses would not accept it. All was for your service, nothing held back. He would not settle for a partial devotion that gave you some while keeping back the rest. Take that refusal to my heart, for I can be tempted to give you a partial devotion, holding something back. I can be offered Pharaoh's compromise: to serve you, but to keep back some part of my life, my possessions, my will, for myself. But Moses would not leave a hoof behind. Keep me from settling for a compromised, partial devotion to you, holding back some part of myself while giving you the rest; help me give you all, not a hoof left behind. Help me refuse the compromise that would let me serve you while keeping something back; help me give you my whole self, Lord, all that is yours, nothing held back.